Fast Lenny
Verified Member
Well I had some people asking me about what I thought about Shane and Scott, they were confused how someone could win just getting a ball from the best. I would say a big reason is that the best players in the world are starting to take up one pocket and learning the game. Shane has been playing one pocket for a few years now, maybe 4-5 and being around top players like Frost, Reyes, Joyner and Chohan certainly has helped him since he is a phenom sponge so people should not get the wrong idea like he has never played the game. They realize after some good added money in those tournaments, the DCC all around title and the money to be made gambling that it is worthwhile. They see it is an exciting game and not just for old men dinking balls around all day, running 8 and out when no one see the out is awesome to watch and spectacular to perform.
We were all treated this past DCC to Shane vs Earl in the finals, I could have gotten huge odds that those two would never have been in the finals together. Strong players like Earl and Shane who are rotation players, the best rotation players alive who make shots from anywhere and have great cue ball control while making those tough shots and being able to manufacture run outs that we are unable to do. Us lovers of this great game are fortunate that this happened, that Shane and Earl faced off because it creates interest outside of the small circle of one pocket top players and up and coming players, it peaks interest for sure along with being exciting. People being exposed to what I would call offensive power one pocket by these great shot makers is what will continue to help the game grow, its not the old school bump and grind style which I do appreciate also and realize games are won and lost this way too.
I think we will see more top players crossing over from rotation games and as they get the bug called one pocket they will just become monsters. I think in the past it was just a handful of top players who played the game, take Willie Mosconi, Irving Crane, or someone even like Mike Sigel, with all the talent they have, if they learned one pocket, what would we be saying about them today. We might not be talking about Ronnie Allen being the best from the past, it might be one of the top rotation guys who crossed over. I do know guys like Ronnie Allen and also San Jose Dick were 9 ballers until they got into one pocket probably due to it being a gambling game where you can stall a bit at it and not show speed keeping someone on the line.
I just really think we have seen some great one pocket players and there are many more who we will see come along who cross over to the game with all the great talent they have, the person may want it the most, have natural talent, a champion, puts in the work practicing, playing tournaments all over the country and gambling. I still think Scott is the best in the world at one pocket, he has beaten Efren numerous times for the cash and Efren is no slouch as we all have been seeing. I do think Scott is shooting 1 ball under his speed now then when he won the Derby, I know all of you might think I am nuts and even Scott would not want to believe it but I have watched countless hours of him playing.
I saw him in the past 2 one pocket tournament playing Alex towards the end of each miss off angled combinations that are his strong suit, these combos were not hangers but were in close and I would have given odds on him making them, you have to make those when the guy has a ball hanging or strength on his side, he missed a couple of them in California and it cost him. The match with Alex at the Open he is hill-hill, breaks, makes a ball and has an off angle combo in close and missed it, if he makes it he will win that match and move forward. He struggled quite a bit in the US Open One Pocket but even though he is not playing his best he still gets far along which says a good deal about his talent. I have been witness to Scott running 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and out, its unbelievable to see, I do not think Shane runs the balls any better than Scott when Scott locks down but Shane will probably never miss a routine shot EVER.
As for people speaking about endurance and heart, well Scott has a ton of heart, gamble and can play for a very long time, those who know him have seen it. I have never heard of Shane playing a 30 hour or more session, not saying he couldn't but what kind of Shane would he be after 30 hours, would he still be playing top notch, maybe so. I am not sure about Shanes backers though because Shane could have probably won a good deal of money working his way up the ladder with some of the players under Frost like Sylver, Rafael, Cliff and others but he has not fear and wants to beat the best along with the best there is money too. Scott might be down now, but he is certainly not out, never count that man out.
We were all treated this past DCC to Shane vs Earl in the finals, I could have gotten huge odds that those two would never have been in the finals together. Strong players like Earl and Shane who are rotation players, the best rotation players alive who make shots from anywhere and have great cue ball control while making those tough shots and being able to manufacture run outs that we are unable to do. Us lovers of this great game are fortunate that this happened, that Shane and Earl faced off because it creates interest outside of the small circle of one pocket top players and up and coming players, it peaks interest for sure along with being exciting. People being exposed to what I would call offensive power one pocket by these great shot makers is what will continue to help the game grow, its not the old school bump and grind style which I do appreciate also and realize games are won and lost this way too.
I think we will see more top players crossing over from rotation games and as they get the bug called one pocket they will just become monsters. I think in the past it was just a handful of top players who played the game, take Willie Mosconi, Irving Crane, or someone even like Mike Sigel, with all the talent they have, if they learned one pocket, what would we be saying about them today. We might not be talking about Ronnie Allen being the best from the past, it might be one of the top rotation guys who crossed over. I do know guys like Ronnie Allen and also San Jose Dick were 9 ballers until they got into one pocket probably due to it being a gambling game where you can stall a bit at it and not show speed keeping someone on the line.
I just really think we have seen some great one pocket players and there are many more who we will see come along who cross over to the game with all the great talent they have, the person may want it the most, have natural talent, a champion, puts in the work practicing, playing tournaments all over the country and gambling. I still think Scott is the best in the world at one pocket, he has beaten Efren numerous times for the cash and Efren is no slouch as we all have been seeing. I do think Scott is shooting 1 ball under his speed now then when he won the Derby, I know all of you might think I am nuts and even Scott would not want to believe it but I have watched countless hours of him playing.
I saw him in the past 2 one pocket tournament playing Alex towards the end of each miss off angled combinations that are his strong suit, these combos were not hangers but were in close and I would have given odds on him making them, you have to make those when the guy has a ball hanging or strength on his side, he missed a couple of them in California and it cost him. The match with Alex at the Open he is hill-hill, breaks, makes a ball and has an off angle combo in close and missed it, if he makes it he will win that match and move forward. He struggled quite a bit in the US Open One Pocket but even though he is not playing his best he still gets far along which says a good deal about his talent. I have been witness to Scott running 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and out, its unbelievable to see, I do not think Shane runs the balls any better than Scott when Scott locks down but Shane will probably never miss a routine shot EVER.
As for people speaking about endurance and heart, well Scott has a ton of heart, gamble and can play for a very long time, those who know him have seen it. I have never heard of Shane playing a 30 hour or more session, not saying he couldn't but what kind of Shane would he be after 30 hours, would he still be playing top notch, maybe so. I am not sure about Shanes backers though because Shane could have probably won a good deal of money working his way up the ladder with some of the players under Frost like Sylver, Rafael, Cliff and others but he has not fear and wants to beat the best along with the best there is money too. Scott might be down now, but he is certainly not out, never count that man out.