Earl, According to Earl
Is the newest Hall-of-Famer an obnoxious hothead, or just misunderstood? Earl Strickland says he just loves the game - maybe too much.
Story by Mike Panozzo
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| Although his reputation is as a hothead, Strickland is dead serious about the game and how he is perceived. [Photo by Pete Burg] |
You can hear the hurt in Earl Strickland's voice.
"I don't understand why people always condemn me."
As he speaks, the cold, almost menacing glare that defines Intense Earl slowly gives way to the more soulful, contemplative look that characterizes Apologetic-by-way-of-Puzzled Earl.
For nearly a quarter-century, Earl Strickland has reigned as professional pool's most dominant player - and its most enigmatic personality. Since his pro debut in 1982, the now 44-year-old Strickland has won 38 pro tour events (more than any other male player in the past 25 years), including an astonishing five U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships and six world 9-ball crowns.
Unfortunately, the number of tournament tirades, title-match walkouts and nations offended by Strickland over those years is also unmatched.
Now, in 2006, after a painfully long (and somewhat embarrassing) five-year wait, Strickland has finally received the requisite votes to earn a spot in the sport's most elite club - the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. It should be the crowning achievement for one of the greatest players to ever chalk a cue, and the player's finest hour.
Instead, Strickland can't seem to get very far into a discussion about his incredible Hall of Fame credentials without feeling compelled to clarify and defend the tempestuous side of his career.
"I care about the game," insists Strickland, in his distinctive high-pitched North Carolinian accent. "I care about the game more now than I ever did. And I probably care too much. When I complain about the condition of the tables and the lights, and where people are sitting, it's because I care about the integrity of the game. I look at other sports like golf and tennis, and they treat the game and the players right, from the playing conditions on up. I think pool is tougher than either of those sports, so it makes sense that we deserve the same level of integrity. I want others to respect our sport."
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