“You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.” -- Eminem
Sunday,Aug 29, 2021-- Shane Van Boening used to have them play ‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem before his matches I read -- a song that speaks about seizing the day, taking your shot, and running with it, and Since 2007 SVB has been on top of the pool World, dominating every aspect of billiards, inside and out right up until present day -- he definitely has lost himself, and taken every opportunity to win.
SVB, now is tied with Earl Strickland for a record 5 US Open titles in nine ball (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016) -- and holds 3 US Open titles in eight ball (2013, 2016, 2018), 4 US Open ten ball titles (2011, 2016, 2017, 2018), 2 US Open one pocket titles (2012, 2018), 2 US Open bank pool titles (2018, 2019), and one US Open straight pool title in 2019. That’s a whopping 17 US Open titles in approximately 13 years, and compelling evidence to show that SVB has owned the US Open for over a decade, and the US Open has players from around the world every year, which is why I say that SVB is the best player the world has seen in modern times -- unparalleled.
With over 50 major tournament wins in the US and around the world, SVB is arguably the best the game has seen in modern times, against some of the toughest competition from around the globe -- winning again and again since 2007 -- just last month, July 10th, having put a record 26 back to back racks on team USA, Mosconi Cup MVP Skyler Woodward, and kept him to no balls pocketed too, which is unheard of. The score began as 62-70, in favor of Woodward, then ending 88-70 SVB -- early in the race to 150 in Tulsa Oklahoma. This is to highlight that SVB is still in top form.
(CHECK THIS LINK TO THE MATCH):
Can he win one, two, perhaps more US Open titles? Seems very likely. Will he win more world titles? Having begun his run in 2007 in this style of massive-firepower pool -- winning the Predator World Ten Ball championship, Sands Regency Reno Open, and the US Open 9 ball for the first time. Ever since then, he's been winning, and even though he struggled at the Mosconi Cup, has three wins: 2009, 2018, and 2019 -- so with the aid of Woodward and other top US players, has won back to back years 2018 and 19. Incredible tenacity.
And SVB comes from a pedigree of champions in billiards:
"His grandfather, Gary Bloomberg, was a trick-shot artist; his grandmother, Jeanne Bloomberg, a VNEA national champion; his mother, Timi Bloomberg, a BCA national champion; and his aunt, Gari Jo Bloomberg, a three-time VNEA national champion." -- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Van_Boening
But his record of wins speaks for itself. He is arguably the best US player we have ever had, though there are other possibilities -- just SVB is a billiards beast, and pool juggernaut is the problem any player worldwide is going to have, when they get run over by that freight train.
SVB...IS...A...BEAST...a billiards beast.
Hail to the king:
In addition, SVB had to beat Filipino sensation Ronnie Alcano, in his prime, playing lights out his first US Open win 2007. That's just one of the many great champions he had to beat to take the title.
Furthermore, SVB is just 38 and could be rocking it at 48...pool isn't necessarily like basketball. He could have ten more years of winning ahead, it is possible -- maybe more.
He doesn't appear to be slowing down from my perspective, seems to be gaining momentum.
I can't wait to see SVB and company play team Europe this December 7th-10th in the Mosconi Cup. Hopefully it is broadcast where I can watch, but I'm afraid the odds may be against it. Fingers crossed though.
In conclusion, SVB, in my opinion, is the greatest US player in modern times, since 2007. We can't say how things would have turned out had SVB and Strickland both had to play each other in their primes, and there are arguments for either side, but it is a legitimate debate to say SVB is arguably the best US player of all times.
Comments