[Wiste1]

Gerben42, on Nov 10 2005, 06:27 PM, said:

Quote

Is it really the case that each pair in USA1 is stronger than each pair in USA2?

I doubt that is true. As I said in another thread I think Greco - Hampson are better than at least two of the three US1 pairs

Agree Gerben

[Dwingo]

Gerben42, on Nov 10 2005, 11:57 PM, said:

Quote

Is it really the case that each pair in USA1 is stronger than each pair in USA2?

I doubt that is true. As I said in another thread I think Greco - Hampson are better than at least two of the three US1 pairs

Without judging the capabilities of each of these pairs of USA1 and USA2, lets for argument sake, replace the best pair of USA2 with the worst pair of USA1 ( assuming the 1st pair of USA2 is better than the 3rd pair of USA1)

Do you think, USA1 would have had a better chance of taking on the Italians?

I doubt it. Even though on paper, it may seem that the 3 best pairs should form an outfit to represnt USA1, there is more to it than just fielding the 3 best pairs.

A lot of intangibles like team dynamics come in to play. This aspect is very much underplayed.

Godwin

[EricK]

Dwingo, on Nov 11 2005, 02:23 AM, said:

Gerben42, on Nov 10 2005, 11:57 PM, said:

Quote

Is it really the case that each pair in USA1 is stronger than each pair in USA2?

I doubt that is true. As I said in another thread I think Greco - Hampson are better than at least two of the three US1 pairs

Without judging the capabilities of each of these pairs of USA1 and USA2, lets for argument sake, replace the best pair of USA2 with the worst pair of USA1 ( assuming the 1st pair of USA2 is better than the 3rd pair of USA1)

Do you think, USA1 would have had a better chance of taking on the Italians?

I doubt it. Even though on paper, it may seem that the 3 best pairs should form an outfit to represnt USA1, there is more to it than just fielding the 3 best pairs.

A lot of intangibles like team dynamics come in to play. This aspect is very much underplayed.

Godwin

To an extent. I expect the Italians field their best three pairs however. Maybe they are just lucky that they gel together as a team as well.

With the USA teams, a bigger intangible is that of money.

Eric

[Walddk]

Money is certainly an issue for the Italians too. The major difference between USA and Italy is that as far as Italy is concerned, the sponsor does not insist on being in the team as a player.

Before anyone gets a fit, let me emphasize that sponsors are great for the game, and that some sponsors are fine bridge players too.

Major sponsors in Italy are Madame Lavazza and Francesco Angelini. In USA (among many others) Nick Nickell, Russ Ekeblad, Richard Schwartz, Rita Shugart, Rose Meltzer, Jimmy Cayne, Roy Welland and Lou Ann O'Rourke.

Roland

[Chamaco]

Didn't anyone have the impression that if Nickell-Freeman had played a couple of rounds more to substitute and give a break to rest to Hamman-Soloway, the match would have been closer ?

I think Nickell-Freeman performed quite reliably.

[Walddk]

Chamaco, on Nov 11 2005, 12:15 PM, said:

Didn't anyone have the impression that if Nickell-Freeman had played a couple of rounds more to substitute and give a break to rest to Hamman-Soloway, the match would have been closer ?

I don't think so. Here is the Butler ranking (final only):

1. 0.22 Fulvio FANTONI - Claudio NUNES
2. 0.16 Norberto BOCCHI - Giorgio DUBOIN
3. 0.06 Lorenzo LAURIA - Alfredo VERSACE
4. -0.09 Paul SOLOWAY - Bob HAMMAN
5. -0.14 Jeff MECKSTROTH - Eric RODWELL
6. -0.23 Nick NICKELL - Dick FREEMAN

Roland

[Chamaco]

Walddk, on Nov 11 2005, 11:25 AM, said:

Chamaco, on Nov 11 2005, 12:15 PM, said:

Didn't anyone have the impression that if Nickell-Freeman had played a couple of rounds more to substitute and give a break to rest to Hamman-Soloway, the match would have been closer ?

I don't think so. Here is the Butler ranking (final only):

1. 0.22 Fulvio FANTONI - Claudio NUNES
2. 0.16 Norberto BOCCHI - Giorgio DUBOIN
3. 0.06 Lorenzo LAURIA - Alfredo VERSACE
4. -0.09 Paul SOLOWAY - Bob HAMMAN
5. -0.14 Jeff MECKSTROTH - Eric RODWELL
6. -0.23 Nick NICKELL - Dick FREEMAN

Roland

Oh, I did not watch the ente tourney.

Would the ranking be different if considering only the final ?

[Walddk]

Chamaco, on Nov 11 2005, 12:27 PM, said:

Oh, I did not atch the ente tourney.

Would the ramking be different if considering only the final ?

This is from the final only.

Roland

[MickyB]

A Butler from a two table event is fairly meaningless IMO.

[keylime]

Not many know this but Nickell-Freeman have been successful outside of USA 1.

They won the Life Master Pairs a couple of years ago. Not too shabby for a "sponsored" pair.

I can only imagine the tired minds trying to finish the event up.

[the hog]

Fantoni and Nunes were by far the best pair in the event. Don't look at the datums which are misleading, look at the bids and results made at the table.

[pclayton]

keylime, on Nov 11 2005, 01:18 PM, said:

Not many know this but Nickell-Freeman have been successful outside of USA 1.

They won the Life Master Pairs a couple of years ago. Not too shabby for a "sponsored" pair.

I can only imagine the tired minds trying to finish the event up.

Dwayne, thats a nice sentiment, but all it means is N/F are capable, and not necessarily qualified.

When an altruistic sponsor enters American bridge and doesn't feel the need to play, then we will see what can happen.

There were sponsored teams all over the Transnational.

With the exception of Ekeblad and Nickell, was there another team in the BB that had a playing sponsor? None come to mind - hmmmmm.

[mike777]

Nickell and Freeman are more than qualified, in fact they earned their spot and place in history. To suggest anything else is in very poor taste.


Freeman youngest Life Master 1952 and member of Hall of Fame. Edited Roth Stone system and Bridge is a Partnership Game back in the 1950's and 60's.
Both have won Blue Ribbon Pairs.
Numerous Spingolds, Vanderbilts, Reisingers, Team Trials, Cavendish, BAM, Master Mixed Teams, and GNOT.

Oh ya and a bunch of World Championships if those count at all?

I guess when 2 guys close to 70 lose the World Championships in the last few boards people think they deserve disrespect.

Italy deserved and earned their great win, N/F deserve and earned respect.

[han]

OK, before I give my opinion on this subject, let me say a few nice and honest words:


Nickell and Freeman are great bridge players and played an amazing tournament.


Now that I'm done with the obligatory politenesses:

I think that it would be great if the USA manages to send a BB team featuring the three strongest US pairs. I imagine that Greco-Hampson and Meckwell would be on this team (but I can think of several other pairs that might qualify for the 3rd spot). Unfortunately this would almost guarantee a USA-Italy final, but what a great final it would be!

[Walddk]

Hannie, on Nov 14 2005, 10:10 PM, said:

Unfortunately this would almost guarantee a USA-Italy final, but what a great final it would be!

Not sure I know what you mean. Why "unfortunately", and besides, isn't that exactly how it is now anyway?

Roland

[mike777]

Please note Australia has received an anonymous gift of 1 Million$ per year for several years to develop a team of players and win at the world level. Kokish has been hired as coach. Will be interesting to see what system the players choose to learn and win with.

[inquiry]

mike777, on Nov 14 2005, 05:06 PM, said:

Please note Australia has received an anonymous gift of 1 Million$ per year for several years to develop a team of players and win at the world level. Kokish has been hired as coach. Will be interesting to see what system the players choose to learn and win with.

I have always wanted to live in australia... have em give me a call.. :-)

[mike777]

Players of all ages and sex will be added to the initial 6/8 that have been picked. In fact 2 of the players picked are very young, around 14? I add that many Ausie players that play at the top levels were not born in Aust. just as here in the USA.

Just a hint but I think if you want them to call first there may be a longer wait. They do want players but they expect a little more initiative.