Strickland Goes off the Air

Strickland Goes off the AirIn his match with Nick Van den Berg, Earl Strickland appeared to have difficulties keeping his head on straight, though he won hill-hill. Several games into the match, Van den Berg’s family was whispering amongst themselves when Strickland turned around and asked them to “shut up” because he was about to shoot. This didn’t seem to score points with the audience, and when one member glared at Strickland, he warned, “Don’t you give me that sour look.”Things deteriorated from there, with Strickland shouting at several audience members. He won the match and tried to give Van den Berg a half-hearted handshake, but Van den Berg grabbed his hand firmly when Strickland tried to pull away.IPT discussion forumDay 5 image galleryMatch schedule“He got under my skin, Strickland, because he was talking to my family and saying stupid stuff,” Van den Berg affirmed afterward, “and he even tried to start a fight with my brother-in-law. Those are things you can’t do. It’s nice to see someone who is entertaining like Mike Sigel but this was just … a disgrace to the sport. That’s all I can say.”
Strickland seemed anxious to share his side after the match. “There was a little controversy—his gurus were talking while I was trying to shoot a shot, so I thought I had the opportunity to get on him. They leave themselves open like that, I’m gonna trash them like they trash me. I don’t have anybody protecting me, so I better protect myself from these people. Until you got people protecting me, I won’t stop trashing people for running their mouth. I’m sick of it. I know I’m a terrible person but you still have to show me some kind of respect. If it would have been another fan I would not have gotten on them, but it was his gurus. If they are gonna run their mouth, they are gonna get trashed."Regarding the match itself, Strickland commented, “Well, it was a comedy of errors, really. From me and a few from him. The tables are tightening up, and he cant make as many balls on the break … things are changing. He didn't make anything on the break seven-seven, and I ran out."As far as advancing to tomorrow, Strickland said, “I got a tough group—it’s as simple as that. Hohmann played really well and my board is very difficult. I’ll have to play good to get out of this.”Round 4 Group 74Group 75C. DeuelM. ManaloD. PeachA. LelyS. TotD. AppletonGroup 76D. OrcolloA. PagulayanM. ImmonenN. FeijenY. BeaufilsR. LuatGroup 77A. LiningR. MartinezS. PutnamL. NevelR. DiksD. MatlockGroup 78R. SouquetR. MorrisJ. KirkwoodM. ChamatR. HundalE. StalevVisit Inside POOL Magazine for the latest pool and billiard news from the North American Open 8-Ball Championship.

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