Earl Strickland

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Earl Strickland, known as Earl the Pearl, is a famous American pool player and is generally considered one of the best Nine Ball players of all time. He has also had the moniker "Million Dollar Man" because he once ran thirteen consecutive racks during a tournament where there was a stipulation that if anyone could break and run ten racks they would win $1,000,000. This was a very safe stipulation because runs that high are extremely rare especially in formal tournament play. There have been no similar promotions since.

Strickland was born on June 8, 1961, in Roseboro, North Carolina. He started playing pool at the age of nine, and after serious practice he entered his first pro tournament at 15. Five years later he turned professional. Strickland is a multiple winner of the prestigious player of the year award and his career highlights include wins at the U.S. Open, the World Open and the Challenge of Champions. He is also an ever-present player for the American team in the annual Mosconi Cup tournament.

Strickland most recently took part in a tournament in December 2005 in Las Vegas.

Strickland is known for his whole-hearted approach to the game, which often crosses the edge into becoming confrontational. A notable example came in the 2003 World Pool Championship held in Cardiff, Wales. Strickland had a number of run-ins with fellow players, referees and the audience. This included challenging one spectator to a fight during a match with former World Snooker Champion Steve Davis, shouting "Justice!" in the same match when Davis made a fluke error, and shouting at female referee Michaela Tabb to "shut up".Sometimes he even has an ipod on while playing, and at one tournament accused Francisco Bustamante for delibarately losing a game, so he can be eliminated, which later on turned into a verbal tussle between the two. However, to many this has endeared him to fans as one of the true characters of the game.

Strickland was named to the BCA Hall of Fame in 2006, despite the fact that his sportsmanship has, in many cases, been questionable. Facing elimination in 2006, he ended his match by saying "fuck you" to his opponent. The association threatened to disqualify him in the future.

In the 2006 Mosconi Cup after 2 days of mild controversy, for instance calling the fans assholes he finally lost his temper whilst playing Thomas Engert, after missing the 7-ball he hit his cue off the floor and subsequently shattered the shaft.