Snooker: Let's stand by it
If there's one argument that has become a thorn in the side of our great game, it's probably the delusion that 'the characters that were once abundant in snooker are now non-existent'. People who only have a passing interest in snooker, or hold a grudge of sort against it's success, particularly in term of television ratings, constantly shove this argument in our face and say the game is dead, finito, gone. How many times have we read articles by sports 'experts' in our main newspapers telling us that Ronnie O'Sullivan is carrying snooker's mutilated corpse on his back, and when he goes, the beautiful game's burial is nigh. These people don't know the ins and outs, the intricacies and finer points of our game. The only players that are still in action that they can probably name are O'Sullivan, Hendry, Davis and White, and as we all know, three of those players have long since passed their heyday
Yet they still tell us, that the characters are gone, and that those who watch this game and await snooker news each and every day are living a dream if we say the game still has characters and if we believe snooker has a future.
Well would you believe, it's us, the true snooker fans, who are right.
Yes, it is true to say that snooker has it's problems. Sponsorship is poor. Attendances uninspiring. Prize money not terribly hectic. But that's down to an organisation who aren't fit for purpose to put it mildly.
Unfortunately, snooker's shining light, it's voice, and the most eloquent critic of the cronies in charge had his role downgraded last year. BBC commentator Clive Everton was always the man fighting for our sport, even when it was backed into the darkest of corners. Without Everton, what hope does the game possibly have?
Well Everton may not have the power he once had, but the fans most certainly do. Unfortunately, many fans take a negative outlook on the game's problems, offering snooker a kick while it's down rather than the helping hand it should have outstretched. But it's time we changed. We want what's best for our game. We want to see it at full health, and realising it's golden potential.
The standard of play has never been better. The century county is significantly higher nowadays and the days when a break of 30 would all but clinch you a frame are now long gone.
Anyone who claims there are no characters in snooker and shielding themselves from an altogether more comforting truth. Can you honestly tell me Cliff Thorburn, Steve Davis, Rex Williams and Terry Griffiths had stronger personalities than the current crop of Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Allen, the increasingly colourful Neil Robertson, Liang Wenbo, and Judd Trump. Tell me that, and we've got a man who's not afraid of a lie detector.
TV Ratings remain strong, we still got a few million for the final sessions of the last two world finals, even though the destiny of the Joe Davis trophy had long been decided before those final shots. And the myth that snooker is relying on Ronnie O'Sullivan is just that....a myth. Ratings for the World Championships this decade have been higher in years when Ronnie WASN'T crowned king at the Crucible.
The game continues to flourish in China. Popularity is spreading across Mainland Europe. And young starlets like Mark Allen, Jamie Cope, Michael White, Judd Trump, Luca Brecel, Liang Wenbo and Ding Junhui are spearheading a new generation to ensure this magical game remains in safe hands.
Too often we've kicked our sport while it lies on the ground. Snooker's fans must stay strong in the face of criticisim from followers of other more 'fashionable' games, who mock snooker, but in truth are jealous at how this sport remains the second most popular in Britain despite it's less than glamorous appearance. If the fans don't stand by a game, then that game has no hope. If we stand by snooker, herald it's cause, and promote it because it's the game we love, then there is no reason why it can't survive.
The media like to think snooker is dead. We know better.
Yet they still tell us, that the characters are gone, and that those who watch this game and await snooker news each and every day are living a dream if we say the game still has characters and if we believe snooker has a future.
Well would you believe, it's us, the true snooker fans, who are right.
Yes, it is true to say that snooker has it's problems. Sponsorship is poor. Attendances uninspiring. Prize money not terribly hectic. But that's down to an organisation who aren't fit for purpose to put it mildly.
Unfortunately, snooker's shining light, it's voice, and the most eloquent critic of the cronies in charge had his role downgraded last year. BBC commentator Clive Everton was always the man fighting for our sport, even when it was backed into the darkest of corners. Without Everton, what hope does the game possibly have?
Well Everton may not have the power he once had, but the fans most certainly do. Unfortunately, many fans take a negative outlook on the game's problems, offering snooker a kick while it's down rather than the helping hand it should have outstretched. But it's time we changed. We want what's best for our game. We want to see it at full health, and realising it's golden potential.
The standard of play has never been better. The century county is significantly higher nowadays and the days when a break of 30 would all but clinch you a frame are now long gone.
Anyone who claims there are no characters in snooker and shielding themselves from an altogether more comforting truth. Can you honestly tell me Cliff Thorburn, Steve Davis, Rex Williams and Terry Griffiths had stronger personalities than the current crop of Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Allen, the increasingly colourful Neil Robertson, Liang Wenbo, and Judd Trump. Tell me that, and we've got a man who's not afraid of a lie detector.
TV Ratings remain strong, we still got a few million for the final sessions of the last two world finals, even though the destiny of the Joe Davis trophy had long been decided before those final shots. And the myth that snooker is relying on Ronnie O'Sullivan is just that....a myth. Ratings for the World Championships this decade have been higher in years when Ronnie WASN'T crowned king at the Crucible.
The game continues to flourish in China. Popularity is spreading across Mainland Europe. And young starlets like Mark Allen, Jamie Cope, Michael White, Judd Trump, Luca Brecel, Liang Wenbo and Ding Junhui are spearheading a new generation to ensure this magical game remains in safe hands.
Too often we've kicked our sport while it lies on the ground. Snooker's fans must stay strong in the face of criticisim from followers of other more 'fashionable' games, who mock snooker, but in truth are jealous at how this sport remains the second most popular in Britain despite it's less than glamorous appearance. If the fans don't stand by a game, then that game has no hope. If we stand by snooker, herald it's cause, and promote it because it's the game we love, then there is no reason why it can't survive.
The media like to think snooker is dead. We know better.
Last edited by Tubberlad on 09 Oct 2009, edited 2 times in total.
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Tubberlad - Posts: 5009
- Joined: 02 October 2009
- Location: Ireland
- Snooker Idol: Ronnie OSullivan
- Highest Break: 49