Snooker Loopy

How many sports can call on competitors such as the Rocket, the Wizard of Wishaw, the Thunder from Down Under or the Sheriff of Pottingham to name but a few? You guessed it, snooker.

Many would tell you its boring or may even question its worthiness as a sport, but not me.

While many sports have grown with the time and now rely on the latest technology or the strictest fitness regimes, snooker has retained the charm it developed when it began to be televised in the 1970s.

OK, it may have moved on from smoking and drinking at the table (though perhaps not for the better) but playing standards remain.

There is a real gentlemanly atmosphere about the game with the waist-coat and bow-tie combination the players wear in the big tournaments, and their general conduct around the table.

Despite apreciating these details it will be interesting to see what changes will be made to the game in the coming months after World Snooker chairman Sir Rodney Walker was ousted.

Despite my admiration for the game it is clear that it needs a revamp. Sports promoter Barry Hearn looks like the man to do this after his success with the snooker Premier League.

Hearn has a fantastic history in sports promotion, most recently increasing tour prize money in darts from £500,000 to £5million. He managed to do this by taking the game around the country more regularly and adding some ‘jazz’ to the persona of each player.

A similar strategy could improve snooker, but lets just hope they keep some of the old traditional magic. Here’s a look at what I’m talking about…

We can all get it wrong sometimes

I took the risk a couple of months ago of attempting to predict the nominees for this years BBC Sports Personality of the Year Event. Some of my nominees made the official list, although there were no surprises there.

After Ryan Giggs won the prize without even a mention amongst my contenders my sporting knowledge appears in doubt.

I have to hold my hands up and admit that I overlooked the footballer of the year- in fact I didn’t even give him a thought- and considered only the more obvious contenders.

However, Im glad to see Giggs win the trophy as he meritted for his longevity and continued excellence in a Manchester United team that continues to set the bench mark in English football.

At the age of 37 Giggs’ achievement is all the better, so congratulations to him and all those who pick the shortlist for not listening to my advice.

I still have a lot to learn…

Watch out Roger!

They may be among the most successful and highest paid sportsmen in the world today, but a curse appears to have struck the stars of a Gillette advertising campaign.

First there was Thierry Henry who almost destroyed his reputation in the footballing world with a touch from his left hand. Then there was Tiger Woods who was in such a hurry to leave his house that he crashed into a tree and had to be gragged from his vehicle semi-concious. So that just leaves one man standing;  Roger Federer, the greatest tennis player of all time.

Henry has been villified  for his blatant extra-time  hand ball in the Word Cup play-off match with Ireland. For a man who has claimed before that he does not cheat, it was an extraordinary act that led his country to the finals in South Africa but brought intense criticism from the media and anyone who believes in the principles of fair play.

He may have fooled the referee, but in such a high profile match with cameras covering every angle of the park he was always going to suffer in the aftermath. Henry put it down to instinct (other players have claimed they would have done the same, which says it all about the cheating culture in football) but fans seem to have fallen out with him and he will feel theie wrath at next year’s World Cup.

[Read more]

ben lomond

man versus mountain… this man came out on top!

Is BBC award Buttoned up?

After clinching the Formula 1 world championship in Brazil last weekend, it looks pretty safe to assume Jensen Button will go on to pickup a plethora of sports awards, perhaps most notably BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

This award ceremony is particularly special as it reflects on the sporting year and identifies individual and team success.

2008 was a prime year for British sporting achievements with particular success coming in the Beijing Olympics, epitomised by triple gold medal winner Chris Hoy who won the public vote for the BBC award.

This year seems rather quieter with team events- the Ashes, the Lions- taking up more coverage. However, individual success in 2009 does not end with Jensen Button. A number of lesser known sports people have reached the top of their respective sports and deserve a mention in the running; [Read more]

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