Alex Higgins "in the eye of the Hurricane - my story" review

[Monique]

Think there are quite some ladies who are not waiting for a 9 to 5 male, Monique. I could tell you stories.......

I no doubt could tell you a few about the males aswell Paul...

There are many ways not being 9 to 5. for all tastes . Alex is just not mine at all

[In-off]

You are so right mate.....I used to save my annual holiday each year to drive over to Manchester to watch the world championships (before Crucible days) just to see Alex Higgins play. To this day I have still never seen some of his spectacular shots repeated by anyone else in the game!!

Oldgit

Very true, although one of the reasons is that there was often no need to play the shots he did

Indeed, his showboating cost him the 1980 final against Cliff

Still, that was the Hurricane and whatever he did off the table, on the table he was an unbelievable performer in every sense of the word

[crucible77]

i only know what ive read and seen, so maybe i do not know what im talking about, but to me it seems a shame that he didnt find a more suitable and supportive wife than his Lynne.

On one of the Higgins videos after he wins the 1982 world championships she says "oh no and now the troubles will really begin". Couldnt possibly be any more negative than that could she, with hubby on top of the world. Also she whinges about how Alex would like a drink in the evenings, but she never wanted to join him (too boring for him). She also whinges about how Alex would lounge around in the mornings reading the newspapers and maybe having a can or two. Wow so he was a bit self-indulgent. Big deal. If Alex had had a better matched and more supportive wife, rather than a nagging, negative whinger things might have been very different for him...

That is possibly the most ridiculous comment ever about Alex Higgins. What was she supposed to do, get drunk in the morning? throw tv's out of windows I mean you could ask any girl on the forum if they would live with him and im sure they'd say no, hes a complete nutter most of the time.
Bill Borrows' The Hurricane is much better than this book IMO

[Templeton Peck]

With the dedication of say a Davis or Hendry he could have won the world championship a few more times - it was there for the taking from 79-82, he was so far ahead of his peers in his approach to the game. His aggressive style of play became the model for players like Hendry and O'Sullivan. Some of the shots he played that were considered reckless then would be the 'right' shot now, and the previous 'right' shot would now be perceived as negative play...

[In-off]

As I say, it was show boating and 'playing to the crowd' that often cost him

Also, he had bogey players, in particular Terry Griffiths who to my memory beat him at least three times at the Crucible

[Templeton Peck]

That is possibly the most ridiculous comment ever about Alex Higgins. What was she supposed to do, get drunk in the morning? throw tv's out of windows I mean you could ask any girl on the forum if they would live with him and im sure they'd say no, hes a complete nutter most of the time.
Bill Borrows' The Hurricane is much better than this book IMO

He's conceded that he and Lyn were a bad match. He wasn't a family man and she was a nag, it was bound to all end in tears. He needed someone a bit wilder like a Kate Moss or an Amy Winehouse but instead he went for a woman his family would approve of.

[Monique]

He's conceded that he and Lyn were a bad match. He wasn't a family man and she was a nag, it was bound to all end in tears. He needed someone a bit wilder like a Kate Moss or an Amy Winehouse but instead he went for a woman his family would approve of.

That's really not how he presents Lynn in his book. Fair to him he's not blaming Lynn for the failure of their marriage. He's mainly blaming the sort of life they were living, the pressures, being away too much for his job and all the consequences it had on both of them. Lynn actually accepted to give him several chances and he duly ackowledges that. I honestly don't think any woman would have him for a long time. As a matter of facts, none did ...

[PaulTheSoave]

I guess wild lasses or adventurous divas wont be found on this forum, I am afraid. . haha! Start a poll!

BTW I WON THE NI PREDICTION CONTEST BUT DID NOT RECEIVE ANYTHING.

I mean you could ask any girl on the forum if they would live with him and im sure they'd say no,

[dannyd0g]

. What was she supposed to do, get drunk in the morning? throw tv's out of windows

Bill Borrows' The Hurricane is much better than this book IMO

No, she could have joined him for a drink in the evenings occasionally though. Templeton seems to understand where i am coming from, in that he might have been better with a party girl rather than a stay-at-home.

I believe Borrow's book is innacurate and exaggerated - eg "Alex was banned from every hotel and bar in Manchester" - yeah right, there must be about 500 such places, and not one would have him

[Kingscratcher]

he might have been better with a party girl rather than a stay-at-home.

I believe Borrow's book is innacurate and exaggerated - eg "Alex was banned from every hotel and bar in Manchester" - yeah right, there must be about 500 such places, and not one would have him

I agree on both points, Danny - Lynn always seemed to be annoyed at him for one thing or another. Obviously she had a point some of the time, but she never seemed to cut him any slack. Her attitude after he won the title in 82 was a prime example - straight onto a downer. Let's face it, she knew she wasn't marrying a Steve Davis-type, but this seemed to be what she expected Higgins to be. It was hardly a shock that he liked a drink or a late night with the boys.

As for Borrows' book, it's the worst book on Higgins I've read - low on snooker and high on exaggerated controversy. It's a great read for anyone that doesn't like Higgins as it gives them plenty of ammunition. Borrows was bitter that Higgins wouldn't contribute to his book, and basically did a hatchet-job that is like an extended version of The Sun. I found it hilarious that Clive Everton advertised it in Snooker Scene as 'what the Hurricane was really like' - what a load of nonsense

[moondan]

Alex was a dream for snooker with a few nightmares thrown in, it was fantastic to see the guy and experience what he brought to the venue. Snookers biggest legend.
Seeing this Monique has made me retrieve it from the book shelf, no doubt I will enjoy it again.

[1lawyer]

When The Hurricane Blew..

This frustating game we have all wethered.
The Hurricane and Wirlwind well leathered.
There was Kirk with the Coke and big Bill with a joke.
In the days of loved snooker and smoke...

Taylors black will never look back and say
Thats drama, thats guts, thats that.
Ponder on the past, chalk your memories last
The Hunter so proud, golden trophy, big crowd

Williams, Hendry. Higgins, perhaps ring a Ding too
Is this the year I bid you adue?
Where Spencer, Edmonds, Davis and Reardon woke.
In my glory days of snooker and smoke.

"I love snooker" said the rocket,
As a million falls deep in his pocket.
But where is the love for the game,
When there is no fortune...no glory, nor fame....

The club now empty, my table now bare.
Once snooker a game, a life, my care.
Now in the distant night, hear the cry on cue..
For the days when the smoke and the Hurricane blew!

[Son of Cliff]

Monique I would say that you are a strong willed young lady, and the idea of a man being a man would make you feel uncomfortable :snooker: the snooker players you knock, seem to live their lives in the fast lane and this would mean you could not control them, so therefore makes them not your type of guy. get over it.

[Cyril]

That is possibly the most ridiculous comment ever about Alex Higgins. What was she supposed to do, get drunk in the morning? throw tv's out of windows I mean you could ask any girl on the forum if they would live with him and im sure they'd say no, hes a complete nutter most of the time.
Bill Borrows' The Hurricane is much better than this book IMO

Bill Burrows (or however he spells his name) book is a huge distortion of truth, FACT! Him and Lynn were ok in the early days, of course, but there was no way Alex could settle down to be a family man at that time. Alex LIVED snooker, and with snooker came the drink... it couldn't be any other way.

Can you really see Alex playing an exhibition match in those days before 500 adoring fans (mostly drinking men), sitting down between shots with a cup of tea??

[Monique]

Monique I would say that you are a strong willed young lady, and the idea of a man being a man would make you feel uncomfortable :snooker: the snooker players you knock, seem to live their lives in the fast lane and this would mean you could not control them, so therefore makes them not your type of guy. get over it.

Son of Cliff you made my day! Being branded a "young lady" two weeks before turning 54 is quite ... endearing
You are totally wrong about me: I have no problem with men being men ... quite the contrary. But living with a drunk, prone to violence and having no intention to change in any way because he thinks he is entitled to behave this way because he is a celeb is a totally different story. No one, man or woman should be treated by his/her partner or wife/husband the way Alex's partners were. Not just Lynn.