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Well, am I glad to find such a comprehensive snooker forum - I thought we snooker fans were comparative to stamp collectors and train spotters in number (in fact I once told my father I wanted to be a stamp collector but he said "Son, philately will get you nowhere" - sorry 
).
I'm from Liverpool and don't look too dissimilar to John Parrott, in my mid thirties and can claim my highest break as somewhere near my age (not that I get that very often - I only tend to play about 15-20 times a year these days, and I consider 20 a high break!).
I've played snooker for as long as I can remember, from my mates 4ft table when we were about 8, then on a 6ft table at home in my teens and then swiftly on to full size. I've watched snooker almost as long and can claim it to be one of three sports I genuinely love, the others being football and motorcycle racing.
There's been a lot going on this season, what with the terribly sad death of Paul Hunter (even watching the final yesterday my girlfriend said she couldn't believe he was dead, more than three months on), Ronnie's submission to Stephen Hendry and now last night's emotional final. You'd have a heart of stone not to feel for poor Ding, 19 years old and so far from home, and having to play in front of such a partisan crowd (and the alleged unpleasant remark about 'going back to China') - and all that while being soundly whooped by one of the great performances.
One thing I love about snooker (apart from that complete waste of oxygen in the crowd last night) is the sportsmanship. Sadly it is missing in football quite a lot these days, with players diving and holding their faces. In motorcycle racing it is different from football - sure, I still have my favourites, but I have nothing but respect and admiration for every single rider. And that is the same in snooker.
I can't think of many (any?) occasions where I've actively wanted one player to lose a match. Growing up as a teenager with Steve Davis, I took a long time to form any affection for Stephen Hendry, but sure enough it came along eventually. Rather like a Liverpool fan not too happy to see Manchester United come along and start winning the league, I didn't like to see Steve dethroned by a Morrissey-lookalike upstart. But whereas I still don't like Manchester United
, Stephen Hendry has long been a favourite, and is of course, a credit to the game.
Anyway, that's more than enough from me - time to go and read the forums!
Mick.
).I'm from Liverpool and don't look too dissimilar to John Parrott, in my mid thirties and can claim my highest break as somewhere near my age (not that I get that very often - I only tend to play about 15-20 times a year these days, and I consider 20 a high break!).
I've played snooker for as long as I can remember, from my mates 4ft table when we were about 8, then on a 6ft table at home in my teens and then swiftly on to full size. I've watched snooker almost as long and can claim it to be one of three sports I genuinely love, the others being football and motorcycle racing.
There's been a lot going on this season, what with the terribly sad death of Paul Hunter (even watching the final yesterday my girlfriend said she couldn't believe he was dead, more than three months on), Ronnie's submission to Stephen Hendry and now last night's emotional final. You'd have a heart of stone not to feel for poor Ding, 19 years old and so far from home, and having to play in front of such a partisan crowd (and the alleged unpleasant remark about 'going back to China') - and all that while being soundly whooped by one of the great performances.
One thing I love about snooker (apart from that complete waste of oxygen in the crowd last night) is the sportsmanship. Sadly it is missing in football quite a lot these days, with players diving and holding their faces. In motorcycle racing it is different from football - sure, I still have my favourites, but I have nothing but respect and admiration for every single rider. And that is the same in snooker.
I can't think of many (any?) occasions where I've actively wanted one player to lose a match. Growing up as a teenager with Steve Davis, I took a long time to form any affection for Stephen Hendry, but sure enough it came along eventually. Rather like a Liverpool fan not too happy to see Manchester United come along and start winning the league, I didn't like to see Steve dethroned by a Morrissey-lookalike upstart. But whereas I still don't like Manchester United
, Stephen Hendry has long been a favourite, and is of course, a credit to the game.Anyway, that's more than enough from me - time to go and read the forums!
Mick.
That's the best introduction I've read in a while, nice work Mick, good to have you here.
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