the only one

[tony11]

hi there to everybody!forgive my english cause im not so good at it
ive been watching snooker this last 2 years again and i must say that is not as good as before
there is not even one player that is complete
and to listen to comentators is really boring cause all they speak is about ronnie o sullivan like he is the best player to have ever playd snooker!
how come?i dont get it?what has he done to be the best?i dont see it from results and from his game!he is just so arrogant and no respect for other players at all
in a way he really think he is good looking(and hes not)he thinks he is the best(and hes not)
and to comentators i must say u have to stop speaking only about him
i dont know why he would be the best
tell me one reason!is it cause he is english?what is the reason?somebody tell me!!!!
to all of u who think he is really something i have just one name
STEPHEN HENDRY

[oymyakon]

Tony,
all things are relatively.
Hi and welcome to our party!
What is the weather like at the Balkans?

[April madness]

hi Tony, a nice introduction In my opinion, snooker is very competitive nowadays, and there are many complete players, maybe they are not perfect, but then who of living humans on the world is perfect? The Pope?

And re Ronnie - I guess there's a difference of being best (well, I'd say one of the best and one of the most exciting players when at his best - in my opinion) and being the most successful. Usually everybody would expect both things go side by side, but in Ronnie's case, unfortunately that has not happened. But for Stephen Hendry and STEVE DAVIS, the other name that I think should've been added, they have been the best and the most successful in their best days

welcome and join in the interesting discussions about snooker, I like the way you started your presence here with your first post

[Robert602]

Hi tony11

I think you've got to give credit where it's due. Say what you will about Ronnie's personality (although I think a read of his autobiography might make you reconsider a few of those criticisms) but he is an exceptional talent.

To some extent his natural fluency and touch comes through in all his games but for some recent examples of where it all comes together, try the Masters finals of 2005 or 2007, or any of the 2004 World championship. I went to an exhibition of his last month and he knocked in two maximums, almost three. At times he plays snooker like no one else has ever played it. He's had an indifferent season by his standards but is still miles ahead in the century lists.

In short, he's a superb player when his head is in the right place, still regarded by most (including Hendry) as 'the man to beat'. This is coming from a Hendry fan, and I think most others would tell you the same thing. Which one is actually better just depends on your definition, it's a question that's been discussed dozens of times before, but I think we should all be able to agree that they're both great players.

[belfast141]

Best

People seem to rate the best player the one who can run around the table the fastest pottin the balls... A higgins/white/o'sullivan.... i class the best as who has won the most titles... hendry / davis....but thats just me.

[April madness]

People seem to rate the best player the one who can run around the table the fastest pottin the balls... A higgins/white/o'sullivan.... i class the best as who has won the most titles... hendry / davis....but thats just me.

And some people think they know the only real reason why other people rate Higgins/White/O'Sullivan so high? I'd rather avoid such an easy generalization

[gingerale]

Welcome on TSF, tony11.
Which tournament broadcast are you watching in Albania, BBC or Eurosport?
April and Robert already commented on your thoughts about Ronnie O'Sullivan. I may add that he is kind of a 'figurehead' for the game nowadays when it comes to public relations. Besides Steve Davis he's the one who seems to be most known to an audience who generally tends to switch the channel when they see that green table on their TV screens and he's often the first one known to people who just started watching Snooker. This may be due to his ability of knocking in spectacular high breaks which sticks in mind when people just start to understand the rules. In short: sponsorship deals are very important for the game, Ronnie O’Sullivan is important for the game when it comes to gain new audiences. For this reason and to please his huge amount of fans nearly every match he’s involved in is aired (I remember that overdose during the Grand Prix) - and he is a good player.
All that 'he’s the best whatsoever' discussions are another topic and part of his public image.

[Maija]

Hey Tony :-)

I can understand your frustration... I really can. Commentators who only go on and on about the sheer brilliance (and so on and so forth) of Ronnie or ANY other player are annoying. Still, credit where credit is due, as Robert pointed out, Ronnie is capable of producing amazing snooker when he can keep his head on his shoulders and his interest in the match.

You know what? I'd rather have a handful of players who could all be labelled as "the best" than having one superb player take home all the titles and trophies. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not trying to have a dig at Hendry or Davis; I just want to watch good, exciting, interesting and thrilling snooker!

Aaaanyway, nuff of that - I hope you enjoy it here, Tony!

[missneworleans]

Welcome to TSF Tony!

[Wim]

Hi tony11

I think you've got to give credit where it's due. Say what you will about Ronnie's personality (although I think a read of his autobiography might make you reconsider a few of those criticisms) but he is an exceptional talent.

To some extent his natural fluency and touch comes through in all his games but for some recent examples of where it all comes together, try the Masters finals of 2005 or 2007, or any of the 2004 World championship. I went to an exhibition of his last month and he knocked in two maximums, almost three. At times he plays snooker like no one else has ever played it. He's had an indifferent season by his standards but is still miles ahead in the century lists.

In short, he's a superb player when his head is in the right place, still regarded by most (including Hendry) as 'the man to beat'. This is coming from a Hendry fan, and I think most others would tell you the same thing. Which one is actually better just depends on your definition, it's a question that's been discussed dozens of times before, but I think we should all be able to agree that they're both great players.

I must have written a dozen times what i think about Osullivan so i won't again now but I do really agree with what you say Robert! And subjective arguments like 'he thinks he is good looking', and 'he is arrogant' are irrational and not very convincing Tony, are they ?
And Hendry, well he is from another planet as well, I fully agree!
Welcome Tony

[belfast141]

And some people think they know the only real reason why other people rate Higgins/White/O'Sullivan so high? I'd rather avoid such an easy generalization

Dont know if u agreed or disagreed with me there - but never worry lol

[Robert602]

You implied that the only reason people like Ronnie's play is the speed at which he pots. I think April's point is that you shouldn't tar all of Ronnie's fans with that rather simplistic brush. I'm sure as a good player yourself you recognise that there's much more to Ronnie's better performances than speed.

[belfast141]

You implied that the only reason people like Ronnie's play is the speed at which he pots. I think April's point is that you shouldn't tar all of Ronnie's fans with that rather simplistic brush. I'm sure as a good player yourself you recognise that there's much more to Ronnie's better performances than speed.

I dont think any1 can deny the reason why O'sullivan is such a big draw and puts bums-on-seats in all the tournaments he plays in is because he is so unpredictable and is far less methodical than say Dott , Ebdon or Hendry , this is why i watch him and think any tournament without him wud be boring - but Hendry in my eyes is the best snooker player ever... Ronnis is an entertainer like White/Higgy....

[Wim]

An entertainer ? If by that you mean that the way he outplayed Ding at the Masters was very entertaining then indeed I agree

[Valderie]

Welcome Tony - as you can see I am also a Stephen Hendry fan - I hope you enjoy the chat on these boards.