Clive Everton talks rubbish.

[gingerale]

i think the term NATURAL talent is a bad description.

hes has superb ability. natural? what like he just picked up the cue and doesnt need to think about it or practise? its a stupid phrase IMO

fully agree on this.
anyone knows who actually brought up the natural ability/talent/gifted term?
It seems to be strictly linked to O'Sullivan. Maybe it started in other sports to praise 'natural ability' back the time when O'Sullivan became popular and pundits started to use the term for snooker as well. Can't remember Alex Higgins being linked with the natural thing, he's always been called a genius. With good reason

[gavpowell]

fully agree on this.
anyone knows who actually brought up the natural ability/talent/gifted term?
It seems to be strictly linked to O'Sullivan. Maybe it started in other sports to praise 'natural ability' back the time when O'Sullivan became popular and pundits started to use the term for snooker as well. Can't remember Alex Higgins being linked with the natural thing, he's always been called a genius. With good reason

No, but to be able to do it with a lot less work than others is how the natural talent thing works. Couldn't tell you about Alex, but it was used to describe Jimmy when he was on his way up. Someone like Walter Donaldson used it, and I don't think anyone denies Ronnie's more talented than Jimmy.

I think natural talent is a perfectly good description, in the same way as it is with Woods and probably Federer.

[Le Ball Sack]

So that means Man U have a natural talent for winning everything.

[Teresa]

To me the term Genius is usually associated with a natural talent/ability and a flaw in their life and that is why commentators use it so much in reference to Ronnie.

[Jlaix]

That's a very valid argument & a good example. But one could also argue that O'Sullivan (irrespective of his mental health) seems to be spurred by playing (and usually performs well against) the likes of Hendry, Williams & Higgins (even when he loses) so a possible scenario would be 50/50 or 60/40 win-loss ratio for any of the 4 players.

Like you said, the question will never have a concrete answer but when you come to think of it, it would have been awesome for the game if all 4 were to appear on the scene at the same time battling it out tournament after tournament.

Ronnie playing the big names like Williams, Higgins and Hendry does spur him on, evident in the Premiere League last year where he described Hendry as playing the "professional game", how he goes for his shots. The type of game, he says, he likes to play

He's stated in interview that unless he's involved in a, "..final at the worlds..", or similar, he finds it very difficult to get motivated for a match.

[gavpowell]

So that means Man U have a natural talent for winning everything.

How can a collective have any talent at all? It has to be measured on the level of individual players, surely? I'm totally ignorant of football, mind you.