Ssb - jungle jimmy gets wembley wildcard

[Templeton Peck]

How the Bloody hell can they get a following if dinosaurs are wheeled out of their retirement home every time theres a bloody wild card on offer ?

In most tournaments a wildcard scenario doesn't arise, although I wouldn't be against rankers having a couple of wildcards on top of the 32 field if it creates some sell-out matches. Robertson's popularity is growing, although I'm not sure to what extent an Australian can draw a large British crowd. Paul Hunter was developing a huge following, so it's a shame he got the short straw and not Graeme Dott or Ebdon or someone. But these players inherit popularity by playing other popular players, so it's important to have the crowds there so these new players can ingratiate themselves.

[CueAntW147]

lol i think you might be right there mate, they must be afraid to come out of the closet and display theyre true feelings

I cant wait either

Lol..........hope santa's listening i want some tickets........

Can't wait to hear him be introduced at Wembley......the roof will lift.....

" Here he is the Whirlwind of old london town........Jimmy White " .........!!!!

[Odrl]

Cant understand why only a few of us agree and are happy about this.....if it was wenbo and king playing, i probably wouldnt watch, along with loads and loads of other tv viewers, and the arena would be empty...... whereas jimmy against king, ill be watching, biting my nails, along with loads and loads of other tv viewers, and the arena will be packed to the rafters.

I think you've answered your own question there. People that want to watch the best players in the world will be watching if White is in it or not. People that only want to watch White will only watch his match, and won't make any difference for the rest of the tournament.

I never miss a match when White is playing. If he qualifies for a tournament, it means he was the best of all the players that could have reached the TV stage in that particular part of the draw, and I'm not missing out on anything.

But if he doesn't qualify, the place to see him is in exhibitions, not the Masters. I want to see the best possible players in the Masters.

[attilahun]

This is the right word..Jim is a LEGEND of snooker not a burden, and all of you who are criticising the decision to grant him the wildcard actually watched him play and you were amazed by his skill. And now when hes past his prime you seem to forget what Jimmy did for snooker and for the fans.

PS Maybe in a few years the same story will happen to another player who is struggling at the moment.....i cant wait to see what will be your reaction.

[CueAntW147]

As already mentioned i think its also important here we remember Paul Hunter he too was a great guy & a great crowd puller especiallly at Wembley.

He's probably the only other player i would have loved to have seen there along with Jimmy......

He played entertaining snooker & its a real shame he never got to shine longer, he is very sadly missed...........

[attilahun]

Watch this in case you all forget what Jimmy means to snooker .....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abFGUNCv9hM

[noel]

Pro Snooker is ENTERTAINMENT.

Older die-hard fans ( the majority of the audiences I bet ) want to thrill at the skill of the younguns, but even more importantly, see older, wiser, veterans ( like the audience sees itself by and large ) teach the younguns how it's done. They want to see Jimmy or Stephen or Steve spank Judd Trump. Some want to see Ronnie demolish the "infidels". Some are there to root for Judd and Liang and Neil... and that's the audience that has to be built, and that is the HUGE challenge for Mr. Hearn and crew.
But for sure there has to be DRAMA and that is only possible if the audience identifies with the protagonists and antagonists.
And it takes a long time for young pro players to develop... not just their winning skill sets but a FOLLOWING.
Jimmy and Stephen bring that to every match they're in.
Let alone Ronnie.
And while some brilliant young snooker player struggles to get ahead and grow a moustache is replaced by a "Star",
it's really important to keep in mind that... nobody is going to BUY TICKETS to see a "nobody".

Snooker should take closer notice of the UFC success than Darts IMHO.
But that's the subject of another thread...



=o)

Noel

[jw147]

Thats true, Paul would have had a huge following by now had he not passed away, hes sadly missed. He also loved the masters and did so well at wembley.

it would be unbelievable if jimmy could win it for him.:snooker:

[CueAntW147]

Have a look at these 2 links great stuff!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoKj9FpqDDo



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE5oIzVv89Y

[mstone]

I don't know if anyone has suggested this already BUT what if its true about Ronnie O'Sullivan going into the celebrity BB house and Hearn knows this, then he can always give Ronnies place to Wenbo??

My guess is that Ronnie will play the Masters but stranger things have happened!

Oldgit

true if ronnie goes into the bb house then there's a place up for grabs then if wenbo gets that will you guys be ok with jimmy being there that could be why hearn has given jimmy the wild card because if ronnie isn't going to be there then crowds might be abit lower .

[mstone]

A nice easy draw for King



Virtual bye: King will fancy his chances against the ailing White

it wont be that easy white beat higgins and dott in that tournament in Prague he played pretty good in that .

[mick 142]

jimmy had the wild card in oct that is a fact .the people in charge got such a shock at the crowds at the grand prix that they kneed to fill seats and jimmy puts bums on seats that is why he got the wild card .

[April madness]

jimmy had the wild card in oct that is a fact .the people in charge got such a shock at the crowds at the grand prix that they kneed to fill seats and jimmy puts bums on seats that is why he got the wild card .

I am afraid that will be only for one match on weekend. On the weekday, when Jimmy won't be playing, it will be same old story - the Arena will be half empty. Not that big difference. But good luck to Jimmy, I hope he puts up a good fight - I saw his last match at the Arena, and it wasn't his best performance.

[missneworleans]

White will be quite jaded after the celebrity

[wildJONESEYE]

mate he is not in first flushes of youth.

i was as much a fan of his as anyone but harping back is holding the sport back.