Ssb - jungle jimmy gets wembley wildcard

[snooky147]

I am a Jimmy White fan but this decision is a complete and utter travesty for the integrity of the game.

[attilahun]

To be fair, he didnt deserve this wildcard, but im so glad he got it. Jimmy at the Masters will be great to watch (for me at least).

[spike]

Of course Jimmy puts bums on seats but this seems a complete waste of a wildcard, i think he will do (very well to beat Mark King) let alone progress any further in the tournament.

[Mal]

He has been playing better this season and last, but to justify the decision he really needs to be getting onto the TV stages more (I'm a celebrity doesn't count!) Having said that, perhaps if he had not competed on that programme, he may not have got the wildcard - it's cashing in on renewed public interest.

The following players are more deserving...
Wenbo
Walden (both reached finals and provisionally top 16)
Swail (also did last season, but poor aside from that)
Doherty - has looked much better this season and top 16 in one year list - only 3 years ago he was provisionally nuimber one leading into world champs)
Trump - did well in PL, but poor in rankers
Davis - still battling away and a legend so would draw some crowd.
You could add another 20 to this list, but I would say the above would be justifiable ahead of White and would still be known to the public and have all done something of merit. Wenbo is outstanding choise, but I felt he should have competed in qualifying.

[rivercard]

That's a surprise.. especially after he pulled out of the UK. Maybe this will be his last season as a pro (his ranking isn't very good), but I still don't agree with this decision. I hope he wins at least one match to prove he was worth it.

[Matt_2745]

Maybe this will be his last season as a pro (his ranking isn't very good)

If he can get a wildcard into this then I can't imagine that he would be overlooked for one of the main tour wildcards at the end of the season. No way he won't be playing next season for me.

[Monique]

This is obviously a barry hearn style move people can say its sir rod's fault but last year he gave the wild card to walden and the previous year fu neither of whom are big crowd pullers.

I don't think it has anything to do with Barry Hearn being at the wheel.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/celebrit...he-jungle.html

This is from November 12, well before the vote. Looking at the last paragraph it seems that Jimmy knew already.

[superaussie]

I don't think it has anything to do with Barry Hearn being at the wheel.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/celebrit...he-jungle.html

This is from November 12, well before the vote. Looking at the last paragraph it seems that Jimmy knew already.

rather odd because sir rods track record of the last 2 masters suggests he doesnt go for popularity

walden and fu are not real crowd pullers

[spike]

If he can get a wildcard into this then I can't imagine that he would be overlooked for one of the main tour wildcards at the end of the season. No way he won't be playing next season for me.

I remember you saying in the 'Get Me Out Of Here I'm A Celebrity' thread that if Jimmy gets to play in The Masters you wont be watching, is this still going to be the case Matt?

[April madness]

I don't think it has anything to do with Barry Hearn being at the wheel.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/celebrit...he-jungle.html

This is from November 12, well before the vote. Looking at the last paragraph it seems that Jimmy knew already.

But on the other hand, the new board could look into the decision and change it before it was announced? I suppose the reason for the late announcement was so that board members can finalize their decision based on UK championship results. The old board could maybe mention Jimmy that he's considered as a potential wild card, but was the final decision taken then?

[Monique]

But on the other hand, the new board could look into the decision and change it before it was announced? I suppose the reason for the late announcement was so that board members can finalize their decision based on UK championship results. The old board could maybe mention Jimmy that he's considered as a potential wild card, but was the final decision taken then?

Obviously I don't know Madz... but Jimmy's statement is quite positive there.

I've got the Masters coming up in January

no maybe...

[Looki]

The old board could maybe mention Jimmy that he's considered as a potential wild card, but was the final decision taken then?

It would be rather odd that they'd rush mentioning about their plans for every potential candidate that they have considered... Wouldn't it?

[visionaire]

I'm fine with it, one last major appearance by the Whirlwind of London Town!

Liang will get his chance people, first everyone goes on about Jimmy being such a great player and being such a legend and that they want him big in the big events, and now he is, and people are arguing over it. Trust me, Wenbo is a good enough player to make it there on his own strength one day.

[JasonFrancis]

jimmy wild card

i did call this a few months back, what people need to understand whether they agree or not, is that the wildcard choice is massivley influenced by the sponsors not just world snooker. They want guarenteed return and exposure for their brand and that is driven by, as you say, bums on seats.

Also if the rumour is true that Ronnie won't be playing that did leave the tournament without a 'fans favourite' and world snooker sweating on sales.

By placing Jimmy in it they get exposure today in the press, good attendance for the event and in truth by playing Mark King rather than one of the top 4 he does have a realisitc chance of progressing.

No one can argue Lian Wenbo's credentials but he will be a top 16 player soon no doubt, if it was your cash and you were looking for a return who outside of the top 16 will sell more seats and generate more publicity than Jimmy?........ its a sign of the times. One thing for sure is that Jimmy won't take this wild card as a publicity stunt, he will be putting in the hours over Christmas practisiing very hard. Please don't be anti jimmy, he had no influence on their choice!

[rivercard]

If he can get a wildcard into this then I can't imagine that he would be overlooked for one of the main tour wildcards at the end of the season. No way he won't be playing next season for me.

Yes, that's probably true, but pulling out of the UK made me wonder where his priorities lie. But yes, if he asks for a wild-card I'm fairly sure he will get it too.