Ssb - fears grow for alex higgins

[jb134]

Thank goodness he's still got the strength to put a bet on.

[Quackers]

Alex Higgins is quite possibly the reason I took up snooker.
There is no doubt that his arrival to the game brought a new dimension to it. The games popularity soared in those days.
But, having said all that I have no doubt that the game's popularity was not in the forefront of his mind at the time. It appeared to me that Alex Higgins was in the game for what Alex Higgins could get out of it. He made good money and he lost it (some stolen, no doubt) but we all make mistakes and have to live with them. I met him more than once in his hey day and I can't say that he struck me as a nice fellow. In fact he was damned abusive at times.
But, again, having said all that I wish the man well and hope that he can fully recover.
If people feel the need to donate to any fund set up, then good luck to them - and him.

[Harv]

I'd only donate if it went directly to the NHS i'm afraid. Very sad state of affairs tbh. Legend.

[Kingscratcher]

I agree with Wild's and a few of the other guys' comments earlier in the thread. I find it incredible that people see the need to come on here and slag Higgins off despite his condition. Likewise the ones that simply refuse to acknowledge what he did for the game. If you don't like the guy, that's fine, but some of the stick he takes on here is ridiculous. Virtually every player in the game has refused autographs at some stage, but that's ok because they're not Alex Higgins. I've met him a load of times over the years and never had a problem with autographs, photos, memorabilia or anything else. Obviously he's behaved badly at times, probably more than most, but his contribution to the game outshone all that for me. None of the bile on here will change my opinion of him. It looks like the money has already been raised to help him, so hopefully he can build himself up a bit and get back on the baize. Good luck, Alex!!

[wildJONESEYE]

I agree with Wild's and a few of the other guys' comments earlier in the thread. I find it incredible that people see the need to come on here and slag Higgins off despite his condition. Likewise the ones that simply refuse to acknowledge what he did for the game. If you don't like the guy, that's fine, but some of the stick he takes on here is ridiculous. Virtually every player in the game has refused autographs at some stage, but that's ok because they're not Alex Higgins. I've met him a load of times over the years and never had a problem with autographs, photos, memorabilia or anything else. Obviously he's behaved badly at times, probably more than most, but his contribution to the game outshone all that for me. None of the bile on here will change my opinion of him. It looks like the money has already been raised to help him, so hopefully he can build himself up a bit and get back on the baize. Good luck, Alex!!

let me tell you something in a exhibition about 15 years ago he was playing jimmy he lost to jimmy and he was in a very bad mood because he lost a exhibition match i went up to him asked him for a autograph and he told me no im sighning f all. thats life you cant expect other people to react like you expect them to ive herd about David Vine refusing autograffs and blanked people John Parrott aswell it happens dont take it persanal.

[Kingscratcher]

let me tell you something in a exhibition about 15 years ago he was playing jimmy he lost to jimmy and he was in a very bad mood because he lost a exhibition match i went up to him asked him for a autograph and he told me no im sighning f all. thats life you cant expect other people to react like you expect them to ive herd about David Vine refusing autograffs and blanked people John Parrott aswell it happens dont take it persanal.

Exactly - these things happen regularly, and all players have been guilty of it at some stage - sometimes you'd think Higgins was the only player who'd ever refused an autograph though.

[rambon]

I was responsible for a major change at a company that I worked for which ultimately turned round its fortunes. Ultimately though, having gone as far as I could with them, I left them, under a cloud and moved on, leaving behind a certain amount of antagonism. I got a good bonus from them at the time for doing the work I did for them, and some company shares as well, which I sold for a profit.

If I ever fall on hard times, should I go back to them cap in hand? By the sounds of a lot of peoples' arguments I have a right to, as they would not be raking in the profits they are today without what I did 12 years ago.

Oh and one other thing. I think I'm being relatively rounded and grounded here with my thoughts. I do feel sorry for the human situation that the Hurricane fins himself in, and would never wish ill on anyone, let alone someone in such a frail state as Alex. However, I just feel that throwing vast sums of money at him is inappropriate and unjust when other ex-players who haven't received as much help go about re-building their lives outside snooker.

[wildJONESEYE]

I was responsible for a major change at a company that I worked for which ultimately turned round its fortunes. Ultimately though, having gone as far as I could with them, I left them, under a cloud and moved on, leaving behind a certain amount of antagonism. I got a good bonus from them at the time for doing the work I did for them, and some company shares as well, which I sold for a profit.

If I ever fall on hard times, should I go back to them cap in hand? By the sounds of a lot of peoples' arguments I have a right to, as they would not be raking in the profits they are today without what I did 12 years ago.

Oh and one other thing. I think I'm being relatively rounded and grounded here with my thoughts. I do feel sorry for the human situation that the Hurricane fins himself in, and would never wish ill on anyone, let alone someone in such a frail state as Alex. However, I just feel that throwing vast sums of money at him is inappropriate and unjust when other ex-players who haven't received as much help go about re-building their lives outside snooker.

ive never said anyone should put their hands in their pockets thats something for you and your cercanstance or feeling to do i was mearly saying lets never forget why we are all here today on TSF a very big reason was the impact Alex had on the game.

he is nicknamed the hurricane because of the speed he used to play at but there is another reason Alex came in to snooker and turned everything about the game upside down made kids think yes i can play this game its not only for my dad one kid like that was Jimmy White and everything about the path snooker took after Alex changed to what it would have taken without him.

[dannyd0g]

There are at least 10 players i can think of with over a million pounds in winnings. ..........

10 snooker millionaires.... £2000 each.

I had the same thought when I read about this need to raise £20,000. Surely for the top 20 earners in snooker £1,000 would be as nothing for them. His supposed best mates on the tour are multi millionaires, i am completely baffled as to why they havent sorted this sad state of affairs.

There is a hell of a lot of money floating around in snooker. Its disgraceful for this appeal to have to go out to the fans IMO when there are so many players around who have become seriously rich off the sport.

[rambon]

I had the same thought when I read about this need to raise £20,000. Surely for the top 20 earners in snooker £1,000 would be as nothing for them. His supposed best mates on the tour are multi millionaires, i am completely baffled as to why they havent sorted this sad state of affairs.

There is a hell of a lot of money floating around in snooker. Its disgraceful for this appeal to have to go out to the fans IMO when there are so many players around who have become seriously rich off the sport.

But Higgins himself was a snooker millionaire, and had he managed his life even slightly better than he has, he would not need to fall on his contemporaries for charity.

If my best mate urinated his substantial salary up a wall, smoked himself to a seemingly early grave thanks to cancer, gambled away over 50% of his career earnings (and all this despite my warnings that he needed to look at himself) I probably wouldn't help him out either.

[aussie147]

^^ i agree 100% about that. £20,000 is peanuts for these top players especially if the top 20 contributed £1k each... Most players earn ridiculous amounts these days. Even relatively unknown pro's on the tour can earn quite alot in cash from playing exhibitions.... ( i know a few)!

[ADR147]

why on earth should a current top player who is earning good money and saving it for the future put his hand in his pocket for somebody who has squandered and gambled their huge fortune away

[dannyd0g]

why on earth should a current top player who is earning good money and saving it for the future put his hand in his pocket for somebody who has squandered and gambled their huge fortune away

Because he's a former colleague who has fallen on desperate hard times. I dont think people should turn their backs on that. Maybe he has not managed his own affairs well, but maybe he couldnt help himself.

Whatver the case may be, he certainly needs help now. And for snooker rich list a three figure sum would probably not even be noticed.

[noel]

NOW... at this moment


Try to answer that question with your heart if you can.


=o|

Noel

[ADR147]

Because he's a former colleague who has fallen on desperate hard times. I dont think people should turn their backs on that. Maybe he has not managed his own affairs well, but maybe he couldnt help himself.

Whatver the case may be, he certainly needs help now. And for snooker rich list a three figure sum would probably not even be noticed.

well i am bias in that i have met him!