| Potty? O'Sullivan tells it like it is Snooker's box-office star has a wonderful ability to create drama in a sport that can easily become a bore – as he demonstrated with his 147 outburstLet's get one thing straight. What Ronnie O'Sullivan did at the World Open in Glasgow yesterday was bloody daft. Refusing to complete a 147 break when you've scored 140 and you've got an easy black on the table is petulant, spoilt and an insult to snooker fans. Not the kind of behaviour we need at a time when the sport's reputation is at its nadir and snooker is desperately trying to crawl out of a slough of despond.As for his argument that winning four grand for the highest break is not worth the time it takes to pot the black because after taxes he can't even get a decent holiday out of it, do us a favour Ronnie – put a sock in it.But having said all that, his reluctance to complete the 147 (he was eventually persuaded to finish off by the referee Jan Verhaas who "guilt-tripped" him into doing it) is one of the reasons I love Ronnie. While so many sportsmen have been accused of being on the make in some sly, devious, or downright dishonest manner, Ronnie is the polar opposite. All his loopy behaviour is thoroughly transparent. So where other players are accused of throwing frames, he simply retires from one that he could easily win because he's so disgusted by his own form. And when others want to screw everything they can out of their sport, he turns down a quick four grand to make a political point of sorts.After all, what better way of drawing attention to the fact that there is virtually no money in snooker these days? Yes, he makes a very good living out of the game, as do the handful of players who win competitions. But take away the top 10 and it's virtually impossible to make a living from the sport.The transparency is almost an affliction with Ronnie. He can't help himself. He has to say how things are – or at least how he sees them. When I was ghosting his autobiography, he told me about the time he was in the Priory trying to get to grips with his addictions, naked under the bed sheets, and an elderly nurse walked in and he got a "semi". Strictly speaking, this was not essential information for a snooker memoir. But as far as he was concerned it was. So this is how the conversation went with his mother Maria, the book's taste monitor:Ronnie: "Mum, d'you think I should keep my semi in the book?"Maria: "Well, it's your semi, Ron, you've got to make the choice."So we kept the semi in.Which almost takes us back to yesterday's 147. Ronnie says making a maxi is a special achievement – and should be marked with a special bonus. (At the world championship, a 147 is traditionally rewarded with £147,000.) And he's got a point. But so have the snooker authorities who say the standard is so high these days that a 147 isn't sufficiently special to merit a reward in every tournament (plus, they can no longer insure against a 147).Ronnie has always had a wonderful ability to create drama out of a sport that can easily become a snore bore. And yesterday he did it again. After all, in almost refusing to complete his 147 he made more news than he would have done if he'd quietly, politely made a record-breaking 10th maximum in competition. And however much the snooker overlord Barry Hearn might protest that Ronnie is in danger of bringing the game into disrepute, he must be thankful that snooker's presiding genius has once again got the country talking about the sport for (almost) the right reasons.Ronnie O'SullivanSnookerSimon Hattenstoneguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Yankees rally to beat Red Sox 4-3 in 10 innings By RONALD BLUM 2010-09-27T04:13:06ZNEW YORK (AP) -- On a night when Mariano Rivera and Jonathan Papelbon both failed to hold ninth-inning leads, Juan Miranda drew a bases-loaded walk from Hideki Okajima in the 10th that gave the New York Yankees a dramatic 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night.... hosted.ap.org |
Westwood fails to become world No1 • Martin Kaymer wins Dunhill Links from Danny Willett• Westwood confirms he will not play again this monthLee Westwood failed in his bid to take over from Tiger Woods as the world No1 at St Andrews. Westwood needed to finish first or second in the Dunhill Links Championship, but ended up in joint 11th as Martin Kaymer made it an extraordinary three wins in succession with a three-stroke victory.Westwood, struggling with a recurrence of his calf injury, then confirmed he would not play again until next month at the earliest – and that guarantees he will end the five-year reign of Woods in three weeks' time unless the American changes his plans and enters a tournament.Kaymer, winner of the US PGA title in August and the KLM Open in Holland last month, shot a superb closing 66 in cold and windy conditions to leave England's Danny Willett still chasing his first European Tour title.Willett finished two shots behind the German while John Parry, who had a two-shot lead going into the final round, was another stroke back in third.Lee WestwoodGolfguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Bears' Matt Forte a perfect fit in Mike Martz's quick-strike attack Two of the longest touchdowns from scrimmage in the NFL this season were produced by the powerful legs of Matt Forte. He opened the season by ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
Molina facing Giants in Rangers' 1st World Series By STEPHEN HAWKINS 2010-10-25T17:07:55ZARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Both of Bengie Molina's teams are in the World Series.... hosted.ap.org |