Pete - I guess Mr Higgins was pretty unedifying at times, but at the table nothing less than compelling. Its always thought provoking to try to put yourself into his place and think whether you could have handled the fame, money and temptations and worked out who your real mates were. You would like to think you would have got it right, but I suspect that in those days the agents and managers were less professional in their approach and like in some other sports (boxing, darts ?) when a person such as Higgins comes along the sport isnt prepared for it and in the inevitable media scrum, siren voices can lead you astray. Sure he was responsible for his actions, but some people need more help than others. I would imagine a number of his "mates" have crossed by on the other side in recent times.
Funnily enough I happened to watch the famous frame against Jimmy White (1982 World semi-final ?) on YouTube about 4 weeks ago. It still grips you after all these years, particularly when the cueball gets more & more out of position but he keeps on potting, not at "Hurricane" pace, but still quicker than others. And the crowd were so up for it. Poor old Jimmy, he never stood a chance after that.
Alex
Date: 2010-07-25 03:04 pm (UTC)Funnily enough I happened to watch the famous frame against Jimmy White (1982 World semi-final ?) on YouTube about 4 weeks ago. It still grips you after all these years, particularly when the cueball gets more & more out of position but he keeps on potting, not at "Hurricane" pace, but still quicker than others. And the crowd were so up for it. Poor old Jimmy, he never stood a chance after that.
Be in touch
Richard