Ronnie O'Sullivan

In 2008, this man has shown us all of sport.

He accidentally the whole of sport?

He has shown us levity, self-doubt, passion, impassiveness, grace in defeat, fragility, and mastery.

Unfortunately, he has also shown us how tenuous the connection between a sportsman and his craft can be. A man expected to nail every pot, expected to express himself at the pinnacle of seemingly endless powers every time he wields a cue, he has shown himself to be uncomfortable with the very facts of his talent. I write this having witnessed him play two of the worst shots, surely, of his career, followed by a premature and sudden concession of frame. Had there not been a mid-session interval, I am certain the match would have been conceded as well. O'Sullivan is ending 2008 once again ill at ease with snooker.

O'Sullivan is probably the greatest human being currently living.

In a way, the fact he sees the bigger picture, the fact he doesn't want to be "R O'S the snooker-player" but a man who plays snooker, is both to his immense credit and the reason he is not a Hendry-style automaton... the reason he has these moments of collapse. More importantly, he is remarkably level-headed about *life* in the same way that he cannot be about such a piffling triviality as snooker.

He is fantastic, in other words. In him can be seen an open, honest and occasionally very mischievous breakdown of sport's value(s).

Dom, I've already said he's my runaway personal pick for SPOTY '08, and today's events have no way changed that.

P.S. I'm hoping he comes back to the table now and wins. Just 'coz he can. :D

...not today.

he is my celebrity double

typical romantic eulogising of defeat here

he hadn't quite lost at that point. altho low-rent simon barnes acknowledged

He's about a billion times more entertaining than all other professional snooker players combined, but that's still not saying much. Still classic though, and I love it when he flips out, but love it more when he destroys all comers.

The Money Shop, the UK's number one instant cash provider, has signed up to become one of Ronnie O'Sullivan's official sponsors.

The deal will see The Money Shop's website appear prominently on the front of Ronnie O'Sullivan's official playing waistcoat and also provide the UK's largest network of high street instant cash providers with a host of properties to enable the brand to engage customers and employees in the sponsorship.

Andrew Bryan, marketing director for The Money Shop, said: "The Money Shop is the UK's number one instant cash provider and linking with snooker's No.1 player is fantastic. Sponsoring Ronnie O'Sullivan gives us an excellent opportunity to drive high levels of national television and media exposure for our brand.

He continued: "The time we have with Ronnie O'Sullivan will also allow us to engage customers and employees in the sponsorship, deliver key communication messages and ultimately ensure the sponsorship is more than just a name on his waistcoat."

The Money Shop logo will appear on Ronnie O'Sullivan's waistcoat throughout the remaining Premier League fixtures, the Masters, UK Championships, China Open, Welsh Open and World Championships.

The Money Shop is the largest network of high street instant cash providers in the UK, having grown over the last 10 years to 250 stores nationwide. Products include cheque cashing, payday loans, pawnbroking, money transfers and foreign exchange.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gf9mDfoakvw3BTFFezVyP9MTSwVg

Cock.

this fucking guy :D

dude's just next-level

"I wasn't going to pot the black because to make 147 and not really get a nice bonus was a bit disappointing because they are magical moments and they deserve magical bonuses,"

vs

"It's a great achievement to make a 140 and not pot the black. It shows that to me they are not that difficult to make."

in the same interview

though this is great

Ronnie O'Sullivan fired a remarkable 147 break at the World Open in Glasgow after halting play when on eight points to check the prize for a maximum.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/9016342.stm

dude doesn't find it difficult to make magical moments, also loves trolling the snooker world, is also OUR twat

also that last detail is awesome

only Ronnie

is also OUR twat

He holds you (and every other snooker fan) in complete contempt you know.

don't rly care

so does Mark E Smith

Being Attracted To Someone You Find Intensely "Annoying" - Classic or Dud

the abusive relationship between ronnie o'sullivan and myself will surely result in tragedy

WalkeWalked past him at Glasgow airport today. Was proper starstruck

Lol at my phone.

Is this snooker version of Usain Bolt slowing down about 10m from the line at a 100m race?

re: contempt: I'd have to watch this for Ronnie's body language. Sounds like a bit of a jokey thing from the report.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p35MGTpYfTI

Nothing too bad there. Its quite funny, and sorta awesome, that he checked on the prize money for the break and then went on to do it.

Also Mark E Smith = Alex Higgins, btw.

That Fall doc's well worth seeing if you haven't before and you enjoy watching Alex Higgins-looking dudes mumble into their chests.

― Hongro Horace (Noodle Vague), Monday, 6 September 2010 10:26 (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Ronnie otm btw - nothing for a 147 is some cheap shit

In the post-match interview with the BBC it was put to him that money aside it must be a great feeling getting a maxi in front of his fans and he pretty much said "not really" then asked about playing former people's champ Jimmy White tomorrow and how that would be great for the fans and again was sort of "yeah whatever".

He honestly doesn't give a fuck about any of the people putting money in his pocket and if anything resents them for not putting more in. Maybe he should do what John Higgins didn't do (honest, lawyer dudes) if that's what motivates him more than winning and playing well and hitting maxis and lifting trophies.

All of us know its a rollecoaster with the guy. It sounds like the enthusiasm wasn't quite there after beating Mark King on a best of 5 match, you know!

So is this 'wacky' idea what's gonna bring snooker back to 18 million viewers on BBC2 after midnight?

he's a prick. watching him now.

^second bit is all anyone in snooker cares about. I don't get why the BBC keeps trying to get to the man behind the enigma and endlessly covers his on-never-really-off relationship with the game. They should just show the games and ignore him off table. That way you only see the best of the player and can forget the worst of the man.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/9027943.stm

all a big wind up and he's not motivated by money etc

I think in most sports, or walks of life, he'd just be an utter prick, but in such a charisma-free zone as snooker he's a bit of a godsend.

he's a total godsend. i like ronnie because he does, as the spanish say, whatever comes out of his balls. is he a bit of a prick? yes, in one facet of his life he is a prick, he might be a lovely guy if you know him personally - i don't know or care, he just doesn't give a fuck for the world of snooker and its followers.

yeah. If I were enormously talented at something I didn't especially care about then I couldn't guarantee being Mr Nice Guy about it all. And I am good friends with lots of utter pricks, so plz Ronnie don't take that too badly.

Retired for the season, damn:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/nov/06/ronnie-osullivan-return-snooker

Think its some achievement to win as much as he has -- and in the manner he has -- w/all the issues.

Would dearly love him to return to the world championship but four titles of incredible play is pretty good. Been a pleasure to see him building breaks for 15 years.

so this guy's pretty good then

Either that or the other guys all suck.

147 to win the match: that's nothing to do with the other guys

6th world title coming up!

This fucking guy, man.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVfUhWjkp0A

Also, this one, where play is stopped after he pots 2 balls because he wants to know what a 147 is worth in this tournament:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7We78kb1BeI

the prize for a maximum break used to be a lada car. the joke used to be that the prize for missing the final black is two lada cars ha ha ha

I think he's my favourite sports person (which isn't really saying a lot, if I'm honest).

Ridiculous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GMIrDjdbDk

01) 00:00 World Championship 1997 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Mick Price <- fastest ever
02) 06:19 Regal Welsh Open 1999 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v James Wattana
03) 13:50 Grand Prix 1999 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Graeme Dott
04) 22:40 Regal Scottish Masters 2000 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Quinten Hann
05) 29:50 LG Cup 2001 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Drew Henry
06) 37:28 World Championship 2003 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Marco Fu
07) 47:00 Northern Ireland Trophy 2007 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Ali Carter
08} 55:42 UK Championship 2007 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Mark Selby
09) 1:04:44 World Championship 2008 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Mark Williams
10) 1:14:21 World Open 2010 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Mark King
11) 1:26:10 Players Tour Championship 2011 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Adam Duffy
12) 1:35:40 Welsh Open Final 2014 - Ronnie O´Sullivan v Ding Junhui

That first break is one of the greatest break I'll ever see. Put the youtube on but wondering what the point is - like it happened yesterday.

https://www.facebook.com/labourparty/videos/vb.25749647410/10152774839067411/?type=2&theater

tick.jpg

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/35581281

Ronnie O'Sullivan was criticised by World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn for turning down the chance of a maximum 147 break at the Welsh Open because the £10,000 prize money was "too cheap".