Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins

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Liamos

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Just thought it was incredibly sad that one of my boyhood heroes, Alex Higgins died over the weekend alone and destitute.

It brought back memories of all the magic nights years ago i would sit up with my brother and watch the 'Hurricane' in action. What a player. IMO the greatest. I remember someone saying that everything he did up to the point his cue actually hit the ball was technically wrong, but somehow he still managed to pot the balls. The controversy he created only added to the drama!

I know he wasn't a saint and he had a lot of trouble off the table, but for the enjoyment he gave millions including myself, I'll miss him. I prefer to remember him in his glory days.
 
Brilliant potter in the game but when the likes of Davis and Hendry came into the game with there safety play and break building ability his time was over.

Higgins fantastic play was never punished in the 70s and early 80s when he made mistakes against the likes of Spenser and Riordan but against the new wave in the mid 80s he became a dinosaur.

Ironically, the type of snooker being promoted by Barry Hearn now "Power Snooker" would have suited Alex Higgins style of play.

RIP
 
I think you're being a little unfair. Alex was actually one of the best safety players around. He beat Davis on numerous occassions. He won many tournaments in the late 80's early 90's. But certainly in the 90's the robots that were Hendry etc took over.
 
Liamos said:
I think you're being a little unfair. Alex was actually one of the best safety players around. He beat Davis on numerous occassions. He won many tournaments in the late 80's early 90's. But certainly in the 90's the robots that were Hendry etc took over.
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Not taking away from Higgins at all.. I would prefer his brand of snooker over the robots any day. But I cant remember any tournament wins for him in the late 80s/early 90s except the Irish Masters in 1989. His previous win to that would have been the UK Championship in 1983.

Maybe I am wrong though.
 
Am I correct that it was Mr Higgins when asked if he didnt do snooker what would he be doing?
He answered;Id probably be out shooting catholics.....
 
thedaras said:
Am I correct that it was Mr Higgins when asked if he didnt do snooker what would he be doing?
He answered;Id probably be out shooting catholics.....
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Possibly, but I wouldn't regard it as significant or to be taken entirely seriously. He said a lot of things. There is no evidence to suggest that he was directly or indirectly supportive of loyalist paramilitaries anyway AFAIK.

He was just a product of his working class loyalist background, The Shankhill. Many of his contemporaries would have indeed taken that route as would many disillusioned working class catholics in the Falls or whatever have taken their own violent path.

Many successful people in sport or the arts, from 'problem' areas are on record as saying that if not for their talent/outlet they would be dealing drugs/robbing banks/burgling houses etc.
 
Caveat said:
Possibly, but I wouldn't regard it as significant or to be taken entirely seriously. He said a lot of things. There is no evidence to suggest that he was directly or indirectly supportive of loyalist paramilitaries anyway AFAIK.

He was just a product of his working class loyalist background, The Shankhill. Many of his contemporaries would have indeed taken that route as would many disillusioned working class catholics in the Falls or whatever have taken their own violent path.

Many successful people in sport or the arts, from 'problem' areas are on record as saying that if not for their talent/outlet they would be dealing drugs/robbing banks/burgling houses etc.
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He was from Sandy Row. He also whispered in Dennis Taylor's ear during a match that he would have him shot by loyalists.

In his latter years he was well known around belfast city centre pubs for being abusive and giving it the 'do you know who I am' routine to staff and patrons alike. My grandparents actually witnessed it themselves one afternoon having gone into town to collect their pensions, my Granda would go in to the same pub for one or two pints each week. The barman had to ask Higgins to leave.

A fantastic talent, but not a nice individual at all.
 
Bill Struth said:
He was from Sandy Row.
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OK, fair enough. Worse probably. But my point remains. He was just a product of his environment. I knew about the Taylor incident alright but I don't think for a second it was an actual serious threat - he was just just throwing his weight around in a way that he could.

There are bitter drunken Ulstermen all around the world who, connected or not, who will drop the old "I'll get the RA/UVF onto ye" if they feel wronged.

A fantastic talent, but not a nice individual at all.
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Completely agree. Loved his snooker but he was a nasty bitter man.

And by the way, +1 to his safety play - he was actually one of the best - when he could be bothered.
 
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