Snookers Millionaires, hang your heads in shame

[medwayjon]

Alex Higgins had become so frail and ill because he had no teeth as a result of radiotherapy.

Recently, snooker professionals, ex-pro's, officials and TV people did a fundraiser to raise the money for new dental implants.

What would this cost? £20,000, yes thats right, 20 lousy grand.

All these multi-millionaire players who jumped on the bandwagon should hang their heads in shame, surely one of the could have paid for the treatment, its small change to them, even as a loan that they could have recouped from the inevitable book deal.

I mean come on, look at the money these guys have earned just in official tournaments;

Stephen Hendry - £7.8m
Steve Davis - £5.5m
Ronnie O'Sullivan - £5.8m
John Higgins - £5m

I mean jesus, even a whip-round wouldnt kill them would it.

Rant Over.

 

[Losttheplot]

I'm not out to wind you up here but just because someone has the money doesn't mean they should automatically fork out for alex's medical bills.
I totally agree that £20k to them is nothing, I really do, just can't expect people to put hands in pockets for people who potentially they didn't like isn't quite right.

 

[medwayjon]

If they hadnt claimed to be a mate of his and hadnt banged on about this fundraiser (helps them look good doesnt it) I wouldnt have said anything to be honest.

One of the nicest things I ever read was about Joe Cole (who I cant stand generally) who found out that one of the lowly staff at west ham was in agony and needed a double knee replacement for which there was an 18 month wait.

One morning this fella got to work and in his pidgeon-hole was a cheque from Joe Cole for £45k and the details of a private hospital who would do it there and then.

Now Cole wasnt a huge-earner by todays standards and was a young pro. This shows real class, real personal quality.

Maybee old Catsweazel Hendry should think of Higgins when he buys his next £20k rolex or £150k Ferrari.

 

[acesup1504]

Surely Higgins over the years has earned enough cash through tournaments, exhibitions and so on to afford to buy his own teeth.

From the Guardian:

Higgins had a £4m fortune which he frittered away on drink, cocaine and gambling. and 80 fags a day.

Does he really deserve the £20,00 for new teeth?

 

[Yerman]

Totally agree, as an Ulsterman, Higgins and before him Best were just an embarrasment. I'm just over the moon golf has provided Ulster with some real sporting heros.

 

[bigslice]

Alex Higgins had become so frail and ill because he had no teeth as a result of radiotherapy.

Recently, snooker professionals, ex-pro's, officials and TV people did a fundraiser to raise the money for new dental implants.

What would this cost? £20,000, yes thats right, 20 lousy grand.


All these multi-millionaire players who jumped on the bandwagon should hang their heads in shame, surely one of the could have paid for the treatment, its small change to them, even as a loan that they could have recouped from the inevitable book deal.

I mean come on, look at the money these guys have earned just in official tournaments;

Stephen Hendry - £7.8m
Steve Davis - £5.5m
Ronnie O'Sullivan - £5.8m
John Higgins - £5m

I mean jesus, even a whip-round wouldnt kill them would it.

Rant Over.

does that inlude john higgins side bets and frame fixing
you may find that some of the players have given him money in the past. he had a drink problem, so perhaps they didnt want to give him anymore. or perhaps he was given 20k and spent it. the players wont talk about it so as not to sully his great public face.

 

[chrisd]

Higgins had a £4m fortune which he frittered away on drink, cocaine and gambling. and 80 fags a day.

But did he waste any of his money???



Chris

 

[pokerjoke]

Higgins in his time was a magnificent player and a great draw for the game,however he was always contraversial and disruptive,he also earnt millions and frittered it away.Of course a player could have given hin 20k but why should they.Also he couldnt have his teeth done because he was too ill.This should be a lesson to all smokers,of course everyone has the right to smoke,but the packets dont lie smoking kills you take the risk you face the consequenses.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think in the end it was too little too late anyway. Maybe when he dropped out of the game and was living a meagre existance (granted he frittered the money by himself) something could have been done then. In the end he'll go down as another tarnished genius, mercurial playing the game and demonic away from it.

 

[Dodger]

Can I ask why anyone should be expected to gift money to a pisshead?

 

[madandra]

My thoughts exactly Alan.

He probably blew £20k in one weekend in the past.

 

[medwayjon]

Can I ask why anyone should be expected to gift money to a pisshead?

Because a couple of them were so-called mates.

If a mate of mine was dying and I could help prevent it or prolong his life I would move heaven & earth to do whatever I could regardless of mitigating circumstances.

 

[Dodger]

So called by who? The press?

I had a run in with him many moons ago in a pub in Mansefield...he was abusing the staff then turned on my mate all of whom were minding their own business.....grade A dick.

 

[madandra]

But Jon, this was a guy who was on his way out. It wasn't like this dental work would haved saved his life coz he didnt give a FF about his health why should his friends?

 

[bigbiffa]

having read an article today, it seems funds were raised for this op, but he was too weak and failed the the pre op medical.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Can I ask why anyone should be expected to gift money to a pisshead?

Because a couple of them were so-called mates.

If a mate of mine was dying and I could help prevent it or prolong his life I would move heaven & earth to do whatever I could regardless of mitigating circumstances.

You don't know that over the years they haven't tried to help him. With all of his addictions, he'd be a nightmare.

Couple with the fact that he's earnt more money in his life than I'll see in five of my lives, I have very little sympathy for him.

Yes, he was a great player but headbutting officials, etc - that's poor. He's no hero in my eyes.

 

[freddielong]

I think the objection is to these guys standing behind the cause, getting the good publicity, trying to get us to donate when they could just pay it, in other words they want to look like a good guy, but dont want to be the good guy. If you dont like Higgins dont support the cause.

This happens all the time with children in need etc these celbs give there time but not there money, I even heard dont know if it is true, Wogan was getting paid for doing it until recently.

 

[medwayjon]

I think the objection is to these guys standing behind the cause, getting the good publicity, trying to get us to donate when they could just pay it, in other words they want to look like a good guy, but dont want to be the good guy. If you dont like Higgins dont support the cause.

This happens all the time with children in need etc these celbs give there time but not there money, I even heard dont know if it is true, Wogan was getting paid for doing it until recently.

Yup, Wogan was getting paid and getting paid handsomely for it, indeed his fee was around £10k. Although this was apparently paid out of BBC money and not charitable donations.

 

[Fyldewhite]

So called by who? The press?

I had a run in with him many moons ago in a pub in Mansefield...he was abusing the staff then turned on my mate all of whom were minding their own business.....grade A dick.

Agree, the guy was an ***. He will not be missed by anyone in the game although they will no doubt all be saying the "right" things just now. A mate of mine once witnessed him turn away a young lad asking for his autograph with the words "just **** off". Nice.

 

[GasMan]

I'm not going to speak ill of the dead but if I was them I wouldn't feel in the slightest bit bad about not forking out for soembody like that. All of them would have splashed way more than that if they could have helped Paul Hunter beat cancer. Why? Paul Hunter was a credit to the game and life in general! Giving money to pay for Higgins' teeth would have been tantamount to buying a bottle of Vodka for the pisshead drinking meths in the park giving mothers with their kids abuse.

Knowing a fair few of the top guys and knowing the pressure they come under from the governing bodies etc to maintain the image of the game and promote in any way possible it's hardly surprising they were "seen" to back the cause.

Add to this I detest 2 of the people on that list on a personal basis - not the obvious ones either. I have no reason to defend them whatsoever.

The biggest loss to snooker in the last 2 years was Paul Medati but you don't see him getting the press coverage
even though he never swore at children of physically assaulted tournament officials!