Post a reply

Who was more popular?

Alex Higgins
2
11%
Jimmy White
16
89%
 
Total votes : 18

Who was more popular? Alex Higgins or Jimmy White

Postby TheRocket

I think we can all agree that Alex Higgins and Jimmy White have been the most popular snooker players of all time. They had more supporters than any other player. When they potted match or frameball you had by far the biggest roars. More than even Ronnie O'Sullivan ever got in any tournament. I'm saying this as a ROS supporter.


But who was more popular among the fans? What do you think?

For clarification. I'm not asking, who has done more for Snooker and the future of Snooker and so on. Then Alex Higgins would be obviously ahead.

I'm just speaking about the popularity among the snookerfans.

Re: Who was more popular? Alex Higgins or Jimmy White

Postby Dan-cat

Pink Ball wrote:White was beloved. Alex Higgins was entertaining but at times a wankshaft.


hehehe. Yeah we watched him because you just didn't know what he was gonna do next - insult the cue ball, lick the referee...

With Jimmy it was different. Pure love.

Re: Who was more popular? Alex Higgins or Jimmy White

Postby gallantrabbit

Hate to say it, but I wanted Alex to beat Jimmy in the 82 semi...(oh the shame of it!!!), but soon learnt the error of my younger ways. Met them both at an exhibition in about 92. Jimmy chatted for ages and Alex was a kin superstar <cool> Met Higgins again a couple of year later and he was even more of a plum...
So Jimmy for me. Still as popular as ever today.

Re: Who was more popular? Alex Higgins or Jimmy White

Postby Andre147

Jimmy for sure, and not surprised Higgins didn't get any votes so far... he could be a bit of a d.i.c.k at times, whereas Jimmy surely is the People's Champion, and people were even more fond of him watching him lose al those World Finals without winning one...

Snooker though wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for Alex Higgins, then followed by White and then of course Ronnie.

Re: Who was more popular? Alex Higgins or Jimmy White

Postby snucar

Andre147 wrote:Snooker though wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for Alex Higgins, then followed by White and then of course Ronnie.


None of the above three player would have been THAT popular without a certain...Steve Davis OBE. Especially Alex and Jimmy. But snooker is what it is today because of these three??? A so called hero is not really a hero without an enemy. And Davis, without even wanting it, embraced that role with grace and brought snooker to a whole new dimension. He was the one who carried all the frustration of trying to bring the highest level of professionalism to an amateur sport, not Higgins and White. They were bothered drinking, doing coke and hookers. Without Davis and Hearn snooker would never be what it is today. Higgins and White got rich because of Steve and not the other way around.Hence young Ronnie NEVER copied anything from those two and focused exclusively on Steve, by his own admission. Not even on Hendry who also admitted that trying to copy White as a youngster would never work and changed his attitude and based his game and general attitude on Davis. Hell, even Hearn owns more to Steve's brilliance than Steve owns to Hearn's managing skills.

Davis is still today everything that defines the game of snooker.
Last edited by snucar on 23 Nov 2016, edited 1 time in total.

Re: Who was more popular? Alex Higgins or Jimmy White

Postby Dan-cat

snucar wrote:
Andre147 wrote:Snooker though wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for Alex Higgins, then followed by White and then of course Ronnie.


None of the above three player would have been THAT popular without a certain...Steve Davis OBE. Especially Alex and Jimmy. But snooker is what it is today because of these three??? A so called hero is not really a hero without an enemy. And Davis, without even wanting it, embraced that role with grace and brought snooker to a whole new dimension. He was the one who carried all the frustration of trying to bring the highest level of professionalism to an amateur sport, not Higgins and White. They were bothered drinking, doing coke and hookers. Without Davis and Hearn snooker would never be what it is today. Higgins and White got rich because of Steve and not the other way around.Hence young Ronnie NEVER copied anything from those two and focused exclusively on Steve, by his own admission. Not even on Hendry who also admitted that trying to copy White as a youngster would never work and changed his attitude and based his game and general attitude on Davis. Hell, even Hearn owns more to Steve's brilliance than Steve owns to Hearn's managing skills.

Davis is still today everything that defines the game of snooker.


Beat me to it. Well said Snucar. Steve was the villain of the piece, stealing all the trophies, and I loved him for it.

Re: Who was more popular? Alex Higgins or Jimmy White

Postby Andre147

snucar wrote:
Andre147 wrote:Snooker though wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for Alex Higgins, then followed by White and then of course Ronnie.


None of the above three player would have been THAT popular without a certain...Steve Davis OBE. Especially Alex and Jimmy. But snooker is what it is today because of these three??? A so called hero is not really a hero without an enemy. And Davis, without even wanting it, embraced that role with grace and brought snooker to a whole new dimension. He was the one who carried all the frustration of trying to bring the highest level of professionalism to an amateur sport, not Higgins and White. They were bothered drinking, doing coke and hookers. Without Davis and Hearn snooker would never be what it is today. Higgins and White got rich because of Steve and not the other way around.Hence young Ronnie NEVER copied anything from those two and focused exclusively on Steve, by his own admission. Not even on Hendry who also admitted that trying to copy White as a youngster would never work and changed his attitude and based his game and general attitude on Davis. Hell, even Hearn owns more to Steve's brilliance than Steve owns to Hearn's managing skills.

Davis is still today everything that defines the game of snooker.


Yes I agree, Higgins made the start, but what we see today is a direct product of what Davis used to be: professional, dedicated.

yes Ronnie tried to copy every single thing Steve made, early on in his career Ronnie even used to wear the same waistcoats Steve did. He was his role model, and to so many other players. Also Ronnie's father helped him a lot maintain that discipline, even if he was too straight at times with him...

Davis is and will always be the perfect role model, and even today not playing anymore he's the greatest embassador the game, promoting it everywhere he goes.