Horrible news.
- Thread starter mnorwood
- Start date
A troubled genius. 
Sad day in cue sports,,,,,,
One of the best books I've ever read was that of ''Hurricane'' Higgins,,,,if this sport is looking for the next great movie, his life on the big screen would be great,,
R.I.P. ''Hurricane''......
One of the best books I've ever read was that of ''Hurricane'' Higgins,,,,if this sport is looking for the next great movie, his life on the big screen would be great,,
R.I.P. ''Hurricane''......
He was my favorite snooker player ever. May he rest in peace.
Higgins was unique in snooker. No one has ever played so well with such disregard for the textbook. Jumping, twitching, smoking and drinking - he was magic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkhPY4WORn8
I uploaded this video a while back; it's of Higgins making an 81 break against Dennis Taylor and it shows why he was so popular with the fans. He has a black eye in the video from a fight with a lower-ranked professional. Higgins told the press that he had been kicked by a horse to avoid further questions.
He'll always be remembered for his shot-making and flair. Under tremendous pressure in his 1982 World Championship semi-final match against Jimmy White, he produced what many consider the gutsiest break of all time. On the brink of defeat, this is how he responded:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df9T5p-aHoY&feature=related
It's a sad end for a great player.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkhPY4WORn8
I uploaded this video a while back; it's of Higgins making an 81 break against Dennis Taylor and it shows why he was so popular with the fans. He has a black eye in the video from a fight with a lower-ranked professional. Higgins told the press that he had been kicked by a horse to avoid further questions.
He'll always be remembered for his shot-making and flair. Under tremendous pressure in his 1982 World Championship semi-final match against Jimmy White, he produced what many consider the gutsiest break of all time. On the brink of defeat, this is how he responded:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df9T5p-aHoY&feature=related
It's a sad end for a great player.
Great player, RIP.
I had another video I hadn't gotten around to uploading. A short video of Higgins playing 9 ball in the 1995 Mosconi Cup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7xiae-32rM
Previously he had been using his snooker cue, but throughout this match he borrowed Mike Massey's break cue.
By this point his game had deteriorated significantly, but he still brings the house down with a two-rail carom to make the 9, followed by a smoke, a drink and a dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7xiae-32rM
Previously he had been using his snooker cue, but throughout this match he borrowed Mike Massey's break cue.
By this point his game had deteriorated significantly, but he still brings the house down with a two-rail carom to make the 9, followed by a smoke, a drink and a dance.
What a run-out! He never got shape on the first nine or ten shots! He kind of reminds me of Keith and Louie rolled into one, moreso Keith. I can't tell you how many times I've seen Keith run a rack where there was no way to get out. He just made one up!
Interesting comments at the end of this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6wLagsmuaM&feature=fvw
Question: What was the one thing you did that gave you the most pleasure? Winning a tournament or...
Answer: "It might have been winning a tournament. It might have been even losing a tournament. How I lost it. How well I took it. You can take a lot of pleasure out of how you behave after losing just as much as you can from winning because when you've lost you can say you stupid bastard. But then again you can say ok, you're a stupid bastard but you took it on the chin. There is a thing about being a good sportsman".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6wLagsmuaM&feature=fvw
Question: What was the one thing you did that gave you the most pleasure? Winning a tournament or...
Answer: "It might have been winning a tournament. It might have been even losing a tournament. How I lost it. How well I took it. You can take a lot of pleasure out of how you behave after losing just as much as you can from winning because when you've lost you can say you stupid bastard. But then again you can say ok, you're a stupid bastard but you took it on the chin. There is a thing about being a good sportsman".
I would add Tesla to that list, in fact he is might be at the top. Not as tragic as Van Gogh who wasn't recognized until after his death.
one of the ballsiest players ever...
if you watch the 2010 interview.. they asked how did you run balls so fast... (118 break in 2:04)..
and he said "I was a compulsive practicer I liked to experiment" reminded me of Shane.... reminded me of Me... there is only one way to be the best.. and he was one of the best..
I'm a HUGE fan of players with guts... and he had enough guts for 100 players
if you watch the 2010 interview.. they asked how did you run balls so fast... (118 break in 2:04)..
and he said "I was a compulsive practicer I liked to experiment" reminded me of Shane.... reminded me of Me... there is only one way to be the best.. and he was one of the best..
I'm a HUGE fan of players with guts... and he had enough guts for 100 players
Sad news, may he rest in peace.
Here is a video of the White/Higgins vs Hunter/Massey match at the 1995 Mosconi cup.
Here is a video of the White/Higgins vs Hunter/Massey match at the 1995 Mosconi cup.
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I first met Alex 32 years ago. He won a tournament at a local club. The event attracted all the existing professional players of the day, which numbered around 25 players in those days including Fred Davis, John Pulman and Rex Williams. But Alex was a cocktail of all these three - skill, sociability and charisma. After his victory he threw an all night party at his hotel and Cindy and I were invited. I can't remember much about it except winding our way home accompanied by the 'Dawn Chorus' and Cindy carrying a bunch of Alex's Dress Shirts which he had persuaded her to launder and return to him before he hit the road again next day.
A few months later he was scheduled to play in a Pro/Am at my billiards club. Amateurs played throughout the Saturday and one had the dubious privilege of facing The Hurricane at High Noon on Sunday.
300 people queued patiently to see their man. But 12, 1, 2, 3, 4pm came and went until at 4.20pm the door crashed and in walked Alex.
Dressed in an ankle length overcoat, he came straight up to the bar opened the coat and from the inside pocket he produced a glass, handed it to me and said "fill that up with vodka".
Swigging it down he said: "Right, when am I on", 'You're not, you are nearly five hours late and you are out of the tournament".
"What about my money then" "I'm not paying you Alex"
"**** you then".
He disappeared out the door, A few hours later after a session in a local bar he returned with an entourage of ladies and dubious henchmen.
"I have decided to forgive you if you give me a bottle of vodka. Then I will play a couple of exhibition racks for you".
"You can have half a bottle" "OK"
He agreed to play three racks with a leading amateur Wally West. His opponent was as inebriated as Alex was. Halfway through the second rack we had to abandon the match after Alex climbed on the snooker table to reach a long shot. He missed the shot and was unable to get himself off the table.
Later on I used to see him at pro tournaments and he would come into the hospitality room and say to me "I won't talk to you. I don't mind just nodding to you but I won't speak to you". Once I was the only person in the room when he walked in, nodded, sat down next to me and never uttered a word.
Then late one night, long after midnight my phone rang and it was Alex.
"My manager died today and I feel so alone. I just wanted someone to talk to". I was happy to accommodate him.
The last time I saw him was about 5 years ago when he did a series of exhibitions playing against Jimmy White. A friend of mine was promoting the tour and I said to him "Pay the players at the end of each show and pay for their hotel but make sure that the hotel is aware that the players are responsible for their own extras (phone calls, room service etc)".
He forgot this important advice and two days later the hotel presented him with a bar bill for over $700 for one night.
The man was a genius with a cue but totally schizo. When he was Dr Jekyll he was inordinately charming but you had to hide when he turned into Mr Hyde.
A sad loss to our games RIP Alex
A few months later he was scheduled to play in a Pro/Am at my billiards club. Amateurs played throughout the Saturday and one had the dubious privilege of facing The Hurricane at High Noon on Sunday.
300 people queued patiently to see their man. But 12, 1, 2, 3, 4pm came and went until at 4.20pm the door crashed and in walked Alex.
Dressed in an ankle length overcoat, he came straight up to the bar opened the coat and from the inside pocket he produced a glass, handed it to me and said "fill that up with vodka".
Swigging it down he said: "Right, when am I on", 'You're not, you are nearly five hours late and you are out of the tournament".
"What about my money then" "I'm not paying you Alex"
"**** you then".
He disappeared out the door, A few hours later after a session in a local bar he returned with an entourage of ladies and dubious henchmen.
"I have decided to forgive you if you give me a bottle of vodka. Then I will play a couple of exhibition racks for you".
"You can have half a bottle" "OK"
He agreed to play three racks with a leading amateur Wally West. His opponent was as inebriated as Alex was. Halfway through the second rack we had to abandon the match after Alex climbed on the snooker table to reach a long shot. He missed the shot and was unable to get himself off the table.
Later on I used to see him at pro tournaments and he would come into the hospitality room and say to me "I won't talk to you. I don't mind just nodding to you but I won't speak to you". Once I was the only person in the room when he walked in, nodded, sat down next to me and never uttered a word.
Then late one night, long after midnight my phone rang and it was Alex.
"My manager died today and I feel so alone. I just wanted someone to talk to". I was happy to accommodate him.
The last time I saw him was about 5 years ago when he did a series of exhibitions playing against Jimmy White. A friend of mine was promoting the tour and I said to him "Pay the players at the end of each show and pay for their hotel but make sure that the hotel is aware that the players are responsible for their own extras (phone calls, room service etc)".
He forgot this important advice and two days later the hotel presented him with a bar bill for over $700 for one night.
The man was a genius with a cue but totally schizo. When he was Dr Jekyll he was inordinately charming but you had to hide when he turned into Mr Hyde.
A sad loss to our games RIP Alex
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