I don't think Karl Boyes talking about Earl Strickland is really the big deal here. What really leaves a poor taste in the mouth is how Matchroom has really played Earl Strickland, especially in the Mosconi Cup. First they play up the "fragile genius" angle, even going so far as to make a movie about it. Then they put him MIKED UP in front of a hostile, drunken audience, in a high pressure situation, setting him up for the meltdown. It is so cynical it's sickening. Of course his opponents are going to react to his rantings. You can't expect people to show the same restraint and patience with a stranger and competitor as they would with for example a family member with dementia behaving this way.
I hear the complaints allready: "What do you want, should they not allow him to play at all?" First of all, how about cutting the sound to the microphone the minute he starts ranting? How about giving warnings and dq'ing him if he refuses to adhere to the rules? While his behaviour may not be entirely in his control, he has shown that he can control himself somewhat when strict rules are being applied. They way they have used him is almost like putting an alchoholic in a room full of liquor and watching him or her stumble around drunk for our amusement. It is clear that the refs were ordered to give him a lot of slack, and to me that is not being helpful, rather the contrary.
The only person showing a shred of decency is Jim Wych, who at least has the decency and sensitivity to deflect attention from and downplay Earls antics, instead of lingering on the topic like certain other commentators.
end rant
No harm, no foul, as they say. :grin-square: