Ronnie O, what's his legacy?

S

smashmouth

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
18 seasons, 3 world titles.......compare to Davis and Hendry.......


I have such mixed feelings on where he stands, he's done so much and has so many records but he could have/should be doing even more

compare to John Higgins....John will start next season as world's number 1 and has just as many world titles but a few years back John was never mentioned in the same breath as Ronnie or the greatest players ever

and then on the other hand, Ronnie's break building records and 147's are spectacular, and can you ever really criticize a 3 time world champion?

I go back and forth on this constantly.

Thoughts?
 
smashmouth said:
18 seasons, 3 world titles.......compare to Davis and Hendry.......


I have such mixed feelings on where he stands, he's done so much and has so many records but he could have/should be doing even more

compare to John Higgins....John will start next season as world's number 1 and has just as many world titles but a few years back John was never mentioned in the same breath as Ronnie or the greatest players ever

and then on the other hand, Ronnie's break building records and 147's are spectacular, and can you ever really criticize a 3 time world champion?

I go back and forth on this constantly.

Thoughts?
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I too have very mixed feelings about Ronnie. On the one hand he is IMO by far the greatest talent to ever hold a cue in any cuesport. He makes very difficult shots seem absurdly simple. When I watch him play I get the same feeling I get when I watch Roger Federer play tennis, it's like I'm seeing something really, really special, almost otherworldly.

On the other hand he's been an underachiever - yes 3 world titles is a great accomplishment for any player but in all honesty O'Sullivan should have won at least 7 or 8 by now if he'd had his head together. He'll probably end up with the most career centuries (I'm sure he'll pass Hendry at some point) which shows how much skill he has. But I think he'll end up as a disappointment to most people because of what he could have achieved.

My hope is that he somehow straightens himself out mentally and goes on a rampage for the next 5 years or so but somehow I don't think it's going to happen.
 
Ronnie is competing against far stiffer competition than Davis or Hendry. In the 80's and 90's there were only small handul who were capable of winning, now every player in the top 16 as well as many players within the top 30 can win ranking events. A reasonable comparison can not be made between Hendry/Davis and O'Sullivan.

I don't believe it's possible for any player to win 6-8 world titles these days. I've just seen too many guys become unplayable. I thought Mark Allen was all but unbeatable this year but Graeme Dott found his gear.

I'm sure Ronnie could have done more if his head was on straight during the whole of his career, but I think at best he would have 4 world titles with a few extra appearances in the finals.

Regardless I think we should worry about Ronnie's legacy when his competitive days are over. I suspect he won't hang around as long as Hendry and certainly not as long as Davis.
 
Ronnie is a phenomenal talent who should have won 6 world titles at this point...at least. I can think of 3 world championships where he was playing well and clearly the favorite and then he suddenly did what he often does - he just gave up. I don't why he does that, he clearly has mental issues.

I respect a player like Steve Davis a lot more for his tenacity and never giving up. He accomplished more with less talent.
 
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there was zero effort on his part towards the end of his match against Selby

why Ronnie, why?????
 
A lot of ifs and buts in snooker. If Davis had pot that black in 85 he'd be 7 times and if White had held his nerve 14-8 up Hendry would be 6 times. The game is still moving on. Timeflip a young Davis into today's game and he would up his game to compete with the gallery of young technically proficient, steady as a rock players. Timeflip Ronnie back to the 80s and he'd be the most famous sporting legend in England.
 
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