19.5.09

THE OFF SEASON

So the 2008/09 campaign recedes into memory but there is still plenty to talk about in the coming months and I will, of course, be keeping this blog going.

After all, who wants to be lying on a beach in some far off sundrenched paradise now that the season is over?

Me, obviously, but them’s the breaks as Joe Davis may have put it.

The Jiangsu Classic takes place from June 3-7, the PIOS tour starts at the end of June, there is a big six reds event in Thailand in July and the World Series is likely to return the same month.

Away from all of that, each week I shall be posting a piece on a player now retired. This is not some nostalgic whimsy but an attempt to honour some of those who have played their parts in the snooker story, which will hopefully prove interesting to those new to the sport.

If anyone has any other ideas for posts, please feel free to suggest them.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please do a post on John Spencer.

Anonymous said...

David;

Any news yet on the final four players to be invited into next season's Premier League and any details on the venue's?

Thanks

Ryan

Anonymous said...

PS - I know the Play Off Final's weekend will be played at Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton-on-Sea as last year. The venue for the World Indoor Bowls Championship.

Ryan

Anonymous said...

Hello David!

I have some question to you. Would you please tell about the Main Tour history: when it appeared, how the qualification rounds were played in Blackpool, how players became professionals in the 70s and the 80s?

Thanks!

jamie brannon said...

Whatever happened to cuetube? You did two posts and then no more! This years PIOS is over, I wonder if David Gray and Tony Drago will be involved?

Bryn said...

John Spencer would be an excellent choice. He is much missed. It would be great to hear of what came of some of the past masters that did not make it to very top flight - Graham Miles, Pierre Mans, David Taylor, etc as well as those classic amateur players for whom professional life came a little too late such as Jack Fitzmaurice, Eddie Sinclair, John Dunning, etc.

Anonymous said...

I know Patsy Fagan well and he's currently delivering mail for the PO, or whatever they're called these days.

He's a right piss-head. He and I got blootered at Wembley a few years back drinking white wine.

Dave, what about some posts about all of the scandals that's hit the game. We've got betting, drink, drugs, more betting, fights, the list is endless.

Anonymous said...

id sign up for a podcast with hann....or would be grateful just for an interview.

Dave?

wildJONESEYE said...

god the stupidaty of idiots that post on 606 is even getting on here...

but not the guts to name who they are and even if they did name themselfes it wont be the truth because they gutless.

Jenna said...

Ooh Id be really interested to read the pieces on the old players! Cool!

Jenna x

Anonymous said...

so would i, Jemima.

Rigsby said...

Well wildmissjones, if you was'nt so stupid you would still be on 606 my friend, can you tell everyone on here why you was banned? As for being gutless what's in a name does it matter so much if you're Anon or Akon. So are you telling us all you're real name is wildjoneseye????

wildJONESEYE said...

my real name is not wildJONESEYE but its the name i use always on line unless i was banned from 606 for trying to stamp out walleys like you....

unfortunally for common sense mr gutless they were to thick to see that and kept idiots like you on there....

never mind....the place is idiot infested now and a total laughing stock of a forum.

Dave H said...

Much more of this and I shall simply disable comments altogether. There are many places on the internet where people can spend their time anonymously insulting each other for no reason whatsoever.

This isn't going to be one of them.

wildJONESEYE said...

dave

im sorry

but theres some people that antaganise for theire kicks and it gets up my nose always have..

that guy whoever he is is 1 of thoes people all i want to do is comment on snooker without people like him being a pratt..

wont happen again from me again im sorry.

Rigsby said...

So wild what warrented you're comments made at 9:08pm i can't see any stupid posts above for you to say these things?

Anonymous said...

It's never you tho is it wje its always others you're always right and others wrong grow up.

wildJONESEYE said...

"Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know Patsy Fagan well and he's currently delivering mail for the PO, or whatever they're called these days.

He's a right piss-head. He and I got blootered at Wembley a few years back drinking white wine.

Dave, what about some posts about all of the scandals that's hit the game. We've got betting, drink, drugs, more betting, fights, the list is endless."

that post was the reason for my reaction earlier and mate it is never me but i dont want to get in to it on here now ive apolagised to dave about my actions i see nobody else has.

Rigsby said...

I see nothing wrong in this post wild, if there was anything wrong i am sure Dave would have removed it by now,Unless he has'nt seen it.

Anonymous said...

What happened to Barry West and his girlfriend Kay Sera? haha.
regards
Dean.

Rigsby said...

Wild 9:08pm " but not the guts to name who they are and even if they did name themselfes it wont be the truth because they gutless"

Wild 11:21pm "my real name is not wildJONESEYE"

wildJONESEYE said...

i apolagised to dave if you want a arguament with me as its clear you do join break off.

Rigsby said...

Lol wild i did'nt think this was an argument, more of a debate, i put fact's up you post drivel, as for break off pull the other one son lmao.

Janie Watkins said...

Blogs on the past players would be great.

Being of advanced years (!) I am still surprised how little today's young juniors know about their own sport.

You can mention a really well know former champion to them and they've never heard of them, which is very sad.

The history of the pro set up and how it's evolved and also the rankings variations, numbers of tour etc would also be interesting for a lot of people.

More of the life and times of players such as John Spencer, John Pulman etc would be great.
It was a different world then ad some anecdotes about the many and varied exhibitions and holiday camp circuits they did would be good too.

Also on the some of the very good amateurs who never turned pro despite being good enough. People like Terry Parsons, David Lilley spring to mind.

And how about a where are they now too?

I am determined you will not spend the summer lounging on a beach! If I can't, you can't!!

It is sad to see a sudden upsurge in irrelevant comments on here. It happened on several other forums and blogs and many of them are now closed down.

Janie said...

PS: Re Potters. There is a piece in their local paper this week that they may not be able to host the bowls and snooker in future because BT is unable to provide them with a broadband set up and any decent speed internet connection.

Their exchange must be in the dark ages because even in the hills in the wilds of Wales i get full broadband!

wildJONESEYE said...

yes

where are they now would be interesting

and i agree young players and fans has no idea of past players what was theire strengths and weakneses and think long potting is something modern in snooker but there was some great long potters of yester year like Perrie Mans and John Spencer.

Anonymous said...

Holdonacottonpickinminute.

It was moi who posted the Patsy Fagan piece and came up with a few suggestions regards articles.

If you find that offensive, I suggest you stop viewing the WWW.

(Apologies to Dave, but I wanted to reply)

Anonymous said...

What about getting an interview with Willie Thorne about his winning and losing bets with his "baize accountant."

I'd love to know how much cash he's won and lost over the years. That would make for an enthralling read.

Great forum, BTW.

Anonymous said...

willie thorn is grate 2 like the story when he was comentating on the game with ken docherty after ken had his cue broke and he was using a new cue not his own. willie had lumped on ken's oponant and was comentaing on the game but ken got beat. silly willie!

Anonymous said...

Great idea to profile past players. There are just no characters in today's game, so it's best to look back to the halcyon days of our great game.

Anonymous said...

wot about a good profile of the fansisco brothers? wasnt both of them done for match fixing and wasnt 1 of them done for smuggling charlie i think it was silveeno. he was the 1 iirc that said kirk stevens was hi when they was playing a match and he was what got dun for smuggling! maybe it was kirks supply he was bringing in!

Chris said...

Great idea Dave, Past Masters articles would be great. How about the history of various tournaments that have been staged over the years? I don't think that has been already mentioned.

Also, I would be very disappointed if the comment system was disabled. People like me post on here properly and it's up to some half wits to spoil it for others. I understand why you say about stopping the comments. It is getting really bad. The on-topic talk is great, just a shame that others are a little immature.

Anonymous said...

@Chris

You want the history of tournaments!!!

Why bother dragging up the past to remind us of all the events we've lost!

Anonymous said...

If anyone hears of any potential calendar for next year, then please let me know on here...
UK - December
Masters - January
Worlds - April/March
of course, but I'm looking forward to seeing what other events are being lined up.

Anonymous said...

actually, I have just found all that info on here http://www.global-snooker.com/professional-tournaments-calendar-09-10.asp thanks to global