tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post6693498775280382974..comments2024-02-03T12:04:16.336+00:00Comments on SNOOKER SCENE BLOG: JOHN HIGGINS: WPBSA STATEMENTDave Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08037719321756898982noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-19633174377103580182010-09-11T00:49:00.868+01:002010-09-11T00:49:00.868+01:00reference 4:22
Clearly you have YOUR OWN agenda a...reference 4:22<br /><br />Clearly you have YOUR OWN agenda as you think anyone who states the facts of the matter is in some way responsible for John Higgins sitting in a hotel....sober...working out that the best way to accept his bribe is to pay off the mortgage on his Spanish apartment,,,,,,,,quick thinking for some one in fear of his safety in a strange country!!<br /><br />For the record...John Higgins and Pat Mooney have a long association with Russia having visited many times, held a tournament there....oh and did I mention that their business partner Adrian Stewart was based in Moscow for many years and married to a Russian lady.....he was the director of IMS should you wish to Google readers.<br /><br />God help anyone who considers the situation without emotion as they will be accused and abused.<br /><br />Oh.....and finally...there is no suck thing as 110%. Its not mathematically possible....a bit like the £261,000 bribeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-14376664653371713142010-09-10T16:22:56.014+01:002010-09-10T16:22:56.014+01:001.38 clearly has their own agenda
Wouldn't su...1.38 clearly has their own agenda<br /><br />Wouldn't surprise me if they gave 110% into getting Higgins into this mess to start withAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-73385698616834446762010-09-10T14:59:05.140+01:002010-09-10T14:59:05.140+01:00I get the feeling from the tone of your articles, ...I get the feeling from the tone of your articles, that you do not believe Higgins explanation. I may be reading too much into it though.<br /><br />Personally, I think none of us can be sure, but from what I have seen of the video footage he doesn't look to afraid, however, I will be treating him no different if I went to watch him as he just doesn't strike me as the sort of guy to get into these corrupt practices.jamie brannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01668254365608375328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-53791807076501157722010-09-10T13:44:21.680+01:002010-09-10T13:44:21.680+01:00Hi Dave,
interesting interview with Barry Hearn f...Hi Dave,<br /><br />interesting interview with Barry Hearn for your information<br /><br />http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/8983814.stmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-53230114355805782642010-09-10T13:38:42.166+01:002010-09-10T13:38:42.166+01:00Hi Dave,
ref 12.03, i think you will find several...Hi Dave,<br /><br />ref 12.03, i think you will find several statements from those involved confirming the dropping of the charges was a technicality and NOT because they believe all of the arguments.<br /><br />You don't want to comment fully then Dave....fair enough, your blog after all., but at least those reading my post will now know the true facts.<br /><br />IF THEY BELIEVED HIGGINS THEN HE WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND NOT GUILTY and surely he would have insisted on being found NOT GUILTY.<br /><br />Charges being withdrawn is not the same as not guilty and leaves doubt in peoples minds, especially those who understand what has happened.<br /><br />Why did John not insist on the charges being heard, giving him the chance to clear himself and indeed then seek damages.<br /><br />There are intelligent people out there Dave and none of this makes sense, especially when taken objectively.<br /><br />Problem is, when people are objective they accused of being hate mongers or trouble makers.<br /><br />READ THE REPORT from QC and listen to Barry Hearn.....he says it was a technicality and I think he is closer to all this allowing factual statements to be made.<br /><br />There was NO 'not guilty' verdicts at this tribunal, none whatsoever, despite what those with clouded judgement and little knowledge choose to believe.<br /><br />At the end of the day this judgement does no favours for John Higgins at all. He is now open to abuse and the word 'whitewash' is being banded around and at the end of the day what really happened will continue to be questioned despite the outcome the other day.<br /><br />Better the charges had stood and Higgins stood up and defended himself.....in my opinion.<br /><br />thxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-59196645953853902882010-09-10T12:03:26.101+01:002010-09-10T12:03:26.101+01:00The charges were dropped because they believed Hig...The charges were dropped because they believed Higgins's explanation, as did the tribunal chairDave Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08037719321756898982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-2164463704220380672010-09-10T11:49:55.226+01:002010-09-10T11:49:55.226+01:00Hi Dave,
it was my understanding that the World S...Hi Dave,<br /><br />it was my understanding that the World Series of Snooker was included in Barry Hearn's proposal along with Brandon Parker's events.<br /><br />Both were to receive £150,000 each to help fund 4 events each.<br /><br />The tournaments held by Higgins, Mooney and WSS were to issue ranking points based on attendance and performance.<br /><br />This was the reason, was it not, that Messers' Mooney and Parker were appointed to the board?<br /><br />If this is the case, how can Barry Hearn then claim that Higgins and Mooney had charges dropped due to a technicality.<br /><br />The technicality is alleged to be the fact that these tournaments were independent from the World Snooker calendar and World Snooker had no control or power relating to these events.<br /><br />It was felt that the match-fixing charges could have been legally challenged by Mooney and Higgins due to the interdependent nature of their tour, yet this tour formed part of the published EPT/WPT<br /><br />I am confused, as I am sure many others will be by this apparent statement by Barry Hearn.<br /><br />Did the tribunal have sight of Barry's masterplan, or was the fact brushed over that the matches to be fixed were in a ranking and World Snooker sponsored tour, arranged by a Director of World Snooker and The World Snooker number 1.<br /><br />Love to hear everyone's thoughts on this matterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-13405122924122546822010-09-09T21:52:01.674+01:002010-09-09T21:52:01.674+01:00If only John Higgins used Mr Hey You`s fine art me...If only John Higgins used Mr Hey You`s fine art method,all this fuss could have been avoided! ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-48998698237468308732010-09-09T18:03:46.522+01:002010-09-09T18:03:46.522+01:00Nice of Ian Doyle to clear that one up for us.
Ass...Nice of Ian Doyle to clear that one up for us.<br />Assume someone out of snooker was attempting to discredit Pat Mooney then?<br />Sounds a bit random.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-29727641366052562692010-09-09T17:56:01.333+01:002010-09-09T17:56:01.333+01:00Dave, If I can be so bold to ask, is there any cha...Dave, If I can be so bold to ask, is there any chance you can do me a favour please?<br /><br />The Eurosport logo, which appears on the top right hand corner of our screens, is over the green pocket. Any chance you could use your influence & ask the graphic designers to move it a tad, a tad right & up would be nice. Perfect in fact.<br /><br />A couple of times today, & once yesterday, the logo, as nice looking as it is, prevented us from seeing, well me anyway, where the players were trying to leave the cue ball when playing safe, as colour (s) were over beside the green pocket.<br /><br />I appreciate we have Snooker back on our screens, genuine, I just want to know & see exactly what is happening.<br /><br />With Thanks & meant in Sport,<br /><br />John McBrideJohn McBridehttp://twitter.com/JohnMcBrideIREnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-41309243415941205802010-09-09T16:33:55.528+01:002010-09-09T16:33:55.528+01:00Hann is obviously a livewire. He lived in Park Lan...Hann is obviously a livewire. He lived in Park Lane and drived sports cars and occassionaly in the past and now he seems to suggest wealth be it his or family money. But he said he couldn't afford from memory the 40k in legal fees needed to defend the claim so he resigned. Higgins should have been banned for 12 months basically. Though the 250k cost to him when you add up fine, costs, his own costs, lost prize money etc is not to be sniffed at.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-79983143752140185872010-09-09T13:06:03.306+01:002010-09-09T13:06:03.306+01:00Hi Dave,
Higgins left Cuemasters after falling ou...Hi Dave,<br /><br />Higgins left Cuemasters after falling out with them, is he back now with them (110 sport?)<br /><br />Also I noticed O'Sullivan is represented by them...But he is managed by Grove? So who are they with?<br /><br />Thanks, JoeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-79643510474346370422010-09-09T12:56:30.283+01:002010-09-09T12:56:30.283+01:00Would John even have a fair case on his hands if h...Would John even have a fair case on his hands if he went on to sue? Intimidation can't change the words that were exchanged in the Kiev meeting so could he win a potential court battle against NotW?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-82133314468885065622010-09-09T11:42:42.245+01:002010-09-09T11:42:42.245+01:00Ian Doyle, father of Lee, who is chairman of 110sp...Ian Doyle, father of Lee, who is chairman of 110sport, has got in touch to deny any suggestion they were involved in this affair - not that anyone has suggested that on this blog.<br /><br />"We don't get involved in such things as a family. We believe it was someone not involved in snooker," he said.Dave Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08037719321756898982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-23824655269177735032010-09-09T11:34:39.641+01:002010-09-09T11:34:39.641+01:0010.37
He could have sent an email or a message to...10.37<br /><br />He could have sent an email or a message to Hearn or anyone at World Snooker whilst on the plane home telling them what happened, that way he covers himself.<br /><br />AlphaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-11121604091893565332010-09-09T10:37:37.848+01:002010-09-09T10:37:37.848+01:00Alpha - he got home on Friday night. The reporters...Alpha - he got home on Friday night. The reporters were at his door Saturday afternoon.<br /><br />How do you know he wouldn't have reported it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-39719975393803480712010-09-09T10:06:05.315+01:002010-09-09T10:06:05.315+01:00I feel very sorry for John Higgins, but agree that...I feel very sorry for John Higgins, but agree that the punishment fits the crime. When he first set up World Series with Mooney, I was a bit surprised that a family man such as he could commit to such a venture, but was (and still am) full of praise for him as someone who was attempting to take the game forward.<br /><br />I think however, that the one big criticism of World Series (the inability of local wildcards to avoid humiliation) placed a commercial pressure on Higgins and Mooney, and I raised an eyebrow at one or 2 of Higgins' results in which "unknowns" enjoyed some success against him. In the 2009-10 season, he beat Irish amateur Andrew Gray 5-1 in an event in Killarney (although he wasn't the only pro to drop frames against an amateur that week), but more alarmingly, he "only" won 5-1 against Lukas Krenek, a Czech amateur in the Prague event. All other professionals involved in matches against amateurs won 5-0.<br /><br />I have to ask, is it really such a crime to drop a frame "deliberately" in a non-ranking event, in a "new" snooker city, to one of the local players, in the interests of stimulating local fans' excitement or sponsors' attentions? <br /><br />I think that could have been Higgins' way of thinking at the time.<br /><br />As far as other interested parties go:<br /><br /> (i) Bookmakers....their greed knows no bounds; if they are willing to lay prices on single frames of what is no more than an exhibition tournament, then they deserve to get their fingers burnt. As an ex employee of the betting industry, I know that their ruthless pursuit of profitable betting opportunities is blinkered in the extreme, and it manifests itself in the way they throw their toys out of the pram as soon as someone wants to play for real money (Ebdon-Wenbo, Maguire-Burnett). Most bookmakers offer prices on "first colour to be potted" in snooker matches(!) Can they not see how open to manipulation a market like this can be??? The cricket stories lately have at least turned attentions elsewhere, but they are essentially the same bookmaker behavioural traits.<br /><br />(ii) News of the World...seriously, find another way to sell your filthy rag. They sholud be investigated for their disgusting entrapment and subsequent over-sensationalising of "non-stories", which they then have the cheek to manipulate and edit to deceive their own readership.<br /><br /> I hope this sorry episode will not signal the start of a slump in John Higgins' form, and that he puts himself in position for a swift retention of his number one ranking. I also hope the British public and the crowds at the UK and subsequent tournaments go easy on him.JIMO96noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-68494090250720521512010-09-09T09:22:41.969+01:002010-09-09T09:22:41.969+01:00One has to ask - who pays Sports Resolution's ...One has to ask - who pays Sports Resolution's professional fees and therefore is able to, shall we say, define the 'objectives' of the hearing? To what extent was the withdrawal of the most serious charges against John simply part of the desired 'resolution'? As world number one, John's continuance at the top level of snooker is probably in World Snooker's commercial interests, especially after all of the publicity this case has generated in the media.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-86861991932784295202010-09-09T09:18:21.599+01:002010-09-09T09:18:21.599+01:00Correction to my previous comment on here....
Had...Correction to my previous comment on here....<br /><br />Had John Higgins beat Steve Davis on the Saturday, he would have gone onto play Neil Robertson on the Tuesday & Wednesday, with the sting taking place on the Friday.<br /><br />I just wanted to clear that up. Thanks.<br /><br />John McBrideJohn McBridehttp://twitter.com/JohnMcBrideIREnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-35260251142599797082010-09-09T09:12:40.440+01:002010-09-09T09:12:40.440+01:00I have to agree with Shaun here, I am a John Higgi...I have to agree with Shaun here, I am a John Higgins fan and I am delighted he will be back playing again although question marks will hang over his head for the rest of his career. He still hasn't explained why he didn't report the NOTW stitch up to Hearn.The toughest battle of Higgins life begins now. Good luck John.<br /><br />AlphaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-49188347378638424032010-09-09T08:09:49.317+01:002010-09-09T08:09:49.317+01:00The Hann case was different. He didn't show up...The Hann case was different. He didn't show up for his case and was therefore considered guilty and received maximum penalty. Had he cooperated he probably would have got a much shorter ban.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-89432262175099415092010-09-09T00:08:42.214+01:002010-09-09T00:08:42.214+01:00Dave, can you clarify the reason why two of the ch...Dave, can you clarify the reason why two of the charges were "withdrawn" during the trial, or at least what "withdrawn" means in this context? Did the WSA use its own discretion to withdraw them or did Sport Resolutions recommend that they be withdrawn? If they had no basis why couldn't they let them stand and let the judge find him "not guilty" on those two charges?Betty Logannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-90381422296842760522010-09-08T23:58:04.515+01:002010-09-08T23:58:04.515+01:00Yeah i agree! Get Quinten Hann back!Yeah i agree! Get Quinten Hann back!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-19962529234261449762010-09-08T22:36:42.470+01:002010-09-08T22:36:42.470+01:00The circumstances weren't that different for H...The circumstances weren't that different for Hann were they? Both were tabloid newspaper stings and both caught on camera agreeing to fix a match for money. I'm glad a stitch-up hasn't ended John's career, but it finished Hann's and I think maybe that decision should be revisited.Betty Logannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-4352035471402101162010-09-08T22:24:06.865+01:002010-09-08T22:24:06.865+01:00More should be said about the video material. What...More should be said about the video material. What did the investigators make of it, especially with regard to the editing and the supposed mystery voice? In what ways did NotW help them or rather, hinder the investigation? That is what I am curious about because I believe it is the key to the truth about John's involvement (which may be exactly as he claims).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com