Ronnie O'Sullivan, to whom it would be easy to take an instant and vehement dislike, says snooker has gone to pot. The game lacks flair and personalities - other, presumably, than Mr O'Sullivan - and declining audiences for televised tournaments mean that the prize money isn't, or won't be, what it was.
Does any of this matter? No. Snooker tournaments have been televised for around 30 years, before which there was the excellent Pot Black, with its splendid theme tune, Black and White Rag, played by Winifred Atwell. People lose interest, and there are plenty of other opportunities to watch a load of balls on television. What, after all, is the purpose of Celebrity Big Brother?
The whole thing is a signpost for our horrible, depressing little nation: oik with understanding of mechanics as related to bit of wood and plastic spheres buys spangly waistcoat and hair gel, is lauded, gets too much money too quickly, turns to drink/drugs, media and public soon tire of him. The cycle of British life. The game will still be played in small-town clubs on rainy winter evenings by people who want to play it and who enjoy it. There's an end to it.
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ReplyDeleteI can only see this as a good thing. Especially if Ronnie and his myriad of other personalities piss off and leave all alone to enjoy the game itself.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as the money goes out of it, so too will the beer-fuelled louts who follow Ronnie, follow Frankie Dettori, follow Phil Taylor, follow Chelsea. Those beer-fuelled louts who can be identified by their calls of "GOO ON RONNIE!" at every opportunity they have to draw breath.
I think you have the gist of the argument.
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