Why do you love boxing?
by Oli Goldstein on Jul 20, 2010 3:23 PM EDT
Email
PrintIn the wake of the second Mayweather-Pacquaio collapse - and amid a serious spell of personal summer fatigue - I began wondering why do we love boxing?
There are so many elements of boxing that are truly repugnant, it's quite incredible. Fighters routinely risk their lives, before being even more routinely cheated out of their money by promoters. Sanctioning bodies extort vast sums of cash from wherever they can get their grubby hands on it, showing no respect to the men in the middle or to the ideal of boxing as a sport. Fans are too rarely treated to genuinely big fights, yet at the same time are forced to spend $50 a go to see clubfighters against overprotected 'name' guys. And then, when two once-in-a-generation fighters come along, they contrive together to spoil the buzz and wreck the fight.
However, while we all become disillusioned with the 'sport' (term applied loosely) once, twice, or thrice in a while, it remains - for the vast majority of us - our favourite pursuit outside of our daily strifes. Yet why is that? Why do we all remain committed to a sport that contrives to cheat its fans and its fighters on a daily basis?
Indeed - why do you love boxing?
FanPosts are user-created content written by community members of Bad Left Hook, and are generally not the work of our editors. Please do not source FanPosts as the work of Bad Left Hook.
116 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I'd say it's because
Forget all the nonsense we’re hearing lately about two top P4P’ers its a load of shit.
Once in a while two evenly matched guys meet up and go at it. Sometimes for twelve rounds and sometimes not.
They don’t have to be fighting for a belt or a title to show us what they are all about either.
When you get one of “those” fights, then that’s when you remember why you love to watch boxing. Real entertainment,and often the kind that goes under the radar because it’s on an undercard.
I like to watch guys fight. I like the athletic display, skill, and the occasional brutal knockout. I’m not forced to spend $50 on anything. I choose to spend $50 on fights. If I’m not bright enough to see that the guys fighting are over-hyped then that’s my fault. I’ve done it on many occasions so shame on me for not seeing through the BS. I don’t feel like I’m entitled to anything from these fighters. If they don’t want to fight each other then that’s their prerogative. They don’t owe me anything, just like I don’t owe them my money when they do decide to fight. That’s why all of the bullshit and politics you mention don’t influence my love for the sport. I’m not attached to any of it. I don’t see any of the promoters and sanctioning bodies as “the sport”. The sport is not defined by them in my eyes.
I love the mix of physical and mental aspects
You can go in there with an amazingly formulated gameplan, and have all the ring savvy in the world, but if he has that monster power, or you have that suspect chin, then it can all go wrong very quickly. At the same time, if you have all these brilliant physical gifts, but don’t utilise them cleverly, then they are going to be useless against someone good.
And then there are the eery and ambiguous factors, like the all important heart. Boxers are athletes, but we expect them to give so much more. Sprinters wouldn’t run with broken noses, swimmers wouldn’t go out with a fractured hips. Boxers go out and put themselves through pain, they take on adversity in huge ways, and we don’t just expect this of them, we demand it. Just ask Victor Ortiz.
At times I am not comfortable with this, but I can’t deny that it creates some of the most chilling and timeless displays of sporting drama that the world will ever see.
Of course, there are the myriad tactical and stylistic elements to consider too. The joy of watching a fight and mentally breaking down one boxer, looking for their flaws, strengths, and subtle nuances, is a very great one. Also, there is so much to it; so much that I know that I, and many others, don’t grasp. And I am fascinated by that.
The floors of the skyscraper of boxing fandom and knowlege and clearly numerous, and I am just knocking on the door.
"All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him." - Jack Dempsey
I don’t know about you guys but I just watch for the round card girls.
by taco pal on Jul 20, 2010 9:34 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
lol
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
I’ve always enjoyed the subtleties and intelligence involved in the sweet science.
Despite the sport’s problems, that is what originally hooked me… and still does to this day.
After checking out matchup/strategy info prior to the match, and scoring the match myself… I feel like I’ve actually used my brain when I’m done. I like that. It also helps that I’ve had some boxing training myself… so that may give me a little bit of a unique look compared to some.
I’ve always been a boxing and baseball guy…. these two sports just fascinate me beyond any others.
Baseball is like Church
Many attend, few understand.
"All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him." - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jul 21, 2010 6:53 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
it is a tough game, baseball
I remember watching the whole gig when the Red Sox finally won the World Series again, and it was a great experience, watching history being made and missing out on all those years before lol – but as for understanding much beyond the score…hmmm.
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
everything
beyond strikes and home runs, especially stats like ERAs and most of the terminology…lol basketball is the easiest
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
Do you know cricket? I would think that cricket fans would have an easier time understanding baseball than others would. But that could be wrong.
I used to play cricket quite a lot.
Baseball is still alien to me. The concept isn’t, obviously, but some of the rules and the jargon, and the endless discussion of stats in abbreviated terms…. I’ve got no idea what’s going on.
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
ah really
bat/bowl? I kept wicket and came in at 7. And I think thats the main issue, the ‘endless discussion of stats in abbreviated terms’…anyway, my main experience of it was a pretty good one with the World Series win, so can’t complain…
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
I was a decent spin bowler.
Then as I got taller I started bowling a pretty quick seam ball, and my PE teacher gave me one-on-one tuition to get me batting right. I got pretty decent, and had one season with the bat where I wasn’t a complete disgrace, then I stopped playing cricket.
What I will say is that while I was a decent bowler, and a crap batsman for 90% of the time I played cricket, I was a bloody great fielder. Used to field at silly point, about 4 yards from the bat. Nothing wnt through me, I was like a wall. Used to watch Jonty Rhodes videos on how to field. That guy was the single best fielder I’ve ever seen. Ponting was awesome earlier in his career, but Rhodes was about 40% better than anyone else in the field. I basically modelled my fielding on him, and got braver and braver, closer and closer to the bat, taking more and more spectacular catches (and breaking a few bones in my hands in the process), and then I got hit. Badly. Bowler decided to loop the sixth ball in after 5 dot balls, and didn’t tell anyone. I remember the batsman’s eyes lighting up, and him going up on the back foot, bringing the blade up to shoulder height…. then I woke up in the hospital with a broken sternum and the doctors telling me I should be dead. Fun times, eh?
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
comp issues here on playing...
..will catch it later. I only ever caught a couple of shows back in the day, but it was pretty huge hey?!
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
Silly point?!
You need ridiculously good reactions in that position, and to be stupidly brave lol – you always have to push someone to be there, but I can’t remember us getting too much joy, with drops/balls narrowly going through or past. A good silly point is worth his weight in gold…
Jonty Rhodes was an amazing fielder, and I think now the IPL and 20-20 has really made teams raise that part of their game. In his time, he was well out by himself as a fielder in the covers. Punter throws down the stumps more times than anyone I’ve ever seen though. He practises like a maniac. Unbeaten on 61 too as we speak.
You were Extremely lucky, Rich…and fielding there with no helmet?! Crazy….lol.
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
How did you know I wasn't wearing a helmet???
As a matter of fact, I wasn’t…. but it’s weird that you’d know that. :)
I don’t have those kind of reactions now; I fielded for a mate’s team recently and was a fairly deep gully, and I was still beaten by the odd ball. Maybe it’s just rust, but maybe I’m just old and fat now. :D
Not sure I’ll ever play cricket again now. I’m rubbish with the bat (lack of practice + unnatural to begin with = absolute crap), I get pins and needles in my right hand when I bowl quickly (which I still retain the ability to do) and my fielding is nothing like it used to be. I’d love to back there, fielding at silly point, eyes trained on the edge of the bat as the bowler ran in…. but not for me any more, I guess. Depleted performance embarrasses me to the point where I get no pleasure from the game any more.
Unlike boxing, which now I’m doing again I feel like Roy Jones: only appreciating how much I love the sport when it’s too late…..
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
I was psychic...lol
(plus its kind of common sense ;)
Yeah, you would not want to go back and field in the gully, too much diving around needed. You can’t seriously miss silly point, even after clocking a ball in the head there?!
I was never too good at boxing in the first place, but I do miss the sparring part of the training for kickboxing. Sent you a fb msg btw
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
You can’t seriously miss silly point, even after clocking a ball in the head there?!
The sternum is the bone that basically holds your ribs together at the front, mate. :)
And yeah, I do miss it. Or maybe I just miss the knowledge that I could do it. Because short of going back into full time sports training now, there is no way I’ll ever do it again. I am not the same physical specimen I once was, and I miss those days. I really do.
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
In an earlier post
you said a good silly point is worth hos weight in gold.
Ian Bell in the 2005 ashes took an amazing amount of catches in that position.
Good 2 see Murali getting to 800 wickets! What a phenomenom
by Sweet science on Jul 22, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Nope. BrianBrock said that. :)
Not sure on Bell.
And yes, agreed on Murali. Great player, the second best spinner of all time in my eyes. The other one retired far too early.
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
I would have replied but it would have come down half the page and sometimes it’s hard to see what is a reply to what lol
by Sweet science on Jul 22, 2010 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
ahhhh...lol
it is a much more carefree/idyllic time playing cricket as a kid hey?!
Point taken on the sternum :)
Ps who was the other one that retired early then?! (ref to your post below)
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
Shane Warne.
That guy did things with a ball that made me wish I was his wife. lol
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
lmao Chaos
Warne was a genius , how the frig do you have phone sex on the mobile phone with one sheila at the same time you are asking the wife about the kids at home , smoking a cigarette and drinking champagne . Best spinner of all time .
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
lmao
How you think the ashes will go this winter?
by Sweet science on Jul 23, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions
On the bright side
you saved a boundary!
by Sweet science on Jul 22, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions
that was 2 Chaos
telling the story of how he broke his sternum btw!
by Sweet science on Jul 22, 2010 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I did indeed. And they were on a difficult run-chase at that point.
Apparently the resulting shouts when I keeled over were something like:
“Fucking great stop!!”
“You’ll have to hit them harder than that to get them past him mate!!”
“That’s why we don’t have a guy sweeping the offside boundary!!”
“Someone call a fucking ambulance”
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
lol
What is the diagnosis of a broken sternum? similar to broken rib I guess?
by Sweet science on Jul 22, 2010 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Diagnosis?
They X-rayed me, and the bone was broken. lol
As for the implications: I had to be strapped up for a week or so, and I had a massive bruise in the middle of my chest for ages, with a negative print of “Dominic Cork” in the middle of it…. lol (The name was engraved in the ball, and it was a really pretty picture. :) )
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
I knew it wasn’t diagnosis that I was looking for! as for Dominic Cork, I didn’t realise he was that close to your heart lol
by Sweet science on Jul 23, 2010 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
lmfao Chaos
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
I was wondering when we'd have some Aussie input into the cricket convo!! ;)
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
Thats why the position is called Silly Point
;-) Chaos , Andrew Symonds is a pretty handy fieldman .
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
Symonds is really good.
But no-one compares to Jonty for me. No-one comes close.
I saw a Channel 4 Cricket programme about 3 years back, where Atherton and Rhodes were showing some kids some fielding drills, and Rhodes set up two cones about 6 yards apart, Athers standing about 10 yards away with a bat. So Rhodes chucks the ball up in the air to Athers, and sets himself, and Atherton cracks the ball at him. They did this about 12 times, and Rhodes stopped every one. Athers was getting visibly pissed off with this, and started hitting the ball harder and harder, and Rhodes still didn’t let one through. In the end Athers welted one straight at Rhodes, and Rhodes caught it like it was nothing. Athers, treying to regain composure, drops the bat, and tries to smile at the kids, saying “so kids, that’s how you should stand in the field…” and other assorted bollocks. Really funny stuff. Jonty just stood there grinning.
And yes, JC, that’s why they call it silly point… as my PE teacher at school told me, it’s cos you’ve got to be bloody silly to stand there…. :D
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
Ah yeah, I’m a huge cricket fan. The games are really not that similar though….lol. It seems to me that there are more variations in the way that you can bowl/pitch in cricket, and the way that you can bat. Baseball is more akin to rounders…
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
Baseball is downright simple to understand compared to NFL football
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Baseball is like Church
boring, antiquated, and largely irrelevant!
(apologies in advance to my non-agnostic friends here)
by The Boxer Rebellion on Jul 21, 2010 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Ha!
"All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him." - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jul 21, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
strangely enough
I understand That heaps better, but then I actually played that a bit.
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
Short answer
A lot of subtlety involved in watching and analysing it, but primarily it’s just that it’s the most direct form of competition out there. Just two guys and their fists, mano a mano. No balls, no teams – it’s just the skills and wills of one fighter against the other.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Basically I have loved all sport ever since a young age
Always been a massive football fan (Soccer to most people on here :) ) watch a bit of rugby, tennis, golf, and pretty much most sports that ever appear on the box.
The first fight I remember watching was Lennox Lewis V Hasim Rahman, when Lennox got KO’d. I guess you expecting me to say I have been hooked ever since? Well no!
I got hooked after watching the Hatton Floyd 24/7, build up and the fight. I was searching everyday for news, looking for expert opinions on who would win and whatnot (it also was when I came across BLH for the first time)
I kinda remember watching De La Hoya V Mayweather, waking up in the middle of the night and it was already 6 rounds through the fight. I even remember asking myself, Who’s who lol. Thats was how limited my knowledge was, and while im still no expert, im still learning, mostly by reading the material and opinions on here. About a month after, Hatton fought Castillo, and disposed of him with a savage left hook to the body. That is one of my favouroute ever KO’s, and probably why I love a good body shot now. You don’t need me to tell you how the Floyd fight turned out.
I love boxing so much that it’s easily my second sport, (no shame in that, im a football nut!). Why, a mix of the reason’s stated above. Fighter’s preparing, for weeks and months beforehand, just for that one shot, when the lights are on them. I love Michael Buffer, “Lets get ready to RUUUUMMMBBLLLEEEEE!”. Whenever I hear that, I know its time, sit a little further forward in my seat. It’s time for two gladiator’s, to risk everything. Sometimes, maybe a lot of the time, you end up dissapointed. But when it all comes together, and somthing shocking happens, something unexpected, something truly spectacular, the positives far outweight the negatives and that is why I love boxingt!
Bit of an essay, but if you read it thank you, it’s appreciated!
That was great to read
I can definitely relate to the hype for Pacquiao – Hatton, as that was when I found this site, and became truly hooked, too.
"All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him." - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jul 21, 2010 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Manny - Hatton is when I joined
before I just read it. Havn’t looked back.
by Sweet science on Jul 22, 2010 5:38 AM EDT up reply actions
I think it was not long after Mosely-Mayorga for me
random internet mining and struck gold :)
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
haha I love that
simple, plain, powerful
by Sweet science on Jul 22, 2010 5:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Because I am lonely
and boxing doesn’t judge me
Aww
"All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him." - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Jul 22, 2010 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Heres Kylie Minogues Bum To keep You Company Donny ;-)
http://skinindex.com/archives/601bb_f26-thumb.jpg
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
I love boxing
because in my previous life I was Stanley Ketchel.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
Fancy explaining Stanley Ketchel or do you want us to do the research ourselves
Or is it something a hardcore fan should know? lol
by Sweet science on Jul 23, 2010 7:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Jack Johnson era. Middleweight champion who ended up fighting Johnson.
He was meant to be awe-inspiring to watch.
"The terror of the unforeseen is what the science of history hides, turning a disaster into an epic"
by Oli Goldstein on Jul 23, 2010 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions
First fighter I could think of with the same initials.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
< Jimmy Carruthers
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
Brilliant JC
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
Ketchel could punch like a mule
He’d fight his mum if she got too lippy and he was known for his proclivities in the henhouse .
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
lol
A cockfighter.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
hahahahaaha
shit that one made me bloody spit me coffee out Goaty
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
Ketchel was a bum.
.
.
.
.
.
.
ducks for cover!!
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
Them's fightin' words Mr One Hundred
I’ll have my manager tender a contract in the lawful coin of the United States.
If there’s no knockout it’s a draw.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
Keep your back covered Goaty
The Michigan Assassin was known for his liking of other blokes sheilas mate;-) wear a bulletproof vest Goaty or make sure your back and chair are against the wall mate . Im hoping Chaos doesnt look like Jack Johnson or youre in a bit of strife mate .
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
He looks more like Jack Black. No worries mate.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
White ball in the corner pocket .....
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
The images that nightmares are made of.... lol
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
You have a great weekend Chine
Im off on the morning stagger – walk and Ive got the old mirrored shades on to sus the talent ;-) . Take it easy champ . Hope the old mexican weather isnt too grim .
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
lol Same to you mate
I’m about to harness the beasts for a walk – race around the lake. S’all good south of the border- another day in Paradise for you hey slugger.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
Cheeky bastard!!
I wasn’t a bad fighter back in the day pal, before I got fat!! :P
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
LOL!!
No worries Jack ‘Pot’ Black.
Very sad to hear that Hurricane Higgins just passed away mate. I saw a recent photo of him and it broke my bleedin’ heart. What a player he was.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
I didn't like the guy.
No matter how talented you are, there is no excuse for being:
a) a guy who likes to knock women around
b) a bully who thinks it’s ok to headbutt old men
c) a coke addict
d) an asshole generally.
Safe to say I’m not a fan, and I met him a few times too. I’m not the only one either. I know a load of peopleon this website, and they don’t like him either:
http://www.cueclubinternational.com/viewtopic.php?forum=37&topic=32749
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
But he was a great snooker player
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
Depends on your own definition of 'great'.
He was uber-talented, could read the table really well, and had superb cue-power (which always makes players look better than they actually are, trust me, I’ve been using that trick for years… lol) but he wouldn’t have lasted 1 month on the current professional circuit. Consistency and determination win matches, not stand-alone moments of flair.
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
The Hurricane was a bastard but he was a legend
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
Ray " the vampire " Reardon was my fave as a kid .
He used to kick Eddie Charltons arse .
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
Ray coulda' been Christopher Lee's understudy JC - great player
Dennis Taylor was my fave as a kid. I remember watching him win the world title against Steve Davis. 17-17 going into the last and deciding frame and Taylor won it on the final black. Insane!
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
That one was the best match ever so Ive been told mate
Dennis and his specs mate LOL
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
I hate hearing that.....
1985 wasn’t the best match ever unless you particularly like watching error strewn snooker. For drama and tension it might have been, but the match itself was a poor standard.
The greatest match ever was probably the final of the Liverpool Victoria Charity Challenge, in 1997 between Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan. From memory, Hendry was 8-2 up first to 9, and Ronnie came back and won 6 frames without really missing a ball, keeping Hendry in his seat for over an hour. In the last frame, Hendry gets out of his seat, knocks in a long red and wins the match, and the championship, with a 147. Hard enough to do it at any time, but having been on your bum for 6 frames, and in the deciding frame of the championship, that takes some real minerals and concentration.
The greatest match any individual ever played was Ronnie O’Sullivan beating Hendry 17-4 in the semi of the World Championships in 2004. Hendry said after the match that he believed he’d only played 3 bad shots in the match, and Ronnie was unreal in that match. I’ve never seen anything like that, from anyone, in practice or matches, exhibitions, anything. That was the best that snooker has ever been played, and probably it will never be played like that ever again, by anyone. It was shocking how well he played, and I’m struggling right now to find the words to do it justice. Hendry is my favourite ever player, but even he (and I do think he’s the greatest of all time, by a margin) never hit the ball as sweet as Ronnie did that day.
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
Maximum break to win the championship?
Man, it’s been a while since I watched great snooker – you’re whetting my appetite.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
Probably, all things considered, the best break of all time.
Having sat there for ages without really getting to the table, against Ronnie in full-flow, in the deciding frame of a championship, with all the pressure that entails, crowd rooting for Ronnie, having seen an 8-2 lead disappear rapidly: to show that kind of composure is something no-one else in the game could have done, in my eyes.
Most people would have taken the easier option of playing out to the blue, or a pink, but Hendry was a fucking machine in the Nineties. He saw the chance, and produced that. Amazing.
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
OSullivan's the most talented player ever
Cant argue with that Chaos. Some of the things he does are frigging unbelievable . My old man has been watching snooker since the 50s and he rates O Sullivan as the most gifted player he has seen.
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
Most gifted, definitely.
Hendry is the greatest player ever though.
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
you wanna go carefil with Chaos
he got one hell of a right hand when he wants to, so he tells me
by Sweet science on Jul 23, 2010 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey man I’ve seen the dude shoot pool. Killer shark.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
HA!!
I’d rather do that than fight!! ;)
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
What I tell you stays quiet pal....
If I wanted it on here I’d have put it on here.
Just a heads up. :)
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
Because it’s pain and anguish and glory and triumph and a ridiculous test of human capabilities. And every once in a while, it is simply divine and awe-inspiring.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
Nice.
A test of human capabilities indeed. Who can further expand their threshold of pain?
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
Another reason
Again I watch a lot of soccer. Some of the petulence is sickening. There is so much moaning and bitching in the game. And a lot of cheating and un-sportmanship. Players have been known to spit at each other, and tyr their damdest to get each other sent off.
Then you have boxing. Two guy’s (or lets not forget girls if anyone watches women’s boxing) who go out, to take the other’s head off. (Briggs being a recent exception.) They go to war on each other. They say how they are going to fuck their opponent up in a bad way. And when it gets to the end of a fight, and if were lucky, a real humdinger of a battle, they hug, they embrace and they show a real genuine respect of each other. And I love that.
Because a boxer will bring to a fight everything that is himself
and everything will be exposed.
.
"Anytime you go thirty rounds with a guy, try to kill each other, and have the utmost respect for each other, no one understands that, but guys who have been to war understand it." - Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti.
by Goatsnake on Jul 23, 2010 7:08 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Now,
that was a good and true one, Mr. Snake.
by Don From Prov on Jul 23, 2010 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I think I love it because nothing compares to the raw emotion of a fight. Knowing that it can end at any time, knowing that its just one guy against another, knowing that each has sweated and bled and worked himself down to the bone just to be in that ring. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a sporting experience as devastating as seeing Ricky Hatton knocked out by Manny Pacquaio, and its boxing’s ability to make me sit up and think – ‘man, these guys give their body, mind and heart’ – that just resonates for so long after a fight. Football season comes along every year, but the emotion generated by each and every fight is so different and original in itself. Nothing can compare.
"The terror of the unforeseen is what the science of history hides, turning a disaster into an epic"
by Oli Goldstein on Jul 23, 2010 8:11 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
reopened the comments here
They closed automatically (comments close after 14 days on every post), but if anyone wants to keep talking about snooker or whatever, go ahead. It’s a good thread. And I watched snooker for the first time ever thanks to this and was, for whatever reason, immediately hooked on it.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
who did you see play?
Its an epic game, much harder than pool (sorry Rich but I find it near impossible – the table’s Huge! – and I’m at least competent at pool after being taught by a friend of mine who used to hustle while we were in college). It can be completely engrossing and intense, although in the last few years its been sad for me seeing Stephen Hendry not being what he was (he’s the greatest player ever, no matter what you may hear about Ronnie O’Sullivan) as age comes in.
I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
I went over to YouTube and watched some of Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan since those names kept coming up.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Aug 5, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Some say Lindrum was the greatest cueman ever SC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Lindrum Billiards was more popular and is considered more of a purists game than Snooker . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Davis Davis won the world snooker title an incredible 15 times in a row but he wasnt as good as Lindrum .
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
http://www.mastersgames.com/rules/billiards-snooker-rules.htm
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
