Snooker amazingness... from 1997
You probably figured out already from my last few posts, but I have managed to develop quite an interest in a certain Stephen Hendry. Yes, it still bothers me that I didn't care about snooker in the 1990s, as I would have had my own memories from his career then. I have, however, spent hours and hours lately researching him, watching old match clips, reading everything I can... and just generally doing the things you do when you start to care about someone to this degree.
Also, before you point out the obvious fact that I'm 30 years late to the party, my love for him also applies to what I know about him now. It's not simply a fascination with how amazing he was as a player, or a strange crush on the younger version of him - it's him, then and now. Yes, I'm enjoying researching his career and watching him play, but I'm also interested in all the newer stuff as well. And, of course, my heart skips a beat every time he posts on social media - and luckily for me, he posts on Instagram quite actively, and also answered fans' questions on Twitter a few times since I started paying proper attention to him.
So, I started writing this post because I wanted to show you some of his amazingness. There are so many things I could have picked, but this is the thing I've seen that has hit me the hardest emotionally - and also proved the extent of my love for him.... Why is that, you ask?
Well, have a look here. This is the deciding frame of the final of the 1997 Liverpool Victoria Charity Challenge. If you've been reading my snooker ramblings for some years, you might also recognise the other finalist here - a young Ronnie O'Sullivan. That, in itself, should have been information enough for you to know whose side I would be on... but it's not that simple here.
Now, this match was amazing for more reasons than what you will find below. It was a best of 17 (so, if you're not into snooker, this means that the first to 9 wins), and Stephen was 8-2 up at one point. Then Ronnie fought back to 8-8. This is impressive, but it's hard to be anything but amazed at the way Stephen settled the match in his favour:
There is making a 147. And then, there is making a 147 in the deciding frame of a final.
I feel a bit bad for liking this clip so much, given that it's Ronnie on the receiving end, so to speak. But really, you just have to love this, for it's pure amazingness - and for the reaction afterwards. And the fact that I'm able to see it like that counts as proof of how much I've managed to fall in love.
Do you agree with me?
Also, before you point out the obvious fact that I'm 30 years late to the party, my love for him also applies to what I know about him now. It's not simply a fascination with how amazing he was as a player, or a strange crush on the younger version of him - it's him, then and now. Yes, I'm enjoying researching his career and watching him play, but I'm also interested in all the newer stuff as well. And, of course, my heart skips a beat every time he posts on social media - and luckily for me, he posts on Instagram quite actively, and also answered fans' questions on Twitter a few times since I started paying proper attention to him.
So, I started writing this post because I wanted to show you some of his amazingness. There are so many things I could have picked, but this is the thing I've seen that has hit me the hardest emotionally - and also proved the extent of my love for him.... Why is that, you ask?
Well, have a look here. This is the deciding frame of the final of the 1997 Liverpool Victoria Charity Challenge. If you've been reading my snooker ramblings for some years, you might also recognise the other finalist here - a young Ronnie O'Sullivan. That, in itself, should have been information enough for you to know whose side I would be on... but it's not that simple here.
Now, this match was amazing for more reasons than what you will find below. It was a best of 17 (so, if you're not into snooker, this means that the first to 9 wins), and Stephen was 8-2 up at one point. Then Ronnie fought back to 8-8. This is impressive, but it's hard to be anything but amazed at the way Stephen settled the match in his favour:
Click to viewThere is making a 147. And then, there is making a 147 in the deciding frame of a final.
I feel a bit bad for liking this clip so much, given that it's Ronnie on the receiving end, so to speak. But really, you just have to love this, for it's pure amazingness - and for the reaction afterwards. And the fact that I'm able to see it like that counts as proof of how much I've managed to fall in love.
Do you agree with me?