MySockPuppet
19th October 2009, 06:00 PM
BILL WERBENIUK (Canada)
Years as professional: 1973-1991
Ranking titles: 0
Ranking finals: 0
Other titles: 1
Highest ranking: 8
Years in top 16: 8
Crucible appearances: 10
Werbeniuk was a gargantuan Canadian whose beer guzzling made him a cult hero in snooker’s boom years.
Big Bill sank up to 15 pints of lager before and during matches to offset a tremor in his arm.
The beer was tax deductable. This is probably as close to genius as you can get.
He was a product of the pool and snooker sub culture of North America and formed a holy 1980s triumvirate with Cliff Thorburn and Kirk Stevens. Together, they won the World Cup in 1982.
Werbeniuk reached four World Championship quarter-finals and was the first player to make a break in excess of 140 at the Crucible, his 142 coming in 1979.
In 1985, his 143 took the highest break prize.
In his later career, he took beta-blockers to help his heart deal with his enormous alcohol intake but when these were banned, he packed it in.
Werbeniuk died in 2004. Many tributes were paid to this most unlikely of sporting heroes.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29605452-4189911696819643128?l=snookerscene.blogspot.com
More... (http://snookerscene.blogspot.com/2009/10/international-11-10.html)
Years as professional: 1973-1991
Ranking titles: 0
Ranking finals: 0
Other titles: 1
Highest ranking: 8
Years in top 16: 8
Crucible appearances: 10
Werbeniuk was a gargantuan Canadian whose beer guzzling made him a cult hero in snooker’s boom years.
Big Bill sank up to 15 pints of lager before and during matches to offset a tremor in his arm.
The beer was tax deductable. This is probably as close to genius as you can get.
He was a product of the pool and snooker sub culture of North America and formed a holy 1980s triumvirate with Cliff Thorburn and Kirk Stevens. Together, they won the World Cup in 1982.
Werbeniuk reached four World Championship quarter-finals and was the first player to make a break in excess of 140 at the Crucible, his 142 coming in 1979.
In 1985, his 143 took the highest break prize.
In his later career, he took beta-blockers to help his heart deal with his enormous alcohol intake but when these were banned, he packed it in.
Werbeniuk died in 2004. Many tributes were paid to this most unlikely of sporting heroes.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/29605452-4189911696819643128?l=snookerscene.blogspot.com
More... (http://snookerscene.blogspot.com/2009/10/international-11-10.html)