Grow Up Mark Allen

[GAD63]

Firstly he slates Stuart Bingham for being a bottle job and now thinks he has the right to criticise Barry Hearn !! The boy is barely out of his pram, how could he possibly know the complexities of running an organisation and trying to get sponsors onboard.

[missneworleans]

He lost my respect after what he said about Stuart but gained it back with what he said to Hearn

[Kingscratcher]

thinks he has the right to criticise Barry Hearn !!

He has every right to criticise Barry Hearn, as has anyone else - it's called freedom of speech! And Hearn has very much invited criticism by promising not to tamper with the UK Championships, then proceeding to do just that! Hearn's childish response to the remarks suggests Allen may not be the one who needs to grow up!

[gavpowell]

The bit that confuses me is when he acknowledges Barry Hearn is probably good for snooker in the long-term but says he's no good right now so someone else should have a go. A) Like who? B) WHy would you want to be short-termist about the gmae? Especially as Allen's stilla young man.

[GAD63]

I absolutely agree with freedom of speech but to openly criticise with no suggestions as to what Mr Hearn could do is pointless, you have to agree that the game was a good as dead before Barry decided to grab the reigns again!! would you rather the previous debarcle !!

[GAD63]

Couldnt agree more with your comments, seems like he engaged his voice before the brain had a chance to work !!

[attilahun]

Allen problem was about the UK...and he is right. Hearn promised the big 3 will remain untouched and he lied. Mark was saying Hearn should go because of that. He recognized Hearns merits all round. But about the UK he is 110% right....and about the fact snooker is turning slowly but surely to darts. All those half-drunk people shouting at power snooker is just the beginning.....time will tell.

[cally]

seems like he engaged his voice before the brain had a chance to work !!

I think we're all guilty of that from time time to time eh...:)

I hope mark goes onto win the tourney now...;)

[cazmac1]

He couldn't win a one horse race.

[cally]

Full of christmas spirit today i see caz...lol..;)

[cazmac1]

Hum bug :(:p;):D

[DWOT]

Hum bug :(:p;):D

I love all the people saying Hearn is right, blah blah....

What thay are forgetting is that because this has been deemed a success Mr Hearn will us this to change the World Championships too, so folks get ready for best of 11's til the semi's in the World Championships within a couple of years time.

And the rest of the things he has planned too! MONEY MONEY MONEY....

[miscuehamburg]

I think there are actually two boys in their prams throwing their toys at each other:o

Despite the bizarre affair, two thoughts come in my mind:

1 Why is Mark the only one being 'sued' because of his criticism,
2 How is it possible that leading representatives (plural!) think it usefull to carry out their dispute in the media?

I hope there will be no further damage to the sport. Especially so because the tournament has been very entertaining so far (on the table):snooker:

[Steerforth]

There'll be no game left when Hearn's finished. It'll be decent filler on Sky when there's no football on though, and he'll walk off into the sunset with his pockets bulging with cash.

[poolqjunkie]

Mark surely has a sense of humor.LOL
http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv355/auroracues/ebay/20111208095836289.jpg

[the montrealer]

Some players are spoiled brats if you do not like the way the game is played today go get another job thats my opinion

[attilahun]

if you do not like the way the game is played today go get another job thats my opinion

Maybe tomorrow Hearn will put them to play with a broom stick ...and people will say...hey that is the way the game is played today.
I think Hearn should at least listen to what the players have to say. Without the players you will watch Hearn playing snooker against Rodney Walker on Sky. But maybe you will be satisfied and say ...that is the way the game is played today.....

[johnsusername]

I thought the gaffer tape over the mouth was brilliant! He's got every right to say what he wants, within reason. Maybe he's tried to take it up behind closed doors but no one would listen?

Either way, he's playing very well and could win the championship - and would that mean he's better suited to the shorter format?!

[Looki]

Let's hope he'll turn into "one of the nicest guys in the circuit" so that people can get back whining there are only boring non-characters in snooker nowadays.

[tornado taylor]

Good on him I say. Atleast he has the balls to speak his mind unlike some

[Luke Hooper]

i think mark allen is fantastic, a real character.... yeah ok he is offensive sometimes, but deal with it, i think that is what snooker needs, a bit of controversy or a character (other than ronnie) in the game that will rebel against things... it spices things up a bit... ronnie is the only other real character but he just moans about how he is not cueing to his max capabilities even if he wins etc etc... Mark just said what everyone else was thinking, just pretty bluntly. fair play to him!

[hotpot]

Agree 200 % we deffo need more characters that are individuals and not robots who can speak their mind otherwise they,ll just be like politicians , gagged .

[CueAntW147]

Mark Allens a good kid who likes to play entertaining snooker, has banter with the crowd even on the walk on & with whoever he's playing usually, if they too have a sense of humour ;-)
I've not got a problem with what he's said so far & it would be a very dull world if we were all the same, he's just letting his personality come through & his thoughts, look at some of the Alex Higgins press conferences which never did the game any harm !
I'm sure Barry won't mind the publicity really..........this bit of controversy is much better than the betting scandal type of thing thats been going on the past.
On the playing side he showed lots of bottle against Marco last night & he seems to have the support of the fans despite or maybe even because of what he said not to mention the way he plays the game ;-)

[cazmac1]

Let's hope he'll turn into "one of the nicest guys in the circuit" so that people can get back whining there are only boring non-characters in snooker nowadays.
careful looki, you might set those "what's wrong with today's player off" Plenty lol

[abbadan09]

I think Hearn is right to tell Allen off. But it's up to Hearn how he runs the sport more matches are much better than there was.

[147harry]

can you imagine if Mark Allen gets to the final, Barry Hearn will have to shake his hand and present him with a cheque, that will be somewhat... awkward!!

[abbadan09]

indeed 147 harry I agree with you there.

[gavpowell]

can you imagine if Mark Allen gets to the final, Barry Hearn will have to shake his hand and present him with a cheque, that will be somewhat... awkward!!

Already been established Hearn is away until after the tournament - Jason Ferguson will present the trophy. Slightly less awkward.

[FerruleFox]

I don't like the shorter frames as much as the next guy.....but it was the BBC's idea, and what would happen to the tour if the BBC dropped the UK?

Seriously, people need to start facing realities. The game in Canada is dead because nobody gets a chance to watch anymore. You guys are living in a dream world if you think the BBC isn't a HUGE part of the continued success of the sport. Unless you want to send the WC to China (because they'll be glad to host it)?

[wake_up_bomb]

Firstly he slates Stuart Bingham for being a bottle job and now thinks he has the right to criticise Barry Hearn !! The boy is barely out of his pram, how could he possibly know the complexities of running an organisation and trying to get sponsors onboard.I must say, I've heard him and Ronnie moaning about the money situation for PTC events. What they don't seem to understand is, you can't get money off a money tree (well, you can if you're a central bank, but that's beside the point...), it has to be provided through sponsorship. It's obvious to me that Hearn is trying to create markets abroad for the game, and reach the point where you can have events as big as the UK Championships in numerous nations. This can't happen overnight, it takes time. You could be the world's best tiddlywinks player, and moan about the amount of money you get for winning the world championships, but the fact is, no-one wants to sponsor tiddlywinks. Snooker players are in a relatively privileged position, and if they want to make serious money they need to get out there and promote the game. Tennis players play an incredibly tough calendar in a much more physically demanding sport, but that's how the image and prominence of the game was built up. Tennis players get big money because when they play big events you see General Electric, BNP (bank, not the political party!), Heineken, Mercedes, Rolex, Barclays, etc. Not William Hill. And big TV stations want to pay big money for the sport. That's all there is to it. Whinging about it won't change anything.

[deant1982]

I must say, I've heard him and Ronnie moaning about the money situation for PTC events. What they don't seem to understand is, you can't get money off a money tree (well, you can if you're a central bank, but that's beside the point...), it has to be provided through sponsorship. It's obvious to me that Hearn is trying to create markets abroad for the game, and reach the point where you can have events as big as the UK Championships in numerous nations. This can't happen overnight, it takes time. You could be the world's best tiddlywinks player, and moan about the amount of money you get for winning the world championships, but the fact is, no-one wants to sponsor tiddlywinks. Snooker players are in a relatively privileged position, and if they want to make serious money they need to get out there and promote the game. Tennis players play an incredibly tough calendar in a much more physically demanding sport, but that's how the image and prominence of the game was built up. Tennis players get big money because when they play big events you see General Electric, BNP (bank, not the political party!), Heineken, Mercedes, Rolex, Barclays, etc. Not William Hill. And big TV stations want to pay big money for the sport. That's all there is to it. Whinging about it won't change anything.

Spot on comment. Mark Allen should be allowed to say what he wants, and as long as he shows respect in doing so, will continue to do so. It is one thing to say in a press conference that "in his opinion, he doesn't believe the game is headed in the right direction under Hearns leadership" or something like that, but if he came out with something like "Hearn is an infection only interested in lining his pockets" then he should be punished and punished hard. If I told my boss I thought he/she is a fool that only wants to get rich and then close us down, I'd be sacked on the spot. Mark Allen is a bright star that will only get brighter in the future no doubt, but why does he come across as having a massive sense of entitlement? Work hard, and the results will show in the end. Don't expect it to be handed to you on a silver platter.

Then we get the whole "not enough tournaments for us to earn a living", or "too many tournaments being held, I feel like a prostitute!"
Some of these guys need to realise that it is up to them to put the work in and promote the game. You do this, you get sponsors for the tournaments. Tournaments + Sponsors = Better money. Better money = More comfortable life.
Take the Brazillian masters held recently for example. New tournament, potentially HUGE market in South America, which could lead to more tournaments in the continent and big sponsors, and what happens? Hardly any of the top 16 go because "they don't want to leave the family again", or "think they're worth a few more quid than that".
Bunch of idiots!


Rant over :D

[wake_up_bomb]

Spot on comment. Mark Allen should be allowed to say what he wants, and as long as he shows respect in doing so, will continue to do so. It is one thing to say in a press conference that "in his opinion, he doesn't believe the game is headed in the right direction under Hearns leadership" or something like that, but if he came out with something like "Hearn is an infection only interested in lining his pockets" then he should be punished and punished hard. If I told my boss I thought he/she is a fool that only wants to get rich and then close us down, I'd be sacked on the spot. Mark Allen is a bright star that will only get brighter in the future no doubt, but why does he come across as having a massive sense of entitlement? Work hard, and the results will show in the end. Don't expect it to be handed to you on a silver platter.

Then we get the whole "not enough tournaments for us to earn a living", or "too many tournaments being held, I feel like a prostitute!"
Some of these guys need to realise that it is up to them to put the work in and promote the game. You do this, you get sponsors for the tournaments. Tournaments + Sponsors = Better money. Better money = More comfortable life.
Take the Brazillian masters held recently for example. New tournament, potentially HUGE market in South America, which could lead to more tournaments in the continent and big sponsors, and what happens? Hardly any of the top 16 go because "they don't want to leave the family again", or "think they're worth a few more quid than that".
Bunch of idiots!


Rant over :DI agree with what you're saying here. I do sympathise with them having to leave their families frequently, but cricketers do it all the time. Don't like it, go and work in a factory, or start your own business, then you'll find out what work is! I would love to go out to Brazil to play snooker, and be paid to do it. I'd do it for the minimum wage, no problem at all. My best break is 45, though...