Grow Up Mark Allen

[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

I 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...

[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

[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.

[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)?

[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.

[abbadan09]

indeed 147 harry I agree with you there.

[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]

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.

[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

[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 ;-)

[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 .

[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!

[tornado taylor]

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

[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.

[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?!