Legend, no question. Younger posters here will probably never get a handle on how big TV snooker was in the 80s but it was almost all down to this guy.
All the talk is of the '85 WC Final between Taylor & Davis, but for me the greatest game ever was Higgins v White in the '82 semi final. White was on fire for the whole game and Higgins needed to win the last 3 to win. His clearance of (only) 57 or 58 (?) in the penultimate frame was only unbelievable. Almost every shot was odds against. I remember a long blue that was only brilliant and a blue with heavy side to kiss the pink off the cushion that was sheer genius. I was 14 and we had a specially arranged disco from my boys school and the girls school across the road. I decided to stay in and watch the game, earning me a certain reputation. To this day I don't regret it (though none of my mates pulled anyway).
I saw him many times and met him a few times. I certainly can't say he was a true gent but I loved the guy, pure and simple. When, nearly 5 years ago, my wife suggested Alex as a name for our son, little did she know!
24/07/2010, 11:24 PM
DmanDmythDledge
Here's the clearance that Stutts is talking about.
