Since the days of Alex Higgins, who can forget the sad footage of him sat, drunk, alone, the crowd gone, players, refs, commentaters too. Just Alex sat alone as if waiting to take his next shot. Perhaps the most upsetting sports footage of all time. Ronnie O'Sullivan now has the weight of the entire sport on his frgile shoulders. Once he is knocked out of a competition more than half the viewers stop following. So rare in sport, Ali, Gascoigne, Higgins, George Best, that mix of nonchalant natural genius aligned with serious personality disorder. O'Sullivan was even better when he was 16 than he is now. He made a 147 break sged 15 in the English Amateur Championship. The rock in his life was taken away when his father was given an 18 year jail sentence for murder. Ronnie developed bi polar disorder. Personal problems took his eye off the ball. Even in this shattered state he won 3 world, 4 uk, and 4 masters titles. The organiseres of the game docked him ranking points for disrespecting an opponent when he beat him playing the whole game left handed. I can't help but wonder, knowing that you are so much more gifted than any one else, if the pressure of holding the weight of an entire sports success is too much for one man.
Perhaps he will walk away as he frequently suggests he might.
I pray not.
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