Snooker
Welcome to Live View – Take the tour to learn more
Start Tour
There is currently 1 person viewing this thread.
O'Sullivan: Return was for money
Last Updated: May 1 2013, 20:52 BST
Ronnie O'Sullivan has revealed he only returned to snooker because he needed the money and claimed he will walk away from the sport again.
The reigning world champion marched through to the semi-finals at the Crucible with a 13-4 victory over Stuart Bingham and faces a last-four clash with Judd Trump that begins on Thursday.
Trump said he is not scared of O'Sullivan and their clash promises to be a classic, just as Trump's 13-12 quarter-final victory over Shaun Murphy was in the end on Wednesday.
But it will take place against the backdrop of another retirement warning from O'Sullivan, who has spent most of the last 12 months out of the game by choice.
O'Sullivan has frequently threatened to quit snooker during his career.
The 37-year-old four-time winner of the Betfair World Championship said: "It's nice to be in the semi-finals but to be honest I didn't really miss snooker.
"But I missed having something to do and I was struggling for a bit of money.
"I'll be honest, I still owe the school money for my children's school fees, I haven't paid the last two or three terms.
"I've realised I don't miss snooker one bit but I needed a bit of money.
"I didn't know what was going to happen here but I've made a little bit of money now so I can go and pay the school fees now for the next two years.
"But really I don't think snooker is for me.
"This could be my last proper major event.
"As far as putting my heart and soul into snooker, I don't think that's what I want to do anymore but I had to give it a go.
"I needed some money quick.
"Having come back, it's been tough for me in some ways. I've had a taste of not playing. I didn't want to put my life and soul into it.
"I have signed a contract with my sponsor to play in 10 events so I'll play in those."
But O'Sullivan stated those events could include Legends tour events, and low-profile tournaments, and stressed there was no stipulation that he should appear at events such as the UK Championship, Masters or World Championship.
Last Updated: May 1 2013, 20:52 BST
Ronnie O'Sullivan has revealed he only returned to snooker because he needed the money and claimed he will walk away from the sport again.
The reigning world champion marched through to the semi-finals at the Crucible with a 13-4 victory over Stuart Bingham and faces a last-four clash with Judd Trump that begins on Thursday.
Trump said he is not scared of O'Sullivan and their clash promises to be a classic, just as Trump's 13-12 quarter-final victory over Shaun Murphy was in the end on Wednesday.
But it will take place against the backdrop of another retirement warning from O'Sullivan, who has spent most of the last 12 months out of the game by choice.
O'Sullivan has frequently threatened to quit snooker during his career.
The 37-year-old four-time winner of the Betfair World Championship said: "It's nice to be in the semi-finals but to be honest I didn't really miss snooker.
"But I missed having something to do and I was struggling for a bit of money.
"I'll be honest, I still owe the school money for my children's school fees, I haven't paid the last two or three terms.
"I've realised I don't miss snooker one bit but I needed a bit of money.
"I didn't know what was going to happen here but I've made a little bit of money now so I can go and pay the school fees now for the next two years.
"But really I don't think snooker is for me.
"This could be my last proper major event.
"As far as putting my heart and soul into snooker, I don't think that's what I want to do anymore but I had to give it a go.
"I needed some money quick.
"Having come back, it's been tough for me in some ways. I've had a taste of not playing. I didn't want to put my life and soul into it.
"I have signed a contract with my sponsor to play in 10 events so I'll play in those."
But O'Sullivan stated those events could include Legends tour events, and low-profile tournaments, and stressed there was no stipulation that he should appear at events such as the UK Championship, Masters or World Championship.
Show More
I wonder what he has done with the money he's won in his career, if he can't pay his children's school fees... tells a lot about the guy's intelligence.
Ronnie says what he says, he is the second best player ever in my book and he knows that.
I really think Trump will do him over the next two days, not because I think Trump will ever be in his class but because his time is up.
Davis the bumbling idiot that he is and his parrot are also out of time and while the kids might be impressed a proper snooker fan could only find the pair laughable.
Nobody has turned up to play Ronnie and its turned into an embarrassment for players that should not be in the 32 let alone at sheffield but its the way it is and under Hearn and Davis its not going to change.
For idiots like Davis and Parrot to tell the not so wise that snooker has improved is a joke beyond belief.
This 16 are not in the class of previous 16s and while they have an agenda its hearns agenda and my words will in the end be proven.
I really think Trump will do him over the next two days, not because I think Trump will ever be in his class but because his time is up.
Davis the bumbling idiot that he is and his parrot are also out of time and while the kids might be impressed a proper snooker fan could only find the pair laughable.
Nobody has turned up to play Ronnie and its turned into an embarrassment for players that should not be in the 32 let alone at sheffield but its the way it is and under Hearn and Davis its not going to change.
For idiots like Davis and Parrot to tell the not so wise that snooker has improved is a joke beyond belief.
This 16 are not in the class of previous 16s and while they have an agenda its hearns agenda and my words will in the end be proven.
What a heart warming story,think it sums the numbskull up!
O'Sullivan is a wind up merchant. He is just having a laugh with those comments and as ever, people take the bait
Taken from an interview in february,
"Three or four months ago, i was sitting thinking that i would rather be losing 10-0 at sheffield an be back playing rather than going out for lunch or dinner or chilling out,i had to get back to playing, winning or losing AND IT SHOWS JUST WHAT A BIG PART OF MY LIFE SNOOKER IS".
it goes on "i knew i couldnt take much time out,it was always in the back of my mind that i had to come back with a clear head after sorting a few things out"
Always been the same, says one thing and then the other, probably be something different tomorrow.
"Three or four months ago, i was sitting thinking that i would rather be losing 10-0 at sheffield an be back playing rather than going out for lunch or dinner or chilling out,i had to get back to playing, winning or losing AND IT SHOWS JUST WHAT A BIG PART OF MY LIFE SNOOKER IS".
it goes on "i knew i couldnt take much time out,it was always in the back of my mind that i had to come back with a clear head after sorting a few things out"
Always been the same, says one thing and then the other, probably be something different tomorrow.
That's ronnie for you! Surprised at his price against judd tbh - play anything like he did against Bingham and he wins comfortably. A year off and likely going to breeze to another world championship - different class.
wouldn't surprise me if Ronnie went on to win it this year , took another whole year off and won it again next year ! just needs to work for 17 days a year make it an annual event Ronnie playing competitive snooker , what a legend
make it an annual event Ronnie playing competitive snooker , what a legend
nicky27 01 May 13 22:30
wouldn't surprise me if Ronnie went on to win it this year , took another whole year off and won it again next year ! just needs to work for 17 days a year Grin make it an annual event Ronnie playing competitive snooker , what a legend
+1 Ronnie could become the Quevega of the snooker circuit, only turning up at cheltenham and making it look easier every year. His long potting this morning was the stuff of fantasy....they say its the first thing to go when you're in decline....guess ronnie aint nowhere near the slide just yet!
wouldn't surprise me if Ronnie went on to win it this year , took another whole year off and won it again next year ! just needs to work for 17 days a year Grin make it an annual event Ronnie playing competitive snooker , what a legend
+1 Ronnie could become the Quevega of the snooker circuit, only turning up at cheltenham and making it look easier every year. His long potting this morning was the stuff of fantasy....they say its the first thing to go when you're in decline....guess ronnie aint nowhere near the slide just yet!
"But I missed having something to do"
That's the crux of it. Ronnie gets bored with things. He got bored of the farm so gave that up. He claims he loves running but part of the reason he took up the farm work was so that he would be forced run there otherwise he might not bother.
His life has been snooker and he's fed up with it. But he can't find anything away from the table to entertain himself and keep him occupied hence why he's back. Money may be a factor but he still gets a bit of a buzz from snooker i'm sure, it just doesn't last long.
That's the crux of it. Ronnie gets bored with things. He got bored of the farm so gave that up. He claims he loves running but part of the reason he took up the farm work was so that he would be forced run there otherwise he might not bother.
His life has been snooker and he's fed up with it. But he can't find anything away from the table to entertain himself and keep him occupied hence why he's back. Money may be a factor but he still gets a bit of a buzz from snooker i'm sure, it just doesn't last long.
he should play 3 tournaments a year for next 3 years he's that good he could yet reach 7 (should he win this week) and keep himself fresh - i'll find him some odd jobs round my house to keep him occupied 
Ronnie just being a drama queen to hype up the tournament. Dan we know you will fancy Judd just as we know you will fancy Walden/Hawkins in the final if Ronnie wins.Even a broken clock is right twice a day mate.
http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsHome
theres a much more frank 5 minute interview with ronnie by rob walker on the above link ...
theres a much more frank 5 minute interview with ronnie by rob walker on the above link ...
looks like ronnie will be playing some UK events next season , at least a few of them
Hitman.
its Ronnie being Ronnie and hyping up himself as per usual.
I wont back Trump because when all is said and done he is not in Ronnies class but its more his time to impose himself if he has it in him to be world champion.
I would be the first to congratulate Ronnie if he beats a player who is playing anywhere near
his best, up to now Ronnie has only had to be in exhibition mode because every player has failed miserably to even make him think about where he is.
The tables are a disgrace.
This from Steve Davis yesterday in the commentary box.
"The top and bottom cushions are playing very loose and balls are going in very easily."
"I spoke to Ricky Walden yesterday who told me the tables were easy to make big breaks on"
Perhaps Steves history lessons are teaching him something about changing conditions and the effect they have had on the game and so-called improvement of players is conditions led.
I can hear Hearn saying to the table boys, keep them loose lads lets give the public
something to remember.
This is the World Championships, it once had a meaning, not sure it does now, especially when I see balls hitting near jaws and near cushions.
The papers can say what they like but guys who have played and watched this game for most of their lives are not deceived.
And dont tell me you are
Good luck on your bets and I will be delighted to be watching Ronnie until monday night.
Not the greatest player I have seen, not even the greatest box office I have seen but easily the best around today.
Wonder who is the best I have seen??
its Ronnie being Ronnie and hyping up himself as per usual.
I wont back Trump because when all is said and done he is not in Ronnies class but its more his time to impose himself if he has it in him to be world champion.
I would be the first to congratulate Ronnie if he beats a player who is playing anywhere near
his best, up to now Ronnie has only had to be in exhibition mode because every player has failed miserably to even make him think about where he is.
The tables are a disgrace.
This from Steve Davis yesterday in the commentary box.
"The top and bottom cushions are playing very loose and balls are going in very easily."
"I spoke to Ricky Walden yesterday who told me the tables were easy to make big breaks on"
Perhaps Steves history lessons are teaching him something about changing conditions and the effect they have had on the game and so-called improvement of players is conditions led.
I can hear Hearn saying to the table boys, keep them loose lads lets give the public
something to remember.
This is the World Championships, it once had a meaning, not sure it does now, especially when I see balls hitting near jaws and near cushions.
The papers can say what they like but guys who have played and watched this game for most of their lives are not deceived.
And dont tell me you are
Good luck on your bets and I will be delighted to be watching Ronnie until monday night.
Not the greatest player I have seen, not even the greatest box office I have seen but easily the best around today.
Wonder who is the best I have seen??
Staggered to think he could be skint...can that be so....it sure says alot about the game as much as anything else....
I have never seen him on a advert or silly quiz programme and he deserves in many ways huge KUDOS for that.
He clearly has endeavored to analyse his life and he deserves credit for that too as his upbringing was far from ordinary.
He may be a mentalist who in the past i have slated to his actions around the table but i have over these past couple of years warmed to him as he seeks his eternal source.
I have never seen him on a advert or silly quiz programme and he deserves in many ways huge KUDOS for that.
He clearly has endeavored to analyse his life and he deserves credit for that too as his upbringing was far from ordinary.
He may be a mentalist who in the past i have slated to his actions around the table but i have over these past couple of years warmed to him as he seeks his eternal source.
Pecker,
Not sure about that.
Might be a clever ploy to keep the tax man at bay.
His upbringing did include packing and posting porno mags to customers of his mum and dad who ran a porn empire.
His dad was a leading fugure in the eastend underworld and I would think that must have had its difficulties but the skint bit is hard to swallow.
Playing the beautiful game and how he can play it you would have thought could have been his salvation and he has always worked at it but seems not.
At the end of the day its always been difficult to believe anything he says because it changes so often and perhaps his medication is responsible for that.
If ever somebody should have just let their cue do the talking its him.
He is just not believable.
Not sure about that.
Might be a clever ploy to keep the tax man at bay.
His upbringing did include packing and posting porno mags to customers of his mum and dad who ran a porn empire.
His dad was a leading fugure in the eastend underworld and I would think that must have had its difficulties but the skint bit is hard to swallow.
Playing the beautiful game and how he can play it you would have thought could have been his salvation and he has always worked at it but seems not.
At the end of the day its always been difficult to believe anything he says because it changes so often and perhaps his medication is responsible for that.
If ever somebody should have just let their cue do the talking its him.
He is just not believable.
Those are my points Moon.I am aware of his backround.I find it hard to believe he is skint.
I cant imagine no father figure a mother who allows a child that exposure and a genius inside all at the same time.
Who knows what it is really like to be him.It is not for us to judge so harshly.I imagine its a mighty effort just to get out of bed some days.
I left a little something on the match thread for you.
I cant imagine no father figure a mother who allows a child that exposure and a genius inside all at the same time.
Who knows what it is really like to be him.It is not for us to judge so harshly.I imagine its a mighty effort just to get out of bed some days.
I left a little something on the match thread for you.
I find it hard to believe he is totally skint, although I bet he has spent more than he's earnt in this year he's had off ! all this talk of giving up the game is just him trolling for reaction, we're all kinda used to it now , so nothing new there ...
If I was in his position , I'd not want to fly to china six times a year and play all over europe in these PTC events every week it seems , I think its great that he does what he wants , full credit to him for that and yes , respect to ronnie for not appearing on daytime TV programmes and TV adverts endorsing all sort of rubbish , I admire him for that ...great entertainer a controversial character and does what he wants pretty much
If I was in his position , I'd not want to fly to china six times a year and play all over europe in these PTC events every week it seems , I think its great that he does what he wants , full credit to him for that and yes , respect to ronnie for not appearing on daytime TV programmes and TV adverts endorsing all sort of rubbish , I admire him for that ...great entertainer a controversial character and does what he wants pretty much
Far richer and wiser men than ROS have gone skint. ROS just doesn't love the game, but clearly he has no alternative to make money. I don't find him mental for being honest, find it refreshing, though it's definitely damaging for the game. Surprised Barry hasn't had a word with ROS and MJW about their comments, though can't see either being easily controlled, free spirits and legends of the game!
He needs professional help in the shape of counselling, psychotherapy etc. I have no insight into his upbringing but I suspect he has not been 'raised' as such. So this leads me to believe he is a child in a man's body, unable to cope with a career in the public eye. He gets lots of media attention, but this is not the attention that this lonely little boy seeks. These outbursts are are a way of passing on his pain, to the sport and his fans.
Or perhaps its something else.
Or perhaps its something else.
ffs he isnt skint at all. got a few sex shops to keep the money ticking over. all part of "please dont go ronny, we love you" plan. needs an arm round the shoulder we love you ronnie.
Would a spell of National Service perhaps be more appropriate than the ludicrous amount of attention, spotlight, applause and extraordinary leniency that this player has been indulged with?
Ronnie haters are getting boring no now. The man has been talking s h i t e for twenty years. Get over yourselves.
if he doesnt want to play then why does he look like he wants to win?
i dont understand how anybody could have no interest in something theyve spent their whole life doing. i can understand being bored with all the tournaments and travelling, but there must be some part of him that wants to win the world championship? ive never known anybody who plays any sport and doesnt care about it except getting a paycheck. the thought of it sounds absurd.
i dont understand how anybody could have no interest in something theyve spent their whole life doing. i can understand being bored with all the tournaments and travelling, but there must be some part of him that wants to win the world championship? ive never known anybody who plays any sport and doesnt care about it except getting a paycheck. the thought of it sounds absurd.
Skint? We once paid him £15k for a four-hour exhibition.
He couldn't lie straight in bed.
He couldn't lie straight in bed.
People should listen/watch the whole interview on the BBC, i think he's just being honest and the whole interview puts it into context a lot more.
It's not that absurd sideshowbob.
Just imagine the hours, days, weeks, months, years that he has devoted to being as good as he is at snooker. It's not natural talent, it is a lifetime of hard work and devoted practice. To me, having done roughly the same, it's natural that he would have had enough. He was doing eight hours a day when he should have been at primary school. It's a wonder he has lasted this long.
Just imagine the hours, days, weeks, months, years that he has devoted to being as good as he is at snooker. It's not natural talent, it is a lifetime of hard work and devoted practice. To me, having done roughly the same, it's natural that he would have had enough. He was doing eight hours a day when he should have been at primary school. It's a wonder he has lasted this long.
i understand that you get burnt out, but he hasnt played in a year. obviously the smaller tournaments nobody actually cares much about winning except the money and the ranking points, but this is the world championship for god sake. if it were me and i was that good id be itching to win as many as i could. i'd say sod this tour, i'm not playing any other tournaments, but whilst i can still win i'm coming back for the world championship every year until i know i can't win it again.
if he wins, does he just say oh ok give me the cheque i can go home now? surely...he would feel pride in winning? feel some sense of accomplishment?
if he wins, does he just say oh ok give me the cheque i can go home now? surely...he would feel pride in winning? feel some sense of accomplishment?
You are missing the point bob. This guy is not normal, you can't try to apply reason to his outbursts.
If he had Hendo's head he could've won 20.
If he had Hendo's head he could've won 20.
Don't get sucked into what Ronnie says its his way of deflecting expectation and pressure.
Ronnie has never been a great pressure player, its the main reason why his record isn't as good as it should have been.
This guy has practised as hard as Hendry did and he cares as much as Hendry did but his make up is different.
The reality is he has been getting as much publicity for losing as he has for winning and a reputation that has not been earned.
He milks that and as long as you have poor quality commentators such as Davis and his Parrot who are as responsible for the O'sullivan myth as the man himself.
I, like most respect his ability but the baggage he brings with him should have nothing to do with snooker.
Shame on those that have contributed to this nonsense and even bigger shame on those that should have sorted this out years ago.
Ronnie has never been a great pressure player, its the main reason why his record isn't as good as it should have been.
This guy has practised as hard as Hendry did and he cares as much as Hendry did but his make up is different.
The reality is he has been getting as much publicity for losing as he has for winning and a reputation that has not been earned.
He milks that and as long as you have poor quality commentators such as Davis and his Parrot who are as responsible for the O'sullivan myth as the man himself.
I, like most respect his ability but the baggage he brings with him should have nothing to do with snooker.
Shame on those that have contributed to this nonsense and even bigger shame on those that should have sorted this out years ago.
Desperate stuff moondan,looks like o'sullivans going to win it playing dire which in 35 years of watching snooker i'm not sure thasts happened before i would imagine davis won one or two of his titles playing mediocre but this is just awful standard.Thought trump was going to come out full of confidence,the complete opposite he's bottled it got no excuses had plenty of chances as well.
Ronnie knows that this is the final, simply has to overcome Trump and he has his 5th title. The pressure of the final is in this semi final.
His comments are just another release of tension.
His comments are just another release of tension.
Everyone knew the 1986 semi final between S.Davis and C.Thorburn was the final. Shame they didn't tell J.Johnson.
Post Your Reply
Please login to post a reply.
Wonder
Instance ID: 13539