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Dave H
20 August 2008
Ronnie O’Sullivan has entered the controversy over players’ logos – by telling his fellow cuemen to stop complaining.
In an interview in the Daily Express, O’Sullivan, who won his third world title last May, said his fellow players should concentrate on what they earn on the table.
He said: “I would much rather the emphasis be on making your money by winning tournaments.
“Sport is about competing and winning. It’s not about how many logos you’ve got. Prize money and earnings should always reflect the person that achieves.
“It’s not a confident way of looking at things to rely too much on other things and a dangerous place to get. It is how it is, go win tournaments and get to the top, there’s plenty of money up there.
“You only have real control over certain things and I know I’m in complete control over the snooker. No one can interfere.
“The politics can get to the other players. Maybe they are not enjoying their snooker so they find something else to think about, sitting about the breakfast table talking about logos, TV contracts and what World Snooker are or aren’t talking about.”
These are very interesting comments. I suspect they won’t go down well with many of Ronnie’s fellow players who would point out that, unlike him, they are not multi-millionaires. His own logo deals are worth more than any other player.
However, the reason for this is because of how many titles he has won. On the table, he has pocketed £5,807,626 and such success has obviously caught the eye of sponsors who want him to wear their logo.
I agree with him that sportsmen and women should be rewarded for being successful.
At the World Championship, O’Sullivan said the following: “I don’t think World Snooker make matters easy for themselves because they don’t listen to what the players say. It doesn’t seem to make any difference what we think. They are making life difficult for themselves with the way they are handling situations.”
This suggests he had himself been ‘thinking about what World Snooker are or aren’t doing.’
However, it is unfair in a way to point this out.
Why?
Because one thing Ronnie is as a person is genuine. If he says something he believes it, it’s just that it may be the exact opposite of what he said the previous month, week or even day.
He would have meant it then too, but he has the sort of personality where his attitude is governed by his mood on any given day.
He could very easily contradict himself again next week. This is one of the things that make him so fascinating.
I’d imagine World Snooker would welcome his intervention, although the logo issue will not be a problem in any case at the Crucible in 2009 if a new sponsor can’t be found for the World Championship.