RIP: 'Hurricane' Higgins

 
How sad that news is - another of my heroes gone.
 
In my honest opinion, every pro who has played the game since his heyday owes him their living - he put bums on seats when the game was in the doldrums.
 
He was a bad boy for sure, he wore his heart on his sleeve and played out his private life in public. He was controversial and emotional, but never boring.
 
From the Jampot to the Crucible - the 'Hurricane' played the game the way it should be played.
 
 
RIP Alex
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Doubtless there will be talk of the ups and downs of his personal life

 
and sadly make money lots of money out his demise.
 
Sad he will be missed.

Wookiee

Doubtless there will be talk of the ups and downs of his personal life

 
and sadly make money lots of money out his demise. 

Good point Wook - it will be interesting to see all the Johnny-come-latelys, who were always first to condemn him, come crawling out of the woodwork with their sycophantic platitudes. To them, Higgins was all about the headbutts, the conflicts with authority and pissing in plant pots - but they would never acknowledge the debt they really owe the guy.
 
Whenever asked what made the game become so popular in the 70's and 80's, I always answer (in no particular order): 'Pot Black' (and later - wall to wall coverage of the World Championships when the event moved to The Crucible Theatre), 'Colour TV' and 'Alex Higgins'.
 
Like I said before, without the undoubted influence Higgins had in popularising the game, most of the faceless wonders who followed him would have had to find a paying job in some other sphere of employment.
 
Higgins was a rare talent, and by his own admission he wanted to be loved - the perfect recipe for dynamite box-office and must-watch TV.
 
Even in his latter years, I'd have walked past any number of 'Davis v Hendry' type matches to watch Alex play.