World of Sports

I didn't catch the Selby-Murphy match, only the O'Sullivan-Maguire; the first two frames looked like it was going to be a close match but Maguire didn't make the best of the chances he got and like Stephen Hendry I was disappointed with his form tonight. Ronnie did deserve to go through, I hope it will be a closer outcome tomorrow.

I was surprised by the match, I had not expected O'Sullivan to take that big a lead. But in all honesty, I've never seen Selby play as bad as he did yesterday; his long pot success was around 33 % (!) and his safety game very shaky; and against the best snooker player in the world in a final of the masters, that's a sure way to lose.

And in the meantime a little American football won't kill you guys. The two best teams will meet in N.J. in the Superbowl in two weeks; Denver vs Seattle.
Tom

That's just too long a wait. I'll try and see if I can't comment on curling once in a while.

Today is the day of the game after two weeks of hype. I hope it will be an entertaining one.
Tom

I look forward to the winter Olympics more than the summer games. Particularly snow-based sports.

I like snow.

I am also quite shallow.

I hate snow, personally, but I love to watch snow sports, especially anything with skis (not so strange, perhaps, since it's Norway's national sport).

Beyond hockey and figure skating (both of which I find rather boring), the winter Olmpics aren't that popular in the world -- it's mostly certain parts of Europe and Asia, really. The interest is practically nill in South America, Africa and Australia (for obvious reasons) and Americans couldn't care less, really. Canadians might be the exceptions, but again it's mostly hockey for them.

Britain actually has some decent athletes. Andrew Musgrave and Andrew Young are pretty decent in cross-country skiing. And Aimee Fuller in women's snowboarding.

Hasn't anyone started a petition calling on people not to watch the games? Or at least a petition to start a petition?

I am more excited about the twitter photos from the horrible hotels those poor journalists are situated in

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2 … onditions/

Very cool final frame, that last red was amazing. I take it he was yet again in unbeatable mode given the score against Ding?

And we're off!

Why?

So far enjoying the darling of dublin, comeback Ken, always liked his playing (though his long distance wand action has lost its magic).

Good to see Ken do well but it won't be long before he's in the commentary box.

I know I've mentioned this before, but I really miss being in Sheffield at World Snooker time (Sheffield is my home town, if people don't know). There's a real buzz around the town centre, around the Crucible, and when I was a kid you would be able to see snooker celebrities all over the place - I once stood behind John Virgo in a queue in a sandwich shop, and ran into Stephen Hendry in the menswear section of the Marks & Spencers on Fargate.

Between 1985 and around 2000 I would spend at least one Saturday morning during the tournament hanging around the Crucible stage door, with my programme, to get some autographs. I met pretty much every major player from that period at least once, and they were so nice, friendly, approachable, happy to chat. I once had about a 20 minute chat with Eddie Charlton - just me and him - before he looked at his watch and said "I have to go, I'm playing in an hour"!

So many good memories.