Flawed Geniuses

[Sark79]

While watching the Skeleton tonight. I was flicking through ceefax. I had not seen any papers for a few days, so was not up to date on the current sports news.

One story which caught my attention concerned snooker player Quinten Hann. For those who don't follow snooker, Hann is an Australian with a incredible natural talent. However he also falls into the category of flawed genius.

Hann was banned today after being found guilty by the sports governing body of match fixing. As well as a £10,000 fine, Hann will not be allowed to play for 8 years. This all dates back a few years to the China Open where Hann is accused of taking a £50,000 bribe to throw a match.

Although Hann announced his retirement from the game on Tuesday. Many insiders thought this was more of his sometimes erratic behaviour. In his time as a pro, Hann showed up for matches with a hangover, challenged his opponents to fights( Andy Hicks in 2004) and conceded one frame with 13 reds left on the table.

Untill being banned, Hann was ranked number 22 in the World. At one time he was a top 16 player. Ronnie O'Sullivan, possibly the sports greatest ever player has claimed on more than one occasion Hann could be a top 6 player if he dedicated himself. Outside of snooker, Hann has had an equally eventful time. In 2002, he was cleared of rape and again in 2005 he was cleared of sexual assault.

Hann made his first centuary aged 13 on Aussie television, was the under 21 World Champion and won the World Eight-Ball Pool championship in 1999. Now at 27 years old, his career is over. It is a sad thing to see someone with his level of ability flush it down the drain.

Of course there are many other people with immense natural abilities who waste it. The most obvious of these is George Best. Other sports personalities who failed to make the most of their ability include Paul Gascoigne, Maradona, Alex Higgins, Mike Tyson and Marco Pantani. 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich almost joined this list. Fortunately for cycling, Ullrich has managed to put his troubles behind him. He is my pick for the Tour in July.

It always saddens me to see these gifted individuals waste a talent such as the one they hold. Only certain people in life are given sporting gifts. Others have to work their socks off the achieve success. As a kid, I used to think to myself all the time what it would be like to be a sporting hero. Back in those days, I was equally drawn in by the fame and fortune. Now for me the thought of being a champion overtakes everything else. I am sure on this forum everyone of us have thought about winning a WPT or W.S.O.P event. Who cares about the money, it is the chance to call yourself a champion that is the thing we try and improve our games to achieve.Money will come and go, but being a champion will be in the record books forever.  People like Hann have blown this oppertunity. An oppertunity he held within his grasp.

I hope gifted people such as Hann, can learn to live with the choices he made twenty years from now.

[Div]

If you are looking for an example from the poker world, the Nolan Dalla book about Stuey Ungar is mindblowing.

The guy obviously had unbelievable talent, but such an appalling self destructive streak. It's well worth a read!

[Nem]

A lot of people say that Stu Ungar was the greatest cardplayer ever to grace earth.

[Teacake]

With all due respect calling Hann a genius is overstating it slightly

The Ungar book is a great read

[Sark79]

With all due respect calling Hann a genius is overstating it slightly

The Ungar book is a great read

Quinten Hann does have natural talent. Just look at some of his performances. He turns up at events unprepared and beats top 16 players.

Its funny you should mention the Stu Unger book. A friend is giving it to me on monday to borrow.

[mex]

Did mike tyson fail to achieve? Maradona single handedly won a world cup? George best didn't have a bad run.

[Nem]

They sould've achieved more. Maradona was banned twice for Cociane abuse missing 4 years of his career. Tyson was convicted of Rape and missed out on 4 years of his career. George Best retired at 27 a good 5-7 years before he should have.

[Sark79]

True, however what they achieved could have been so much more.

I am sure when you play poker and win. You never leave a game thinking ' Wow I played well tonight'. I am sure you think ' Wow...I played well tonight...but I could have played absolutely fantastic'. I know I do. Then you go away and try and work out how to make this come true next time.

Multiply this by the level at which these people perform. Ok, tyson was World Champ, Maradona won a world cup. But they could have dominated and ruled their sports like gods. Instead they are remembered for the negative aspects of their careers as well as the positive aspects.

As was mentioned Stu Unger was a great player. He won three world series titles. Why just three?....
I think I am correct in saying he went through a period of about ten years where he didn't play at the W.S.O.P. These were wasted years.

[Sark79]

lol..you beat me to it Nemesis

[Nem]

Multiply this by the level at which these people perform. Ok, tyson was World Champ, Maradona won a world cup. But they could have dominated and ruled their sports like gods. Instead they are remembered for the negative aspects of their careers as well as the positive aspects.

In my eyes Maradona is the greatest footballer to ever live and Tyson is the 2nd best Heavyweight of all time. They both did dominate their sports and they are look at by some to be sporting "Gods".

[ifm]

LOL @ Tyson 2nd best heavyweight of all time
Didn't Stu Unger have to pay all his winnings to debtors (some have said the mob)?

[Sark79]

Multiply this by the level at which these people perform. Ok, tyson was World Champ, Maradona won a world cup. But they could have dominated and ruled their sports like gods. Instead they are remembered for the negative aspects of their careers as well as the positive aspects.

In my eyes Maradona is the greatest footballer to ever live and Tyson is the 2nd best Heavyweight of all time. They both did dominate their sports and they are look at by some to be sporting "Gods".

I agree Tyson was one of the best. Probably top five. However, Lennox Lewis won alot more than he did.

Its sad to see a guy with all that talent having to referee a WWF wresting match to earn cash. Ok, they proabaly made it worth his while. But he has earned and estimated $300 million throughout his career. Now he is bankrupt.

$300 millions sounds nice, but to me what sounds nicer is the title of the greatest boxer to ever live. Unfortunately he blew this oppertunity and instead will now be regarded as one of the best.

[Teacake]

With all due respect calling Hann a genius is overstating it slightly

The Ungar book is a great read

Quinten Hann does have natural talent. Just look at some of his performances. He turns up at events unprepared and beats top 16 players.

Its funny you should mention the Stu Unger book. A friend is giving it to me on monday to borrow.

Sark, I didnt say he did not have natural talent I am merely disagreeing with you labeling him a genius when he is clearly not.

The tag genius gets bandied about all to readily IMO & beating some of the top 16 on todays snooker circuit dose not make you a genius. 

[Sark79]

With all due respect calling Hann a genius is overstating it slightly

The Ungar book is a great read

Quinten Hann does have natural talent. Just look at some of his performances. He turns up at events unprepared and beats top 16 players.

Its funny you should mention the Stu Unger book. A friend is giving it to me on monday to borrow.

Sark, I didnt say he did not have natural talent I am merely disagreeing with you labeling him a genius when he is clearly not.

The tag genius gets bandied about all to readily IMO & beating some of the top 16 on todays snooker circuit dose not make you a genius. 

Ok, my mistake. 

[madasahatstand]

can we get a 'handbags at dawn' icon, ironside?

lmao