I think he's one of those players who when he is good, is very very good but when he is bad, he is terrible (like yesterday!)

Thought it was pretty good, with some great acting from the actors playing Davis and Hearn, particularly. Not sure how much "artistic licence" was use though to be fair, I've never ever heard before that Davis went back into the empty crucible to try to get Alex to leave after he had his sit in after losing his last ever match at the venue. Obviously Steve is still about to comment, so I presume it was accurate but strange that I've never seen that mentioned before in all the various books about Higgens, I have read.

I hate that too. The crowds are so ridiculously pro-Ronnie that it's verging on disrespectful to the other player at times. If this were football, it would be like having home advantage with the majority of the crowd on your side. I don't dislike Ronnie at all, he's clearly a superb player and enjoyable to watch but I just wish they'd pull the audience into line a bit and make it more respectful for the opposing player.

If a young Alex was around Ronnie would certainly not be the crowd favourite in their matches (which would have to be played in a football stadium).

The sheer unfulfilled potential of Higgins always makes me so sad - what an incredible player he really could have been.

People say this but I am not so sure. I don't know if its viewing things through rose tinted specs. Yes, Higgins was great to watch and a genius when in full flow but he was hardly consistent and not a big break builder at all. He was a flair potter but there was a lot lacking from his game. Had he put in some practice and dedication who knows. A fact about Higgins which I always find amazing is he made less century breaks in his career than some players do in a season now.

It's like all the great sporting era debates (Ali V Tyson etc) how would different players have done in different eras.

The Higgins of the 70's or 80's wouldn't win a match on tour in 2016 but these days he would have more help available (sports psychologists, managers, rehab etc) to try keep him on the straight and narrow. Thing is though he probably had most of those things available at the end of his life and didn't take them so whether he would have in his younger days who knows.

Ronnie could well have been lost to the game in a similar fashion to Alex if he'd been around in the 70's imo.

There divide between the players who have the bottle (O'sullivan,Hendry, Higgins and Davis) and the ones who always seem to bottle it - Barry Hawkins! Remember when he played Nigel Bond in the 2014 UK Championship (last 64) Hawkins went 5-0 up and lost 6-5.

I guess was unfortunate to come up against O'Sullivan after his 8 month sabbatical. Although to fair, he has been playing many exhibitions (albeit with the pressure) he was still getting plenty of cuing and potting going! Then he had some paid practice in the Championship League. It was O'Sullivans Masters to lose really and although he wasn't in the same half of the draw as Trump or Robertson, he was pumped up for this tournament and on his 'A' game, is unbeatable!

Welcome back Ron!

Watching the Higgins tribute and I never tire of watching that clearence against Jimmy White in 82. Its hypnotic to watch. Knowing a mistake at any time would mean certain defeat. What pressure. Its the greatest clearence of all time.

It is so very hard to compare eras.

The tables are different, the balls are different, the equipment is different and there are far, far more tournaments.

How good would Ronnie have been in the 70's with no sports psychologist, having to travel on his own all over the country for exhibition matches to make a crust?

He could have ended up like Alex.

A young Higgins today (with all of the help and support available to him) would be an exceptional player - of that I have no doubt.

We will have to disagree on that one. I agree with Ned, I don't think he would have taken the help and support. And if I am not mistaken during the 70s Higgins really didn't have the demons he did in the 80s and beyond

I wouldn't say Barry bottled it - he was never in a position to do so. Ronnie came out firing and Barry just couldn't keep up. He certainly didn't bottle it against Judd the previous round. He was just too inexperienced in big finals.

I think Ronnie is the Greatest of all time

I don't think that is fair. Hawkins didn't bottle it in his biggest ever match (WC final). Yes he lost but that was because O'Sullivan was too good. He still played brilliantly and arguably well enough to beat several previous winners. Also any of them can suffer the nerves or just not turn up. Hendry maybe not so much as he was like steel but even Davis crumbled at certain crucial points (that famous missed black could be argued as bottling if you want to use that term). I also remember J Higgins (who I presume you mean by Higgins) actually saying he had bottled it once in a game against I think Mark Williams. I remember while watching thinking he was bottling and was surprised he said as much. Anyway they can all get nerves and while the top guys tend to cope better it seems harsh to suggest Hawkins after reaching the Masters final lacked bottle just because he had a bad final.

You make a fair point but I would argue that Higgins was always a very haunted man and chronic alcoholism certainly did him no favours either.

This era is certainly the best that there has ever been and I would be very foolish to suggest otherwise.

I just think that a few select individuals from the past could compete with the modern players if they had the coaching, equipment and sports psychologists of today (possibly Reardon for example).

I always think Ray Reardon was ahead of his time. He was an incredible potter. Terry Griffiths is always under rated in my eyes too.

No you're right, that didn't happen in reality 👍🏻

When judging who's the greatest it depends what you go by. Is it titles or longevity. Davis was still in the top 16 at 50 and he won a title in his late 40s beating Ronnie of all people from 8-5 down. Obviously if you go by titles then its got to be hendry but if you go on ability then it would probably be Ronnie although for me as good as he is I still think he's wasted his talent. He should have overtaken hendry years ago.

If Ronnie was as committed to snooker as the likes of Hendry and S. Davis are, he'd undoubtedly be the greatest of all the time. He'd probably have more world titles than Hendry too.

That said though, IMO he is the greatest of all time. But that's all it is.... an opinion, Which has probably been swayed by me growing up watching him play.

Ahh, thought as much, thanks for the confirmation. That lowers my respect for the "film" now though greatly, as if such a big scene as that could have been totally "made up" (when there are still people about who know it was not the truth!) then just how much else was completely fabricated? There was enough "drama" and controversy in Alex's life/career, not to have to resort to making stuff up!!..
Very poor in my opinion.

I still think that Alex was the biggest waste of talent in the history of the game.

That famous 59 break stopped the White juggernaut in his tracks.

I believe Jimmy would have won several world titles if not for those few minutes of bonkers Higgins genius (the first is always the hardest to win after all).

There were only minor things like Dennis didn't have his upside down specs in 1980, you wouldn't have a one table situation at the Crucible in a quarter final, and they said Steve was 2/5 to win the '82 Worlds but the bookies price board had him 5/2 against. Don't recall Alex kicking off at the Goya like that either.

Interview with the cast of 'The Rack Pack' if anyone's interested:

https://www.comedy.co.uk/online/the_...iew/cast_crew/

Must agree with this. Particularly Terry Griffiths. Whenever Griffiths is mentioned it is his slow play is always brought up, but he was an incredible potter when in full flow. His safety play was second to none as well.

Reardon was the master and as you say way way ahead of his time in so many ways.

Another Welshman that was a wonderful potter was the late Cliff Wilson. Almost disregarded away from snooker circles, but his potting ability was so effortless and could match any other player when he was on. His lack of consistency always let him down unfortunately.

Were any of the interactions between players depicted in "The Rack Pack" real? For example, did the players ever sit together in one room to watch a match?

Did Steve and Alex go on a tour to Scotland together?

Did Cliff Thorburn get into a fight with Alex?

Did Steve and Alex exchange "pleasantries" in such a provocative manner before matches?

Did Alex really beg Hearn to join the Matchroom?

No
Yes
yes
exaggerated
yes 👍🏻