Gods of Snooker (Louis Theroux-produced snooker documentary)

[Mr Farenheit]

http://www.recordholdersrepublic.co.uk/world-record-holders/131/peter-dowdeswell.aspx

Peter Dowdeswell drank 90 pints in 3 hours apparently.
I remember reading about his beer drinking records decades ago but I remembered it differently - something like 120 pints in 24 hours.

8 pints, upside down in 55 seconds isn't too shabby either.

I make that around 2 litres of alcohol, equivalent of 6 or 7 bottles of whisky. And how much of the 3 hours is spent pissing out this prodigious amount of liquid? Or throwing up? I need to see a video before I sign off on this 'record'

[kenneth trousers]

Yeah, it sounds implausible - that's 40 minutes of pissing by my calculation.

I remember something about him never getting drunk though.

[druss]

Done a yard of coke in 10 seconds as well, must have buzzed his tits off, what a lad.

Misread this one:

Eating: Doughnuts: 2 hole doughnuts: 45. 17 min 32 sec. Peter Dowdeswell.

...and thought I could easily eat two donuts in 45 minutes.

[Goldentony]

if he was the size of Andre The Giant you'd think yeah but one, how would Andre The Giant play snooker, impossible, fuck off hands, the cues, nightmare

[jobotic]

How was Steve Davis ugly (as he said himself)? He was a looker.

[imitationleather]

How was Steve Davis ugly (as he said himself)? He was a looker.

Yeah that stuck out to me too. Compared to your average modern day snooker player he was a supermodel.

[Blue Jam]

Won Rear Of The Year too didn't he?

I did like Gary Lineker's observation that people didn't warm to Steve Davis as they did to Alex Higgins and Jimmy White because "He was a genius without flaws", someone who practised hard while others were drinking and gambling and going out clubbing. I think there really might be something in that.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

I reckon that was probably the case for adults, but Steve was one of my childhood heroes. I thought he was pretty cool. Not in a Fonzie sense, obviously, but I liked his unflappable demeanour and the fact that he was clearly the best player around at that time.

I loved it when Dennis Taylor and Joe Johnson won the World Snooker Championship, as I'm a sucker for a plucky underdog saga (I was introduced to Rocky at a very early age), but I still would've cheered if Steve had triumphed.

And I agree that he comes across as a pretty good egg. Hats off to him for rejecting all of that Hearn-endorsed Thatcherism. He's clearly quite ashamed of being part of it.

[Jockice]

How was Steve Davis ugly (as he said himself)? He was a looker.

Ooh, let me guess. Possibly being told repeatedly he was ugly as a child/teenager simply because of his hair colour. Just a guess of course because nothing of that sort ever happened to me.

[jobotic]

Well yeah I'm denying that he thought it, I just disagree. I'm sure Hearn said something about it too.

[Jockice]

Well yeah I'm denying that he thought it, I just disagree. I'm sure Hearn said something about it too.

He's the only snooker player I've actually seen in person, while walking past the Crucible on a night out during my younger days. My mates shouted something about him having an interesting personality and he gave us a V - for victory - sign. Despite living in Sheffield most of my life I've never seen another snooker player anywhere and even if I did nowadays wouldn't recognise them.

[El Unicornio, mang]

How was Steve Davis ugly (as he said himself)? He was a looker.

I was surprised at Cliff Thorburn and that other bloke being described as "heartthrobs" with legions of adoring female fans, didn't think they were any more "classically" good looking or charismatic than the rest of them.

Tony Drago was always my favourite snooker player, just for his super fast playing style and general character.

[imitationleather]

It's like when darts players are described as being popular with the ladies even though they look like Pat Mustard.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

Cliff Thorburn had a thick moustache, so therefore looked a bit like '80s TV heartthrob Magnum PI. That's the only way of explaining his supposed pin-up status.

Also, his methodical playing style suggested that he might be a sensitive lovemaker. Mind you, his nickname was The Grinder. That doesn't sound pleasant.

[Shoulders?-Stomach!]

The documentaries (not just these) did wake me up to how much of a leering cocky cunt Davis was early on, and it's good to see his thoughtful side has come to the fore over the years, whereas someone like Hendry appears so similar in character to when he was a teenager.

[druss]

I remember liking Steve Davis when I was a kid because his name was Steve.

Ditto regarding Hendry, seems just as much of a cock now as ever, unlike Davis who definitely seems a good egg.

[Norton Canes]

Tony Drago was always my favourite snooker player, just for his super fast playing style and general character

Am I imagining this or did Drago and Virgo play a couple of exhibition frames at the Worlds back in the 80's when a session was cancelled due to an early finish? I'm sure I remember Drago getting down to take some shots while the ref was still re-spotting a colour, and the crowd finding it hilarious as it was virtually unheard of in those days.

And Virgo's impressions.

[kalowski]

I remember liking Steve Davis when I was a kid because his name was Steve.

Ditto regarding Hendry, seems just as much of a cock now as ever, unlike Davis who definitely seems a good egg.

Steve Davis is a massive soul fan. I remember flicking through an Ace Records catalogue and there he was, reviewing the great compilation Do the Crossover, Baby.

[kalowski]

[DrGreggles]

Davis had a decent semi-regular radio show (and may still do).
A very eclectic mix of styles (albeit mostly from the 70s) and not all to my tastes, but he was a genuinely likeable and enthusiastic host.

[sevendaughters]

The documentaries (not just these) did wake me up to how much of a leering cocky cunt Davis was early on, and it's good to see his thoughtful side has come to the fore over the years, whereas someone like Hendry appears so similar in character to when he was a teenager.

yeah I rewatched the documentary from 2010 about the Black Ball final and Hendry comes across hyper-competitive even when Colin Murray is just playing a fruit machine in his house, meanwhile 2010 Davis can understand why everyone didn't like him. Am always surprised in sports where there's so much space for thought in the thicket of action - snooker, cricket, goalkeeping - that so many players never seem to develop self-awareness or self-deprecation.

[sevendaughters]

Davis still does his Interesting Alternative Show on Phoenix FM, btw. Here's a recent playlist

Silo – "Prime Movers" (Alloy)
Jute Gyte – Lugubrious Games (Sans Frontières) (Ship of Theseus)
Kate Arnold – Just Born (Rota Fortunae II)
At Swefn's Edge – Khabur
Dark Zen Kollektiv – Dekadafonik (Meet The Dark Zen Kollectiv)
Uz Jsme Doma – KAPKA (droplet) (Jeskyne (Caves))
Polyhyms – Nothing Was Happening
Joefur – Kundisada UKIYO-EP
Snow Palms – Atom Dance (Land Waves)
Owl Oscillation – Squallor (Glottal Stop)
The Stranglers – Enough Time (Black and White)
The Dead Kennedys – Ill In The Head (Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables)
And So I Watch You From Afar – Set Guitars to Kill (And So I Watch You From Afar)
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – Buzz (High Visceral {Part Two})
Cowboy Flying Saucer – IsoMuzik – Cooliconi (Flower Moon)
Herd Of Instinct – Alice Krige Parts 1 and 2 (Unravel)
Graham Costello – Eudaimonia
Jon Samsworth – Wendover Sleeping
Michael Olatuja – Home True (feat. Becca Stevens & Robert Mitchell) (Lagos Pepper Soup)
Rascal Reporters – Cashew Medley (Redux, Vol. 2- Rascals Revenge and the Great Reset)

[kalowski]

That's a fascinating playlist. I thought I had a lot of music but out of 20 songs I have exactly one of them. Loads of artists I've not heard of.

[willy crossit]

Looking forward to watching this. Are there any other similar docs about darts?

not an overview type one but i did really enjoy this bbc jocky wilson one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iv8yfBhxIs

[BeardFaceMan]

Ohh lovely, ta muchly. There's a similar doc about Eric Bristow when he was in his pomp, which is good. I'd like to see a proper in-depth "death of the BDO/rise of the PDC" type doc on darts.

[Andy147]

Am I imagining this or did Drago and Virgo play a couple of exhibition frames at the Worlds back in the 80's when a session was cancelled due to an early finish? I'm sure I remember Drago getting down to take some shots while the ref was still re-spotting a colour, and the crowd finding it hilarious as it was virtually unheard of in those days.

And Virgo's impressions.

1985: Reardon, Virgo and Drago played a few frames after the semis both ended with a session to spare.

[MrT]

Ohh lovely, ta muchly. There's a similar doc about Eric Bristow when he was in his pomp, which is good. I'd like to see a proper in-depth "death of the BDO/rise of the PDC" type doc on darts.

The Eric Bristow one is "Arrows" and on youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA1WDB29hrw

[Norton Canes]

1985: Reardon, Virgo and Drago played a few frames after the semis both ended with a session to spare

Thought so, ta.

[EOLAN]

Watched a "History of Snooker" 2 part video on Youtube. Hosted by Steve Davis with Clive Everton narrating. Has a feel of 90s sports history videos. Was fairly decent for part 1 going up to the late 80s. Slower paced than the BBC one, just focused firmly on the snooker and not any talking heads. Does show large sections of some famous breaks and frames.

Was a small bit World Championship heavy, especially in the second-half from the 90s on where I don't think they showed anything from any other tournament.

6.5 out of 10.

[DrGreggles]

Your new favourite advert:
https://youtu.be/ZkczRpGfp1g