Ronnie O'Sullivan 'Rockets' To Fifth World Title; Remains An Enigma

The 2013 snooker World Championships have been about one man and one man only. Ronnie O'Sullivan. It was fitting then that it finished with that man lifting the trophy. Few snooker players, possibly none, have incited as much interest as O'Sullivan. His love-hate affair with the public has been like no other player in the history of the game. There was significantly more love than hate on Monday night when O'Sullivan secured his fifth title at the Crucible.

From the moment it was confirmed that O'Sullivan would defend the World Championship title he won in 2012, passionate and casual snooker fans alike prepared to see what the 37-year old could offer. He may have been a four-time champion and one of the most naturally gifted the game had ever seen, but he also hadn't played in a competitive match since September. Surely O'Sullivan could muster no more than a cameo on snooker's biggest stage?

Not only did O'Sullivan muster much more than a cameo, he did so in fine style. He crushed Marcus Campbell 10-4 in the first round, then dismissed last year's finalist Ali Carter 13-8 in the second. Premier League champion Stuart Bingham looked outclassed in the quarter-final eventually losing the match 13-4. Young developing star Judd Trump fought hard in his semi-final, but O'Sullivan got out in front and never allowed the 23-year old to really get into the match eventually beating him 17-11.

Few people gave Barry Hawkins, who was possibly even more of a surprise finalist than O'Sullivan, much chance against 'The Rocket' in the final and while he competed valiantly, this was just another game where Ronnie got out in front and never looked back. He finished the match with a comfortable 18-12 margin of victory.

O'Sullivan truly was a player who shook the world of snooker when he burst onto the scene in the mid-1990s. He made extraordinarily fast breaks and was one of the purest break builders in the game from a very young age.

Since that explosion onto the circuit he has been in the headlines and media for the wrong reasons just as many times as he has been in them for the right. Whether it be premature retirements or meltdowns around the table, O'Sullivan has rarely been out of the headlines regardless of the snooker he has played. However, as John Virgo said on commentary 'we love watching him play'.

Moments after sealing his victory, O'Sullivan was predictably coy about the possibility of returning to Sheffield to compete again in 2014. His bizarre swings from loving snooker to just wanting something to do to not liking snooker and to being bored have ensured that the off-table story lines have continued to circle him.

The snooker world may never see him play again, or they may see his full return to the tour next season, or most likely something in-between. However, there seems little doubt that O'Sullivan has secured his place in the snooker record books at this year's championship. His fifth championship puts him behind only Stephen Hendry, Ray Reardon and Steve Davis on the all-time winners list. His 131 century breaks at the crucible is a record, his six centuries in the final is a new record both in a final and at the crucible. He managed all of this despite barely playing professional snooker during the 2012-13 season.

Maybe it is fitting that a remarkable and confusing man should end his career in one of the most remarkable and confusing ways.

Written by Sebastian Egerton-Read - you can follow Seb on twitter @SebEread

UKIP: The Rise of UKIP Continues After Election

If the conservatives weren't afraid of the rise of UKIP, they are now.

(Politics) CIA: CIA “ghost money” at the heart of why progress in Afghanistan is fleeting at best

For a clandestine organization, the CIA mistakes are well documented and way too frequent so there should be no surprise why Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai confirmed reports that the CIA had “given the Afghan National Security Council tens of millions of dollars in monthly payments delivered in suitcases, backpacks and plastic shopping bags”[1].

While comedy is to be found in the fact that a clandestine organization were outed by a man who they a played a role in bringing him into power in the first place , the real joke is Karzai’s explanation of  where the money went as he (with a wink and nod, I presume) said that the funds “were used to give assistance to the wounded and sick, to pay rent for housing and for other "operational" purposes”[2].

It’s needless to say but if Karzai explanation had a kernel of truth, why all the secrecy or not go through the normal channels to give funds? The answer is dead simple, its purposes are less media friendly than aiding the ‘wounded and the sick’. The suspicion of the money funding foul play were instant and were confirmed  in the past  as US officials claimed that  the funds have“has fueled corruption and empowered warlords, undermining Washington's exit strategy from Afghanistan"[3].

The real problem at hand is for all its efforts to buy influence, it has instead bought nothing but a hated and even uncooperative Afghan officials who have gone some way to make the country near terminal problems even worse. 

This revelation is part of a larger picture at the heart of why Afghanistan cannot progress as relies on contributions from foreign governments. Bernard Bajolet, France ambassador to Afghanistan, pointed to the heart of Afghanistan’s problems as he observed that Afghanistan are currently helmed by people who have “a lack of faith…in the future of the country”[4] .Bajolet also pointed saw corruption rather than Afghanistan very real security threat as a deterrent of foreign investment which could help the country wean itself off international funds[5].

In sum, the CIA supply of money is not news as simply they are not the only organisation playing the same game. It has bought them nothing but an increasingly obstinate president and a incredibly corruptible Afghan political class who have no real interest in the progress of the country they supposedly represent. All this is why Afghanistan will remain a country in crisis and conflict with problems as the people who can make the changes needed in the country have no faith in its future.    

If you want to find out about the CIA involvement in the Afghanistan and middle east in general, check out Steve coll's epic 'ghost wars' here.

(Politics) Anti-Government Tip Lines, Political Unrest, and Armed Revolutions?

Amid the recent tragedies the past couple years – Newtown, Aurora, Boston – tensions concerning security have never been higher in the United States. Notwithstanding many terror threats that have led to increased security, the creation of the TSA, and numerous other government programs, it seems that the threat of terrorism never seems to cease. Nevertheless, many Americans are skeptical of such events which have led to a growing opposition of the current administration, the encroachment on civil liberties, and namely, the entire U.S. Government as a whole.

In fact, a recent Public Mind poll by Fairleigh Dickenson University reported that 29% of voting Americans favor an armed uprising against the United States government, and see such a revolution to be an ominous necessity. With the nail hammered in the coffin with the re-signing of the NDAA, PIPA, SOPA, and just recently CISPA, it seems the current administration is busy – they are actively engaged in slowly winnowing away at basic inalienable rights that are guaranteed to all citizens by the Bill of Rights. Although there is much politicking, as peace, security, and safety are continually being promised to American citizens, it seems everything coming from Washington is nothing more than hot air. Deceptively hot, in fact.

Moreover, a recent proposal in the Florida House and Senate had budgeted a million dollars for a new “prevention intervention” anonymous tip line. The project, which would be headed up by Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, is being designed to avoid future disasters such as Newtown and Aurora. Although the security tip line is supposed to grab the powder kegs before they explode, the spirit of the program is not different from the Red Scare and McCarthyism through the Cold War, or the National Socialist laws mandating it a requirement to report suspected neighbors that were anti-government or Jewish sympathizers. “We want people to call us if they guy down the street says he hates the government,” stated Sheriff Bradshaw, as he is encouraging local citizens to “report their neighbors, friends, or family.”

Although the proposal can still be rejected by the Governor, Rick Scott, who has power of the line-item veto, the very idea has many citizens in an uproar with various privacy concerns. Furthermore, the actual man-power to regulate such a passed proposal has not been allotted as there may not even be enough police on the force to deal with all such tips and complaints coming through the hotline. Nevertheless, these are all details which Sheriff Bradshaw is working through as of now. Regardless of the complaints, other locals see the benefit of such a security precaution and are applauding the government for such a valiant proposal. 

Although concerns about funding have been raised, namely, by Bob Sharp, CEO of the Florida Council for Community and Mental Health, the proposal certainly has the support by key necessary individuals: such a practical idea might prove to be highly effective, and is at the bottom line, harmless. “Does it hurt,” Bradshaw concluded, “to have somebody knock on a door and [simply] ask, ‘Hey is everything OK?’ “

The Carnage Report // http://thecarnagereport.blogspot.com // 2013

Brent McCulley on Twitter // http://twitter.com/brentthewalrus

Notes

[1] Poll: 29% of Registered Voters Believe Armed Revolution Might Be Necessary in Next Few Years. http://cnsnews.com/blog/gregory-gwyn-williams-jr/poll-29-registered-voters-believe-armed-revolution-might-be-necessary

[2] Palm Beach County sheriff gets $1 million for violence prevention unit amid questions about civil liberties, care for mentally ill. http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/bradshaw-gets-1-million-for-violence-prevention-un/nXbs4/

 

 

Jason Collins Comes Out - Gay Rights In Sport Is Real Issue

In the May 6, 2013 issue of Sports Illustrated NBA center Jason Collins made the following statement:

"I'm a 34-year old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay." (credit Kwaku Alston/SI)

The North American sports media, and indeed the world's sports media have swarmed to this story discussing the implications as the first gay sports athlete playing in one of the four major North American sports to 'come out' while still an active player.

Former US President Bill Clinton and current President Barack Obama were quick to describe Collins' declaration as a vital step for American sports. Collins has been discussed as an ambassador and a leader. He has played in the NBA for 12 seasons and for six different teams most recently the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards in 2012-13.

32 years ago top tennis player Martina Navratilova came out as gay. She lost millions of dollars worth of sponsorship in the immediate aftermath, but she also emerged as an important activist and went on to dominate women's tennis. Some progress has clearly been made with Collins' sponsor, Nike, officially declaring their support for the NBA player.

The UK has its own ambassadors as combatants against homophobia in sports. There have been no openly gay football players apart from Justin Fashanu, who passed away in 1998. Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas and cricketer Steve Davies both 'came out' in 2011, but despite an apparently more accepting culture, there have still been extremely few professional athletes coming out as homosexual in the UK or anywhere else in the world.

However, there should be no doubt about what the real story line is with regards to Collins and his announcement. The story is that despite the first LGBT pride march (now held annually all around the world) being all the way back in 1969 and advances being made in culture generally relating to sexuality rights. As is all too often the case; sports are lagging behind.

San Francisco Gay Pride March 2008

Team sports in particular have struggled to shake the homophobia that is frequently rampant within them. That culture is enforced brutally at just about every level. It still takes tremendous bravery, strength and character to be openly gay and a professional sports athlete. That is a horrendous problem and one that needs to be addressed.

It is also extremely notable that certain sports still haven't had any openly gay athletes. American Football and Football are still without any clear ambassadors in terms of LGBT rights and both still hold cultures that are undoubtedly homophobic.

The US and UK both claim to be places of tolerance and understanding where citizens are allowed and encouraged to live their lives in whatever way they like, including in terms of their sexuality.

It is 2013, but the sports world has a long way to travel. Collins is a brave and strong character and deserves the well wishes. Hopefully he feels that a burden has been lifted off of his shoulders. How many more sports men and women are living with that burden today? How many more are discriminated against, at least indirectly, in their profession just because of their sexual preference?

That thought is the worst thought and what does it really say about today's society and professional sport? How slow are LGBT rights moving? It's time for the sports world to change.

This article was written by Sebastian Egerton-Read - follow me on twitter @SebEread