Great entertainer Ronnie deserves to be in frame for gong, insists Hendry
SNOOKER legend Stephen Hendry believes Ronnie O’sullivan’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year nomination was long overdue. Record seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is the odds-on bookies’ favourite to win the prestigious accolade tonight.
But Hendry is backing his old sparring partner to win the coveted gong.
Hendry was the last snooker player nominated in 1999 and came second behind football icon Paul Gascoigne in 1990. And the seven-time world champion, who twice won the Scottish version, said: “I’m pleased for him, it’s long, long overdue.
“It would have been scandalous if he hadn’t been nominated. He’s got a great chance of winning, we all know how popular Ronnie is. “People love watching him because you never know what’s going to happen next. “He crosses the boundaries of all sports. When you look at other sports there’s people that
BACKING: Hendry stand out – and Ronnie stands out in snooker. Other players watch him.
“I suppose in football you have Lionel Messi, he’s probably watched by other footballers. He just stands out in respect of his talent. Ronnie does that.”
Snooker has been blackballed from the shake-up for over two decades.
Steve Davis is the only potter to pocket the award, in 1988.
Six-time world champion O’sullivan has all of snooker’s records under his belt, except eclipsing Hendry’s Crucible haul, and the Scot added: “Ronnie’s the full-package.
“And this gives someone who deserves to be recognised, like Ronnie, a long-awaited honour.”