Alex Higgins

Alex Higgins: The hurricane blows in and blows up, everywhere, 1986-97

Asked to take a drugs test, the Hurricane suddenly came over all twitchy.Very twitchy.In fact, he ended up head-butting the competition director.
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Appearing for Northern Ireland, Higgins did his best to maintain national morale by threatening to have team-mate Dennis Taylor shot.
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The next time you're in Northern Ireland I'll have you shot".' Higgins responded: 'In my estimation, Dennis Taylor is not a snooker person.
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Beaten in the first round, Higgins used his post-match press conference to deliver a rambling speech in which he denounced the game and announced his retirement.But not before he had punched Colin Randle, the World Professional Billiard and Snooker Association's press officer, in the stomach.Banned for a season.

Pavilions, Plymouth, 1997

Having fallen outside the world top 64, Higgins was forced back to qualifying school, where he soon made his presence felt.Ejected from the arena one afternoon, he was next sighted at 4am outside a nightclub.His right wrist and ankle were badly sprained and there were contusions to the side of his head.His alleged assailant was never found.