Hi folks, as I write this, the Champion's League Final is raging on with Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United getting whupped by Barcelona.  But for me the sporting highlight of the year was this, embodied in the last snooker poem I will ever write.  I give you:

 

The Crucifixion and Resurrection of John Higgins

 

John Higgins came from lowly Scottish lands

His father was a hard man, proud and strong

Who gave his son a will and discipline

To do his best no matter what the odds

And learnt his trade in smoky clubs and bars

His trade was snooker, wooden cue in hand

He tamed the baize and with the coloured balls

He cast his magic spell upon the table

Playing with a cool determination

The game absorbed within his every cell

He made a quick impression the sport

Rising very quickly through the ranks

Emerging as a snooker number one

His father's discipline had served him well

John carried on this way for many years

By winning titles, playing with a pride

And iron will to win, delighting all

Who saw him play but then John Higgins fell

He was disgraced in front of all of us

The Crucible in Sheffield was the place

Where players fought it out to be World Champion

And on this living stage was either doom

Or destiny for every snooker player

And as the contest reached it's final day

A revelation shocked the snooker world

And at it's centre, Higgins, crucified

The sins of snooker heaped upon his head

A tabloid paper put him on the spot

They told how he agreed to fixing games

The video was there for all to see

As Higgins and his manager were shown

Talking, agreeing to lose matches for

A price - the bubbly flowed, the deal was done

The people in their anger tore at John

They cursed and screamed and spat upon his name

They cried out "Liar! Cheat!" - the case was brought

To court and John protested innocence

He said he knew that it was wrong but played

Along, fearing for his life - he spoke

But few believed him. Barry Hearn stepped in

And as the head of snooker ordered up

A full investigation, John was soon

Suspended as the case dragged on and on

John Higgins took another body blow

His father, the one who gave him pride

And self-belief was gravely ill in bed

A terminal disease afflicting him

And as he slipped away John felt his loss

Weigh down upon his mind, he felt despair

But John was cleared of doing wrong

His manager was banished from the game

But still so few forgave him for his sins

Derision dogged his every move as John

Returned - he practised hard to play again

His critics jeered but John refused to be

Deterred and fought his way to Sheffield

Clawing back the self-respect he lost

The Crucible in Sheffield was the place

Where players fought it out to be World Champion

And on this living stage was either doom

Or destiny for every snooker player

John Higgins cue in hand got down to work

He easily disposed of Stephen Lee

The Highlander was next, he failed to slow

Him down, and then came Ronnie fast and hard

The Rocket nearly had him beat but no

John persevered and brought him crashing down

He got through to the semi-finals where

Mark Williams waited, quietly, patient

His face unreadable, his safety play

And potting masterful, he steamed ahead

And John was lost in fear but deep within

He heard a voice, his father's voice, his words

Inspired a comeback, John went on a break

His father's love and teachings drove him on

The pain and sacrifice were there for all to see

The people were enthralled with what

They saw for John was winning back their love

A demon heckled John, to tempt him back

Into the realms of shame, of grief, and doubt

To no avail, a crowd of angels threw

The demon out. John Higgins won the match

His task was not complete for young Judd Trump

Stood in his way and Judd had lots of fans

Who cheered him on for Judd played snooker

In a way no-one had seen before

Impossible, outrageous pots and breaks

All carried off with youthful verve and swagger

John was swamped, it seemed he could not cope

As Judd ran rampant, potting everything

In sight and John looked beaten once again

But something in him simply would not give

He got fired up as Judd got careless

Missing easy balls, he looked burnt out

As Higgins, on the double, sealed his win

The Crucible erupted - what a match!

Judd Trump, the game's new star, was simply stunned

For he did not expect to do so well

And he saluted Higgins, for indeed,

The night belonged to him and in the sky

An old man raised a glass of whisky for

His son, who suffered, sacrificed and now

He was reborn, he held aloft the crown

His loved ones by his side, he wept in joy

At his accomplishments - he was redeemed.

 

He fell from grace, was crucified,

He fell into despair

Then rose again, triumphantly,

As snooker's greatest player.