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Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2013.55.150 B |
Object Name |
Video Recording |
Title |
Cliff Thorburn Interview |
Scope & Content |
Cliff Thorburn interview, 24 July 2008. Digitized MP4 from Sony 40 Advanced ME DVCAM. Two videos with a total viewing time of 00:48:05 1 of 2; 00:42Introduction to Hall 01:40How got into game of snooker: started when he was 10-11, saw a game of 8 ball on a snooker table, excited to see it, something a little bit special; saw game again when caddying at Jasper Park Lodge, at 13-14 went to the local pool room, got to play game and was enthralled about it; Arnold Palmer was his greatest sporting hero, influenced him 06:25Was almost 16 when he started to play at a club in Victoria, "didn't realize how much you could love something and hate it so much", talks about breaking his cues at a club and getting kicked out when it was discovered, learned about the etiquette of the game, a gentleman's game, tries to teach that to others now 09:12Turning point: loves it as much now as he ever had, feels people are not paying enough attention to the equipment now, he will play on a bad table; at 17-18 went across Canada, talks about George Chenier, watched him play, he was so beautiful to watch, tried to get his game like that, learned so much by watching a great player play; his goal then was to watch and play the best players; talks about hitchhiking back and forth across Canada, playing and getting better, it was good for him playing different players, different styles, to play on different table, his style of play was such that he could adjust very quickly to different tables 14:29On his income: played for money, he was barred from tournament events because he was too good so he then turned professional and went to England in 1973; not a hustler; didn't like not to try his best, wanted to be somebody who played well all the time, knowing he was getter better all the time drove him 20:01Defining moment: always thought he would be doing something with sports, always wanted it to be with snooker, one of those people who never went a long time without noticing some improvement in his game; after George Chenier died NCA championship needed a successor because it was on a challenge basis, won it easily in 1971; "this thing came over me when I could start to do things at will", real defining moment was when learned he was going to win the World Championship, talks about the tournament, being nervous but putting his hand on the table, went still, know at that moment he 'had the stuff'; had an attitude of not giving up 24:12On the status of the game of snooker today: it is really big in the British Commonwealth, today huge in England, China, Thailand, played in 34 countries, the Mecca of the games is still Britain where it has huge ratings on TV 26:48Components of the game: to be the top player hand-eye coordination is huge, got to be able to find the middle of the cue ball, need it straight in the slot; did it 5 hrs a day for 16 years; got to love it, couldn't wait to get up to play, saw angles everywhere, had do, dominant left side and had to find a way to play, talked snooker and pool all the time with the other players, talks about technique of straight cue, focus 33:29Overcoming your body, physical condition: have to be reasonable fit to play, big change as he got older was in his hands, talks about his grip 37:19Won 27 worldwide championships 37:50On the Crucible: in 1980 won the World Championship in Sheffield at the Crucible Theatre, confident, talks about the game & the number of sessions, on the pressure: if you do something you like enough you become numb to the pressure, feel it less at the last round that at the first, was all me, wasn't aware of his opponent or the spectators, just him and the game 40:21Final shot: had it won at several prior; talks about his opponent Alex Higgins 2 of 2; 00:01Continues to talks about Alex, first met him in 1972, he was not a great sport but was a great player; when he won the worlds his nickname went from Champagne Cliff to The Grinder 04:20Was World Champion in 1980, is the only overseas player to win the World Pro Championship, still is; bringing the trophy back to Canada did not still well with the organizers, today winners only get a replica 06:36On the perfect game (147): was the first person to do that at the Worlds, the first Worlds had been held in 1927, did it in the second match, talks about having a dream that he would play a perfect match and the actual game 14:04Most proud of: the CSHoF for the recognition by his peers, all his heroes are here, for the game itself being recognized for the second time after George Chenier, an exclusive club; talks about receiving the Order of Canada and later playing with the Governor-General at Rideau Hall 17:00One thing hold dearest in snooker: winning the Worlds, "Cliff Thornburn, World Professional Champion, Canadian 17:27On his father: his dad was a great sports fan, was sports minded; he played every sport, his dad saw him win one Canadian championship and it was a big thrill for him; always proud of him 19:07His sons do not play snooker 20:07Life lesson: put on a good performance, leave a good impression, act like a champion 21:29Repeats above 23:38Career: played a game that he could play for 45 years, was World Champion and Canadian and what else could you want 24:23Talks about the cue that played the perfect game |
Date |
2008/07/24 |
People |
Thorburn, Cliff Chenier, Cliff |
Search Terms |
Interview Snooker Cliff Thorburn World Championships |