O’Sullivan explains Carragher praise and makes Federer, Djokovic claim

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Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has responded to Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher naming him in his top three sportsmen, and then made his own claim about some of the biggest stars in sport at the Northern Ireland Open. The Rocket defeated Lukas Kleckers in the first round of the tournament, and was then invited to discuss the praise heaped on him by Carragher.

The Sky Sports pundit named O’Sullivan alongside Floyd Mayweather and Usain Bolt in his top three sportsmen. “I chose people who I have watched, people will say Mohamed Ali, but I wanted people who have taken my breath away watching them,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

“Usain Bolt watching him in the 100m and 200m at the time, how far ahead he was of everybody. I’d have to say Usain Bolt. I picked sports that I like, so from boxing, Floyd Mayweather. In terms of never being beaten, he’s beaten everyone. The last one I went for is Ronnie O’Sullivan. The reason being, I go back to taking my breath away.

“It’s not just that Ronnie O’Sullivan is the best snooker player of all time, he can play with both hands. I know people say some footballers can play with both feet, but playing snooker left-handed and getting a 147 in five minutes – [these] things that just make you go ‘wow’, nobody else can do that.”

When asked about Carragher’s comments, O’Sullivan was quick to explain exactly what the former Liverpool defender said. “I have to clarify what he said,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport. “He said from the sports he likes.

“He obviously likes snooker so it was going to be me, or [Stephen] Hendry or Jimmy White. He didn’t say the three best sportsmen of all time, he chose from the sports he likes. I think people jumped on the bandwagon. It is nice, he is obviously a fan of snooker.”

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When asked about his top sportsmen, O’Sullivan had to think about his answer. “Ayrton Senna, Muhammed Ali, [Novak] Djokovic, [Roger] Federer, Tiger Woods. They would be the top ones there. I like winners. I don’t have much time for people that don’t win. I won’t say losers, but I do love a winner.”

Alan McManus was on the panel alongside O’Sullivan, and agreed with Carragher when he named his top three. “I agree with Ronnie, go with sports you like,” McManus said. “I like golf and cricket. I would go with Warnie, the great Shane Warne. I’d then go with Seve [Ballesteros].

“One of those guys, a one-word name everybody knows. The gift of the hands. Then this guy here [O’Sullivan]. I have been saying it for years, I don’t want to embarrass him, but I agree with Jamie Carragher.”

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