Barry Can Still Sell Ice to the Inuits

Was in the company of the always entertaining Barry Hearn today as he launched the Betfred.com World Snooker Championships in the swish RAC Club in London's fancy Pall Mall. Now Hearn is not everyone's cup of tea.

Some love his boundless enthusiasm, others find it a bit wearing, not that he cares a jot. What nobody can deny is what a job he has done for darts and snooker over the years and, for a while, boxing too.

Supporters of Leyton Orient, where he is Chairman, are pretty grateful towards him too. Barry's been at it for a long time now, although you wouldn't have thought so today as he beamed at the top table and convinced all of us about how good he is at what he does, and how big the snooker will be yet again.

I've known him for years and I'll tell you what. The man who can sell ice to the Inuits and sand to the Berbers nearly had me handing over all my credit cards and cash on the spot to be his next sponsor. You just can't keep the man down!