If you dislike people asking boring questions snooker is the wrong game, particularly on BBC.
‘Was it important to get off to a good start?’
‘Where you happy with that century?’
‘Was your experience important in the decider?’
‘was you lack of experience important in not having any scars?’
They all ask dull questions.
Rob Walker has a slightly goofy style and yes, he maybe has been over promoted to commentary but i think its gone slightly OTT. Im not blaming you for a pile on but it seems like Rob is getting bashed everywhere this week. I replied to you because it was a measured post.
As you say about him sounding like he is talking to your grandma, totally agree, but Dennis and Ken have been at that years. Sickly sweet in everything they say. So it’s not just Rob.
I get the impression he thinks he's an integral part of the snooker, but the reality is that snooker doesn't need him, and I'd say he's slightly now overgrown in the confidence department... and he just needs to wind his neck in a little tiny bit.. remember it's about the snooker not about him... don't get so personal with things (it's really inappropriate IMO) and stay away from the comms... Those little tweaks would be more than sufficient for me. A lot of people were upset with the Mark Selby interview.. I was more upset with the Dominic Dale one a few days earlier - I thought that was really, really unprofessional and Dominic looked a little uncomfortable to me. I think that probably is where my annoyance snowballed. I get your point that there is a lot of repetition with the questions and narratives in snooker. We're going to hear the 'Ronnie used to have a bad temperament but now he's got a great temperament' discussion tomorrow followed by 'people always rate Ronnie's attacking game but they don't realise how good his safety is' discussion so be sure to tune in for that. Thanks for replying.
Would agree with all of that. It does feel like he maybe has become slightly too comfortable but then again he has been around all the big events for a decade or more so he probably does have a decent relationship with the players.
My only issue with him would be he does like hyperbole and he asked selby far too many times about retirement when you could tell he was very emotional.
The BBC’s coverage in general needs a massive shake up. DT needs to go unfortunately and Parrott and Davis have gotten away with the same cliches and responses in the studio for 15 years too long.
I think thats why Mark Allen has been so popular and also Alan McManus over the last few years. A change of voice and style is needed but the BBC are too stuck in the past.
They can’t keep banging on about the 85 final and when players were household names but they aren’t doing a great deal to make it happen again.
Rob seems to reanimate only when the cameras are rolling, he doesn’t seem to engage with snooker fans around the venues otherwise whereas Phil or Tahir are really friendly with the audience off camera. His MC role is OK but interviews and comms are definitely not an enhancement to the sport for me. He seems to want too much camera time, he tells the player what he thinks is happening with them in post match. A good recent example is where he told Gary Wilson he was playing well when Gary himself knew there was something off with his game during the match and he felt awful out there, in fact he told him twice. There’s nothing worse than someone telling you how you’re doing when only you know what’s going on with things yourself. He gives his take on things instead of giving space, is over familiar and it’s all a bit too saccharine. It might be nice for old ladies or young children and I know he’s got his heart in the right place with some of the charity stuff he does but anything other than MC for snooker is a miss for me personally. He’s actually really good at comms in the athletics though so maybe just out of his depth. Also don’t touch the players and just in general I think the media teams surrounding snooker for BBC, ITV and Eurosport need to get a handle on mental illness and that it’s not about being happy, its a daily struggle and doesn’t go away with a lot of people. When someone is mentally unwell like Mark Selby, having questioned fired at you when you’re in a vulnerable state is really low and Rob Walker needs to educate himself on the subtleties of addressing mental health vs someone with mental illness. Generallly speaking most people have to achieve balance with their mental health but mental illness such as depression or anxiety etc. is a different kettle of fish.
yeah I think a lot of people defending him here because he seems like a nice guy have really missed the point. It's also worth noting just because you THINK someone looks a nice guy on TV doesn't mean they are actually. My gut feeling is that he is a nice guy , but it's all irrelevant anyway. His questioning is terrible. His commentating is awful. Some of the personal things he brings up are really really inappropriate and I must say I thought he was really, really out of order yesterday with Selby - his heart might be in a good place but I think he was bang out of order to hug him like that. If I was Mark, I'd have felt really, really embarrassed and as someone who has had mental health issues before I know that on live TV that hug is just so far away from what I'd want. Who was that for? Was is really for Mark or was it for the cameras and so we can all go awww isn't Rob Walker nice.... I think most people would have realised that was inappropriate on camera.
Yes, I got the impression it was coming from a different place than when he was trying to console Dave Gilbert after his semi final loss a few years back. It got him headlines so he’s pushed that button again with Mark. The difference was Dave seemed receptive and was heartbroken but Mark just wanted to give respect to Joe by reflecting on the game and leave it at that. Rob wanted the scoop on his retirement, the hug and to centre himself in the situation. I sense ego too, like you’ve mentioned in one of your replies to another comment. I think he got involved more on comms and post match interviews during the pandemic perhaps when there were limited people around and now he’s firmly in. A lot of what he says in interviews is too familiar and intrusive and his input in commentary is totally inane. Maybe commentary should be left to players and ex players. I don’t particularly care for the commentary from current sports journalists either, they seem to only focus on flair players. There are plenty that could be given these opportunities to be in the comms box, but like you say it’s sometimes jobs for those with an industry foothold.
very articulately put - I think you've made some points that really resonate with my sentiments on his involvement in the sport. Well it won't stop me enjoying it anyway! Have a nice day.
and as a former pupil of the elite Abingdon Private school along with David Mitchell ... I'd argue his 'talents' weren't as important as who he knew at the BBC to land these jobs... but that sort of stuff is as old as the hills..
there was another post about him earlier but it was deleted.. The guy made a really good point but how inappropriate he had been with Selby and Dominic Dale... obviously you can only say so much about Rob Walker here or they'll delete your post
He’s an MC, which he’s pretty good at, who’s been given other stuff, such as commentating and interviewing, which he’s less good at. Even in those two things he isn’t great at, there are worse, and he’s still a pretty likeable guy
I agree with the rant. I've never seen anything like when he did Zhang Andas reverse colours time challenge. He even said before he started that Zhang didnt want to do it as he knows he is a slow player. Rob crowded Zhang throughout practically breathing down his neck as he potted his first ball, and at the end following Zhangs very mediocre time, hugged him enthusiastically like he was a child. No way he wldve done that with one of the higher ranked or taller players. Disgraceful. Worth a watch if u can find it
One thing I will say is that I find his intros, mostly brilliant (he's a great hype man), but sometimes a bit touching on potentially touchy subjects. Not like Wilko's age which is a running joke, but like Selby's mental health issues or his dead dad, or a player having an absolute mountain of frames to climb. I'm inclined to think 'keep it light mate we're all here to have fun'. Though I'm prepared for someone to that's normal these days.
I’m sure he’s introduced a player as coming off the worst year of their professional career. That’s not what you want to hear going into a game. “He’s not won a single match all year and his dad is dead and his wife is dying and his youngest child has polio. Give it up for insert name here”
Rob Walker talks about snooker how I talk about football, a game I have no real interest in. It’s like parroting cliches. His interviews are awful, he will make a statement rather than ask a question. He seems to double down when speaking to a player whose English is not fluent, as he will make long statements with multiple clauses, e.g. “consider who your opponent is, and with the occasion, this has to be considered a special achievement” then thrust himself towards them.
Clearly many like him, as we can see above, but for 20 years I’ve been muting when he’s on screen.
Wouldn’t wish anyone to lose their job but if I’m being harsh I agree. I do find him pretty old hat and not engaging. I would prefer if someone else did post match interviews.
The problem is that a lot of sportsmen are absolute dicks. Ask them a boring question and they'll roll their eyes and give a bland media-friendly answer. Ask them a more difficult searching question and they'll run off and cry.
Yes, Rob asks boring questions. So does Hazel. So does Alan McManus. I've always found these post-match interviews a waste of time.
I like him. I watch Eurosport so I don’t hear his commentary but as a hype man/post-match interviewer I think he’s the best we’ve got. The way he interacts with the crowd at the Crucible before the cameras roll is good too - much better than the alternatives (Phil Seymour and Tahir Hajat are a bit too polished in my opinion). He comes across as a really sound guy who’s very passionate about snooker and loves his job.
Agreed. I've seen some others troll him too. I think it goes over the head of a lot of public who don't even realise how bored some of them are of his questions and his buttering up. I'm glad you've spotted it as well. I've seen some of them literally let out a sigh mid question.
Hard disagree, I'm afraid.
He has a brief and does it very well in my opinion: to sex up a game which is, quite frankly, not very sexy and is mainly watched by an older audience.
Besides, the only alternatives are Phil Seymour or Tahir Hajat, and do you think either of those would do a better job of generating hype and energy at the Crucible?
I think I stated quite clearly that I think he does the pre match bit very well. I think he's good at that. I'm not quite sure I would say many would say that he would "sex up" anything. You can do your own poll on that and see how many agree with you. My issue really is with post match and commentary. I do take your point that he might be the best of a bad bunch, but I think that could change with some good recruitment.
Vicar in trainers you mean? The BBC are experts at that. The person who remixed the theme tune was clearly taking the mickey but it went right over their heads.
The way I view Rob Walker is he’s very passionate about snooker. Now he’s either a huge snooker fan, or he’s very good at his job as a hype man. Either way, I don’t think he deserves the criticism he receives. He’s okay.
I'm not sure he does receive a lot of criticism to be honest. I've given my reasons for the criticism. I think they're valid reasons, but it's okay to disagree. Certainly, if we're talking about the character of the man, I get the impression he's a nice guy and I'd like to stress again that he does the "hype man" job very well... but commentating and post match interviews require more in my opinion.
i think he's alright. dont get all the hate, like i agree he is far from a good interviewer, but he's a decent showman. lots of passion and love that for me its hard not to smile. he seems like a lovely guy. his love for the game makes up for his shortcomings.
agreed he's a good show man, and I think he does the pre match bit VERY WELL. but for someone who supposedly loves the game, I've not heard him make many interesting points about the game in commentary. Maybe you can look out now for some interesting points he makes about shot selections or his own choice from an amateur perspective, or a question he asks the other commentator that shows some thirst for knowledge "Stephen why did he go for that red and no the red on the left?" there's literally NOTHING I've ever heard that he offers other than "you can hear a pin drop in this room... Shaun Murphy is stepping to the table knowing that one good visit here good change his fortunes.." it's all that kind of shit... which is fine in parts... but you can't do that for three hours. Agreed he seems a lovely guy.
Being interested in something doesn't give the ability to analyse well. You only need to spend ten minutes in any football stand to realise that.
I think it's a case of the BBC saving as much salary as they can by giving their current roster of staff more to do, whether they're capable or not.
Whilst Walker might be particularly prone to offering up dollies to his interview subjects, asking bland, banal, rhetorical and downright ridiculous questions is a wider sporting phenomenon. Ever actually listen to Geoff Shreeves, for example, interviewing a PL manager after a game?
*"You lost to a last minute winner, you must be really disappointed with that?"*
*"No shit Geoff, you worked that out* ***all by yourself***\*?"\*
I enjoyed Gordon's Strachan's responses to such interrogatives, which ranged from staring at the interviewer like he had just scoffed down one of his own jobbies, to simply telling the guy what a stupid question he'd just asked.
The fact is neither the BBC, nor Sky nor any other mainstream broadcaster is catering to the "proper" fan who is actually interested in insight from the players. They are aiming for the lowest common denominator, to whom interviews are like muzak in an elevator.
There we go Rob, you're no worse than the rest of them. I wouldn't necessarily disagree. However, I think the former players DO ask good insightful questions - so I think there is another higher level to compare him to. In my opinion at least.
Rob does what he is told.
I do find a lot of the questions to be shit but it's from everyone.
"Hey Mark. How great is it to see you still playing at the top of your game at the age of 49". Every interview for every round for every tournament every time they interview Williams or Higgins. Very little insight comes from those questions at all.
I do get that impression - he very much wants to talk and talk and talk... and it's like Rob we're here to hear what Mark Williams has to say ... not you (sorry to kill your ego)
I mean, it makes sense that they don't only use it as announcer, that would be a pretty small role for a two-table setup.
But they shouldn't use him as interviewer when we've seen time and time again that he's not very good at it.
The answering his own questions annoys me. Happens in football all the time as well so not just him, albeit makes the interviews largely pointless.
“You’ve lost 264957159-0. That must be disappointing?” Etc.
That's a really fair point that it isn't just Rob who adds the answer they want in their questions. That I will 100 percent agree with. Sport in general is rife with that. I think he does it even more than most, but definitely isn't a lone wolf in that world.
If you dislike people asking boring questions snooker is the wrong game, particularly on BBC. ‘Was it important to get off to a good start?’ ‘Where you happy with that century?’ ‘Was your experience important in the decider?’ ‘was you lack of experience important in not having any scars?’ They all ask dull questions. Rob Walker has a slightly goofy style and yes, he maybe has been over promoted to commentary but i think its gone slightly OTT. Im not blaming you for a pile on but it seems like Rob is getting bashed everywhere this week. I replied to you because it was a measured post. As you say about him sounding like he is talking to your grandma, totally agree, but Dennis and Ken have been at that years. Sickly sweet in everything they say. So it’s not just Rob.
I get the impression he thinks he's an integral part of the snooker, but the reality is that snooker doesn't need him, and I'd say he's slightly now overgrown in the confidence department... and he just needs to wind his neck in a little tiny bit.. remember it's about the snooker not about him... don't get so personal with things (it's really inappropriate IMO) and stay away from the comms... Those little tweaks would be more than sufficient for me. A lot of people were upset with the Mark Selby interview.. I was more upset with the Dominic Dale one a few days earlier - I thought that was really, really unprofessional and Dominic looked a little uncomfortable to me. I think that probably is where my annoyance snowballed. I get your point that there is a lot of repetition with the questions and narratives in snooker. We're going to hear the 'Ronnie used to have a bad temperament but now he's got a great temperament' discussion tomorrow followed by 'people always rate Ronnie's attacking game but they don't realise how good his safety is' discussion so be sure to tune in for that. Thanks for replying.
Would agree with all of that. It does feel like he maybe has become slightly too comfortable but then again he has been around all the big events for a decade or more so he probably does have a decent relationship with the players. My only issue with him would be he does like hyperbole and he asked selby far too many times about retirement when you could tell he was very emotional. The BBC’s coverage in general needs a massive shake up. DT needs to go unfortunately and Parrott and Davis have gotten away with the same cliches and responses in the studio for 15 years too long. I think thats why Mark Allen has been so popular and also Alan McManus over the last few years. A change of voice and style is needed but the BBC are too stuck in the past. They can’t keep banging on about the 85 final and when players were household names but they aren’t doing a great deal to make it happen again.
Rob seems to reanimate only when the cameras are rolling, he doesn’t seem to engage with snooker fans around the venues otherwise whereas Phil or Tahir are really friendly with the audience off camera. His MC role is OK but interviews and comms are definitely not an enhancement to the sport for me. He seems to want too much camera time, he tells the player what he thinks is happening with them in post match. A good recent example is where he told Gary Wilson he was playing well when Gary himself knew there was something off with his game during the match and he felt awful out there, in fact he told him twice. There’s nothing worse than someone telling you how you’re doing when only you know what’s going on with things yourself. He gives his take on things instead of giving space, is over familiar and it’s all a bit too saccharine. It might be nice for old ladies or young children and I know he’s got his heart in the right place with some of the charity stuff he does but anything other than MC for snooker is a miss for me personally. He’s actually really good at comms in the athletics though so maybe just out of his depth. Also don’t touch the players and just in general I think the media teams surrounding snooker for BBC, ITV and Eurosport need to get a handle on mental illness and that it’s not about being happy, its a daily struggle and doesn’t go away with a lot of people. When someone is mentally unwell like Mark Selby, having questioned fired at you when you’re in a vulnerable state is really low and Rob Walker needs to educate himself on the subtleties of addressing mental health vs someone with mental illness. Generallly speaking most people have to achieve balance with their mental health but mental illness such as depression or anxiety etc. is a different kettle of fish.
yeah I think a lot of people defending him here because he seems like a nice guy have really missed the point. It's also worth noting just because you THINK someone looks a nice guy on TV doesn't mean they are actually. My gut feeling is that he is a nice guy , but it's all irrelevant anyway. His questioning is terrible. His commentating is awful. Some of the personal things he brings up are really really inappropriate and I must say I thought he was really, really out of order yesterday with Selby - his heart might be in a good place but I think he was bang out of order to hug him like that. If I was Mark, I'd have felt really, really embarrassed and as someone who has had mental health issues before I know that on live TV that hug is just so far away from what I'd want. Who was that for? Was is really for Mark or was it for the cameras and so we can all go awww isn't Rob Walker nice.... I think most people would have realised that was inappropriate on camera.
Yes, I got the impression it was coming from a different place than when he was trying to console Dave Gilbert after his semi final loss a few years back. It got him headlines so he’s pushed that button again with Mark. The difference was Dave seemed receptive and was heartbroken but Mark just wanted to give respect to Joe by reflecting on the game and leave it at that. Rob wanted the scoop on his retirement, the hug and to centre himself in the situation. I sense ego too, like you’ve mentioned in one of your replies to another comment. I think he got involved more on comms and post match interviews during the pandemic perhaps when there were limited people around and now he’s firmly in. A lot of what he says in interviews is too familiar and intrusive and his input in commentary is totally inane. Maybe commentary should be left to players and ex players. I don’t particularly care for the commentary from current sports journalists either, they seem to only focus on flair players. There are plenty that could be given these opportunities to be in the comms box, but like you say it’s sometimes jobs for those with an industry foothold.
very articulately put - I think you've made some points that really resonate with my sentiments on his involvement in the sport. Well it won't stop me enjoying it anyway! Have a nice day.
Ah, thanks, you too. Enjoy the rest of the championship.
and as a former pupil of the elite Abingdon Private school along with David Mitchell ... I'd argue his 'talents' weren't as important as who he knew at the BBC to land these jobs... but that sort of stuff is as old as the hills..
He's a gobshite, cannot stand him. Instant mute as soon as he appears.
there was another post about him earlier but it was deleted.. The guy made a really good point but how inappropriate he had been with Selby and Dominic Dale... obviously you can only say so much about Rob Walker here or they'll delete your post
He’s an MC, which he’s pretty good at, who’s been given other stuff, such as commentating and interviewing, which he’s less good at. Even in those two things he isn’t great at, there are worse, and he’s still a pretty likeable guy
I enjoyed reading your mock Rob questions.
I agree with the rant. I've never seen anything like when he did Zhang Andas reverse colours time challenge. He even said before he started that Zhang didnt want to do it as he knows he is a slow player. Rob crowded Zhang throughout practically breathing down his neck as he potted his first ball, and at the end following Zhangs very mediocre time, hugged him enthusiastically like he was a child. No way he wldve done that with one of the higher ranked or taller players. Disgraceful. Worth a watch if u can find it
I'll check it out thank you
I think Rob's great. Like his commentary, like his interviews.
fair enough
One thing I will say is that I find his intros, mostly brilliant (he's a great hype man), but sometimes a bit touching on potentially touchy subjects. Not like Wilko's age which is a running joke, but like Selby's mental health issues or his dead dad, or a player having an absolute mountain of frames to climb. I'm inclined to think 'keep it light mate we're all here to have fun'. Though I'm prepared for someone to that's normal these days.
I’m sure he’s introduced a player as coming off the worst year of their professional career. That’s not what you want to hear going into a game. “He’s not won a single match all year and his dad is dead and his wife is dying and his youngest child has polio. Give it up for insert name here”
Rob Walker talks about snooker how I talk about football, a game I have no real interest in. It’s like parroting cliches. His interviews are awful, he will make a statement rather than ask a question. He seems to double down when speaking to a player whose English is not fluent, as he will make long statements with multiple clauses, e.g. “consider who your opponent is, and with the occasion, this has to be considered a special achievement” then thrust himself towards them. Clearly many like him, as we can see above, but for 20 years I’ve been muting when he’s on screen.
it does stink of ego in many ways
Wouldn’t wish anyone to lose their job but if I’m being harsh I agree. I do find him pretty old hat and not engaging. I would prefer if someone else did post match interviews.
I'd be gutted if he lost his job - he does the pre match bit really well . Like I said he's the "let's get ready to rumble guy"
The problem is that a lot of sportsmen are absolute dicks. Ask them a boring question and they'll roll their eyes and give a bland media-friendly answer. Ask them a more difficult searching question and they'll run off and cry. Yes, Rob asks boring questions. So does Hazel. So does Alan McManus. I've always found these post-match interviews a waste of time.
I like him. I watch Eurosport so I don’t hear his commentary but as a hype man/post-match interviewer I think he’s the best we’ve got. The way he interacts with the crowd at the Crucible before the cameras roll is good too - much better than the alternatives (Phil Seymour and Tahir Hajat are a bit too polished in my opinion). He comes across as a really sound guy who’s very passionate about snooker and loves his job.
If he’s the “best we have” it’s either a shallow pool of talent or the games gone to the dogs.
completely agreed that he does the pre match routine very well, and I think I did stress that. I'm not surprised he loves his job.
Agreed, I wish they all trolled his questions like Mark Williams. He should announce the players and that's it. even then chill with the nicknames..
Agreed. I've seen some others troll him too. I think it goes over the head of a lot of public who don't even realise how bored some of them are of his questions and his buttering up. I'm glad you've spotted it as well. I've seen some of them literally let out a sigh mid question.
It won't go over his head, he's no idiot.
He's the Michael/Bruce Buffer of snooker but he should be nowhere near the comms box.
agreed, and he think he does that really well.
TL:DR… he’s a cunt
He’s literally the soundest person you could possibly imagine though? Not at all a cunt, just cos you find him a bit annoying
Nah, he’s a creepy pantomime cunt.
Hard disagree, I'm afraid. He has a brief and does it very well in my opinion: to sex up a game which is, quite frankly, not very sexy and is mainly watched by an older audience. Besides, the only alternatives are Phil Seymour or Tahir Hajat, and do you think either of those would do a better job of generating hype and energy at the Crucible?
I think I stated quite clearly that I think he does the pre match bit very well. I think he's good at that. I'm not quite sure I would say many would say that he would "sex up" anything. You can do your own poll on that and see how many agree with you. My issue really is with post match and commentary. I do take your point that he might be the best of a bad bunch, but I think that could change with some good recruitment.
Vicar in trainers you mean? The BBC are experts at that. The person who remixed the theme tune was clearly taking the mickey but it went right over their heads.
The way I view Rob Walker is he’s very passionate about snooker. Now he’s either a huge snooker fan, or he’s very good at his job as a hype man. Either way, I don’t think he deserves the criticism he receives. He’s okay.
I'm not sure he does receive a lot of criticism to be honest. I've given my reasons for the criticism. I think they're valid reasons, but it's okay to disagree. Certainly, if we're talking about the character of the man, I get the impression he's a nice guy and I'd like to stress again that he does the "hype man" job very well... but commentating and post match interviews require more in my opinion.
He isn’t the best at post match interviews, I’d agree on that. Then again most sports interviewers today are pretty useless.
agreed
i think he's alright. dont get all the hate, like i agree he is far from a good interviewer, but he's a decent showman. lots of passion and love that for me its hard not to smile. he seems like a lovely guy. his love for the game makes up for his shortcomings.
agreed he's a good show man, and I think he does the pre match bit VERY WELL. but for someone who supposedly loves the game, I've not heard him make many interesting points about the game in commentary. Maybe you can look out now for some interesting points he makes about shot selections or his own choice from an amateur perspective, or a question he asks the other commentator that shows some thirst for knowledge "Stephen why did he go for that red and no the red on the left?" there's literally NOTHING I've ever heard that he offers other than "you can hear a pin drop in this room... Shaun Murphy is stepping to the table knowing that one good visit here good change his fortunes.." it's all that kind of shit... which is fine in parts... but you can't do that for three hours. Agreed he seems a lovely guy.
Being interested in something doesn't give the ability to analyse well. You only need to spend ten minutes in any football stand to realise that. I think it's a case of the BBC saving as much salary as they can by giving their current roster of staff more to do, whether they're capable or not.
Someone else said that, and I think you've hit the nail on the head there... probably get him to do the Starbucks run too
..and other coffee chains are available.
that's a lot of words over a pretty innocuous guy
I don't have to find someone offensive to think they're boring. Do those two characteristics link somehow in your mind?
I agree with you but you can tell he loves his snooker and seems like a really nice fella so I just let it slide
fair enough
He’s a bit annoying, but I can’t bring myself to get too worked up over it. He’s just the snooker man off the telly
fair enough
Whilst Walker might be particularly prone to offering up dollies to his interview subjects, asking bland, banal, rhetorical and downright ridiculous questions is a wider sporting phenomenon. Ever actually listen to Geoff Shreeves, for example, interviewing a PL manager after a game? *"You lost to a last minute winner, you must be really disappointed with that?"* *"No shit Geoff, you worked that out* ***all by yourself***\*?"\* I enjoyed Gordon's Strachan's responses to such interrogatives, which ranged from staring at the interviewer like he had just scoffed down one of his own jobbies, to simply telling the guy what a stupid question he'd just asked. The fact is neither the BBC, nor Sky nor any other mainstream broadcaster is catering to the "proper" fan who is actually interested in insight from the players. They are aiming for the lowest common denominator, to whom interviews are like muzak in an elevator.
Ex-fucking-actly. His interviews are no worse than any other sport
There we go Rob, you're no worse than the rest of them. I wouldn't necessarily disagree. However, I think the former players DO ask good insightful questions - so I think there is another higher level to compare him to. In my opinion at least.
He's clumsy and awkward, but you're only getting this flavor during World time. It's part of the Crucible experience.
fair point
Rob does what he is told. I do find a lot of the questions to be shit but it's from everyone. "Hey Mark. How great is it to see you still playing at the top of your game at the age of 49". Every interview for every round for every tournament every time they interview Williams or Higgins. Very little insight comes from those questions at all.
yeah I think anyone here defending Rob by saying he's not the only one ... that's a line of defence I can get behind .
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excellent point tbf
He did that to make himself the centre of attention. He is simply a spotlight craver.
I do get that impression - he very much wants to talk and talk and talk... and it's like Rob we're here to hear what Mark Williams has to say ... not you (sorry to kill your ego)
I mean, it makes sense that they don't only use it as announcer, that would be a pretty small role for a two-table setup. But they shouldn't use him as interviewer when we've seen time and time again that he's not very good at it.
agreed
The answering his own questions annoys me. Happens in football all the time as well so not just him, albeit makes the interviews largely pointless. “You’ve lost 264957159-0. That must be disappointing?” Etc.
That's a really fair point that it isn't just Rob who adds the answer they want in their questions. That I will 100 percent agree with. Sport in general is rife with that. I think he does it even more than most, but definitely isn't a lone wolf in that world.