Ref sportsmanship on table

[Goodsport]

I have become a big fan of snooker ever since Dennis Taylor beat Steve Davis in one of the best finals ever(for excitement) and as I watch the current players in the modern game it's good to see so much sportsmanship between the players but there is only one player in the Top 16 who clearly does not know the meaning of the word "SPORTMANSHIP" and that is DING JUNHUI ,when an opponent plays a top safety shot,gets out of a difficult snooker etc ,you often see 15 of the current World Top 16 players tap the table with their cue or hand in appreciation but unbelievably,DING JUNHUI never does it which is so poor, yes,he is an amazing player but he has been in the professional game long enough to know that professional snooker at the top level is know for great sportsmanship ,Ding should learn how to do it.

[the lone wolf]

Just because Ding does not tap the table doesn't mean he is unappreciative of his opponent or his / hers skill set and ability. Ding is just being Ding, which is what being a professional sportsperson is all about.

[Steve748]

....and I was thinking this was about sportsmanship from the ref

[DeanH]

....and I was thinking this was about sportsmanship from the ref

same here

I think I have seen Ding tap the table, I am sure of it?
Judd Trump used to not tap the table, he seems to now when it is warranted

[Goodsport]

Ding being Ding ,he is unsporting for sure,I've had this discussion with over 25 people at my club and only one person disagreed with me and he is a big Ding fan,need I say anymore

[Mark187187]

He's not really one to show much one way or the other. Always seems a nice lad when interviewed. Never seen him do anything unsporting- always calls fouls on himself, and is respectful of his opponents post match. Don't think you can read much into table tapping.

I asked myself and 100% of my sample said he seems like a good sport, need I say more.

[the lone wolf]

I read the thread title and OP as 'Ref' have a word with Ding?
But in this case the Ref can't get involved.
Personally I think Ding respects all of his opponents whether he shows it or not.

[Neil Taperell]

I don’t think that Trump appreciates opponents shots a majority of the time .

[Mark187187]

I'm sure all this table tapping never used to happen. Once in a while maybe. Pretty sure Steve Davis wouldn't have even acknowledged his opponent existed in his prime. I think it's more of a habit/etiquette that's evolved, rather than having any real meaning. Lots of players don't even watch the table when their opponent is playing- so you can't expect acknowledgement of a good shot which hasn't been seen. I think Ding is maybe one of those- when the camera is cut to him in his chair, he's usually gazing into space (or has his head in his hands). Trump always strikes me as only being bothered about his own game. When he's called moody or surly, it's usually because he's in a mood with himself, which is fair enough.

I can't think of any other professional competitive sport either where players applaud their opponent mid-match. And I'm pretty sure they're not all bad sports.

[JimMalone]

I've seen Ding tapping the table more than once. Also he is always the first to apologize if he had luck with a ball. Sometimes even if he didn't need it.

However a player that I've seen never applauding his opponents shot is Judd Trump.

[JimMalone]

I can't think of any other professional competitive sport either where players applaud their opponent mid-match. And I'm pretty sure they're not all bad sports.

In tennis some players also applaud (or give a thump up) their opponents for a great ball.

[DeanH]

I've seen Ding tapping the table more than once. Also he is always the first to apologize if he had luck with a ball. Sometimes even if he didn't need it.

However a player that I've seen never applauding his opponents shot is Judd Trump.

as I mentioned earlier, I never used to see JT tap the table but in recent years he has started doing it

[Mark187187]

I suppose it's where you set the bar for sportsmanship. I've never really noticed who taps the table, other than Selby doing it a lot.

I noticed Ronnie clattering into a ball with the rest and not calling a foul on himself. I noticed Alli Carter putting an elbow into Ronnie as he walked passed him. I noticed Alli Carter again, sarcastically applauding Judd in the worlds a few years back to needle him. I noticed Ebdon slowing rolling Drago until Drago's head nearly exploded. Alex Higgins threatened to shoot Dennis Taylor. In other sports, I've seen boxers bite chunks out of each other, footballers breaking legs through a spiteful challenge, rugby players hiding blood capsules in their mouths, cricket players tampering with equipment and bike racers kick their opponent off their bike. Table tapping or not has never seemed that important, or the bar to reach in terms of what makes someone a good sport.

[thommo335]

Ref sportsmanship on table

I thought it particularly obnoxious of Judd not to acknowledge Robertsons 100th ton that year.

[Tim65]

I have become a big fan of snooker ever since Dennis Taylor beat Steve Davis in one of the best finals ever(for excitement) and as I watch the current players in the modern game it's good to see so much sportsmanship between the players but there is only one player in the Top 16 who clearly does not know the meaning of the word "SPORTMANSHIP" and that is DING JUNHUI ,when an opponent plays a top safety shot,gets out of a difficult snooker etc ,you often see 15 of the current World Top 16 players tap the table with their cue or hand in appreciation but unbelievably,DING JUNHUI never does it which is so poor, yes,he is an amazing player but he has been in the professional game long enough to know that professional snooker at the top level is know for great sportsmanship ,Ding should learn how to do it.

Is this a wind-up?