The news conference of Ronnie O'sullivan & Marco Fu

[Perry]

Err, because it's a message board?

Now there's a call for closing this thread and you consider it much ado about nothing. I consider it quite an absurd attitude to end discussions this way.

I DID NOT quote for ending this discussion- but I do think it's everybodies choice not to take part-you may call that "freedom of being silent"

[Maija]

Kill off this thread and we'll have two new ones, with tempers running high that the first one was closed. It's been fairly on topic and not too many bad words have been uttered.

@gingerale: Thanks for the link. I've been waiting for Hendon to say something, and I think his blog entry is very interesting. Apparently this is not something new and it isn't possible to stop Ronnie from acting like this, which makes it all the more disappointing.

Even though the whole matter is - as I said - highly disappointing and disheartening, I am glad that the video got out and that this forum has made a difference. If nothing had been said here, then nothing would have happened and the farce would go on.

[wildJONESEYE]

Because he was not simply a marionette ... he actually was bantering and laughing with him. He should have tried. He could have failed. But he did neither ... he encouraged it ...

Absalutly he is taking money from snooker being payed as a WSA Media Officer and he is clueless about the job he is being payed to do......Protect a player from making a pigs ear out of a press conference....so if the Media Officer didnt see anything wrong in what was happening why should Ronnie he is a Snooker Player....being guided by a Media Officer....What a Joke....Media Officer hahahaha

[gingerale]

I DID NOT quote for ending this discussion- but I do think it's everybodies choice not to take part-you may call that "freedom of being silent"

It’s hard to practise though, isn't it, Perry?
And of course it wasn’t you who actually voted to stop the discussion. My apologies for condensing recent posts.

Even though the whole matter is - as I said - highly disappointing and disheartening, I am glad that the video got out and that this forum has made a difference. If nothing had been said here, then nothing would have happened and the farce would go on.

Did the video appear on TSF first?

[Black_cat]

Monique, he is a marionette. That's the work of a press officer. Imagine the even bigger scandal if he'd publicly reprimanded Mr. O'Sullivan.

Like it would have been that inconceivable for Mr. Hirschowitz to whisper into Ronnie's ear or to tell him under his breath "Knock it off, Ronnie, you're being recorded and you're making a fool of yourself!"
He didn't have to slap Ronnie's wrist and stand up in outrage or storm out of the room.
In fact Mr. H. should have done something the second Ronnie stated that "F*** me, that was the longest question in the world." A simple "Ronnie, you're being recorded, take care of what you're saying" would have sufficed.
I'm not a media professional but as a layman I'd be very careful in a room full of mikes. Like that saying: If you sit on a rose bush you never know which ***** has stung you.
How apt.

[Monique]

Monique, he is a marionette. That's the work of a press officer. Imagine the even bigger scandal if he'd publicly reprimanded Mr. O'Sullivan.

What bigger scandal? At the very minimum, if really he felt hopeless, he could have kept silent. Not laughing and bantering with him ...

[gingerale]

BC, Monique, I think it's just wishing well Mr. Hirschowitz could have sorted it out or even prevent Ronnie O'Sullivan from saying what he did by whispering something. Especially without being noticed by the crowd.
But it's a good way to split responsibilities for what has happened.

[dannyd0g]

Hendon usually talks sense, but i disagree with his opinion that the media officer couldnt do anything.

Anyone with the slightest bit of backbone could have communicated to ronnie that his behaviour was not appropriate in that situation.

[Monique]

BC, Monique, I think it's just wishing well Mr. Hirschowitz could have sorted it out or even prevent Ronnie O'Sullivan from saying what he did by whispering something. Especially without being noticed by the crowd.
But it's a good way to split responsibilities for what has happened.

And he could not just keep quiet? He had to banter and laugh with him? What would have Ronnie done to him if not? ... I'm curious?

[Black_cat]

BC, Monique, I think it's just wishing well Mr. Hirschowitz could have sorted it out or even prevent Ronnie O'Sullivan from saying what he did by whispering something. Especially without being noticed by the crowd.
But it's a good way to split responsibilities for what has happened.

At least he would have tried to prevent the whole thing instead of actively engaging in it.
Let's take it to the extreme here: if I go out with a mate, get plastered (for argument's sake) and start drunkenly hitting on every man in sight (for argument's sake), is my mate supposed to encourage me from the sidelines or take me the **** home for a hot coffee and a cold shower?
Of course it's not the same. Of course I chose the most extreme example. But anything would have been better than getting involved in it. As Monique said, he should have at least kept silent.

[snooligan]

Hendon usually talks sense, but i disagree with his opinion that the media officer couldnt do anything.

Anyone with the slightest bit of backbone could have communicated to ronnie that his behaviour was not appropriate in that situation.

Or just keep quiet as the more sensible people indicated, but to join in is as much of a disgrace to World Snooker as it is to Ronnie imo.

Edit: What is the function of a Media Officer if someone would care to enlighten me?

[Maija]

Did the video appear on TSF first?

I did look around a bit just after the video was initially posted and didn't find anything anywhere else at that point. It is, however, not the TSF bit that is important, but rather the fact that it did become publically available and that it wasn't hushed up. It would of course have been better, had it not happened in the first place, but seeing as it seems to be a regular feature I'm glad that it's being dealt with.

And I do agree, the media officer should have done something. A quiet word in ROS' ear, a solid kicking under the table, he had many options but chose to participate.

[gingerale]

Who do you think plays the bigger part - in what was happened recently and in being treated favorably by the WSA - Mr. O'Sullivan or Mr. Hirschowitz?
I'm not saying the press officer's behaviour was appropriate, my point is that it's wrong in blaming him for what's hapenned. It's concealing responsibilities. Mr. O'Sullivan is a grown up. He wasn't drunk or on drugs, as far as we know. If his mental state prevents him from attending press conferences you could even blame the medical advisors not having noticed that before.

Edit: Thanks Maija for looking up.

[dannyd0g]

Or just keep quiet as the more sensible people indicated, but to join in is as much of a disgrace to World Snooker as it is to Ronnie imo.

Edit: What is the function of a Media Officer if someone would care to enlighten me?

Well sorry if im obviously not one of the more sensible people, but by "communicate to Ronnie" i meant by whatever means were available, be it facial expression or whatever, which should have been easy enough !!

[Monique]

The function of the media officer is to take care that communication with the media runs smoothly ...
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