To answer my earlier questions, Sir Rodney Walker has taken the quite extraordinary step of personally excusing Ronnie O'Sullivan from having to give media interviews at the Saga Insurance Masters.
A statement read: "Last week’s meeting between Sir Rodney Walker, Ronnie O’Sullivan and his manager has been well reported by the media.
"As a result of information conveyed to him by Ronnie at the meeting in connection with ongoing difficulties in his personal life, Sir Rodney agreed, in the exceptional circumstances in which Ronnie finds himself at this time, that for the SAGA Insurance Masters, he would be excused from fulfilling the normal contractual requirements with the media and sponsors which all players are required to undertake.
"Sir Rodney informed the chair of the sport’s disciplinary committee of his decision at the start of the tournament. Sir Rodney understands and accepts that his decision will be a disappointment to the media and the tournament sponsor SAGA Insurance.
"He is however convinced that to expose Ronnie to the added pressures of exposure to the media, at the moment, would not be in the interests of the player, the tournament and the sport and hopes that everyone would accept that his decision has not been taken lightly."
So it's now clear: O'Sullivan can do whatever he likes and the chairman of the game's governing body will protect him.
It will blow up in his face at some point and, when it does, you won't find a single journalist who has any sympathy whatsoever for him.
6 comments:
Sir Rodney Walker is playing a dangerous game - O'Sullivan has had a lot of best friends in snooker, and he tires of them easily. I don't see why a press conference is so arduous - like football managers the players can trot out the same old lines without revealing their innermost fears and secrets. In any case, if Ronnie is depressed or has other serious off-table worries, getting out of a press conference is not going to fix them.
Quite right and I'd add this: Graeme Dott played a match and attended a press conference this week beleiving that his wife had cancer.
It was the professional thing to do.
Dave,
I agree with everything said above.
So, if he has been excused from pre/post media conferences, why was he doing an interview for the BBC on Tuesday. Who pulled the strings for that to take place? Whatever the case, O'Sullivan seemed his usual self with a touch of flu.
Also, if he lifts the trophy on Sunday, surely, he will be permitted to give a press conference, rather than snear and stick two fingers up to the press, who could've given him a lot harder a time, than they have in the past.
I can't expect, contrary to what it said in the press statement, that the sponsors are really that happy to go along with this. Are they?
Thanks, Joe
Dave,
Any more news on this new Irish competition taking place in March. Is it the top 16 taking part, or invitational?
Sounds very familiar to the Irish Masters which can only be a good thing.
And, I also hear the German masters could be on the comeback in the near future. Which would be excellent...
Thanks, Joe
It will be on in Kilkenny from March 11-13. All big names and a welcome development.
The German Masters isn't returning as far as I know - but the German Open pro-am has been renamed the Paul Hunter Classic and will be played, as usual, in August.
Well, if sponsors get involved and RTE give it some publicity it would be great to see a similar tournament to Goffs going back on the calendar.
The same goes for the German Open. Surely, having endorsed Hunter's name, it will garner publicity, which again, will lead a route back to the tour diary.
Thanks, Joe
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