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Page 1He gives the balls a soul
Page 2 “Schewarz” and “bellau”
On the final days of the annual World Cup tournament, snooker fans are shaken by ambivalent feelings. On the one hand, there is the anticipation of the final, which is traditionally held in Britain Bank Holiday, i.e. this Monday, will be decided. According to estimates, 350 million people worldwide follow the fight for a prize of 500,000 pounds (585,000 euros) and the silver cup with the final figure of the ancient shepherdess, also known as ‘the auld lady’. At the same time, a special fear of emptiness is spreading: between the last game of the old season and the first of the new season, more than five pointless weeks will pass without a single match on the global main tour.
For German fans of the complex billiard variant, there is also a loss report: the distinctive voice that she has had since 2003 Eurosport through every tournament, will retire after this World Cup. Rolf Kalb would like to step down “at a time when I will still be fondly remembered,” as he explained in his blog in the run-up to the World Championships. Although, or precisely because, being a live commentator was “the best job I could imagine” for him. What seems almost unnecessary to emphasize in this case: After a total of 35 years behind the microphone, the 64-year-old from Heinsberger Land has long since matured into a cult figure.
“Sonor” was by far the most used predicate when it came to characterizing this voice. Depending on the situation, the owner used it sometimes in a whispering, subdued manner, sometimes in a passionate, quick-tempered manner. And when things got dramatic at the table, Kalb went along with the ten thousandth repetition of a standard as if he were experiencing it for the first time. In this style he reported that Mark Selby “has already played two snookers!!” need to win this or that frame (set). Or that “the curse of the Crucible” took effect again when a reigning world champion lost his opening game in the theater in Sheffield – as happened again to the Belgian Luca Brecel.
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Added to this was an incomparable feel for the demands of the game – and hard-earned expertise. For years, he revealed, hardly a day went by under the roof of his house in Gütersloh when he did not prepare for his next tasks. There were many of them, as he went to the German Masters in Berlin, among other things Master of Ceremonies There was: A conservative but never stuffy emcee who had the humor and look of a dance teacher. At the same time, a growing fan community soon had to be supplied with news and assessments on his blog.
On the final days of the annual World Cup tournament, snooker fans are shaken by ambivalent feelings. On the one hand, there is the anticipation of the final, which is traditionally held in Britain Bank Holiday, i.e. this Monday, will be decided. According to estimates, 350 million people worldwide follow the fight for a prize of 500,000 pounds (585,000 euros) and the silver cup with the final figure of the ancient shepherdess, also known as ‘the auld lady’. At the same time, a special fear of emptiness is spreading: between the last game of the old season and the first of the new season, more than five pointless weeks will pass without a single match on the global main tour.
