Man, I just surprised how everyone is judging Bob Guerrero. He is not doing good but he is doing GREAT! I am not biased here but tell me another commentator who is more enthusiastic, knowledgeable and funny in doing pool commentary than him. Maybe Sid wadell in terms of enthusiasm, Jim Wych in the in and outs of billiards, Hopkins in billiard tips and even Eva Laurance for her love of the game. Bob explains it the way an amateur player can understand and relate.
I remember the world pool championship when Alcano won. Jinno Rufino and another commentator were getting manhandled by televiewers for their inept comments and analysis. I like Jinno Rufino for his Hardball show because he is clearly a sports guy and is great at analyzing athletes but pool is definitely not one of the things that he knows. Bob would definitely be great in that show with his knowledge in football,tennis and golf.
Another example is Laurance(the bald guy). I can see he is a good man by the way he talks and smiles but in terms of commentating, he is just following or confirming what his co-commentator is saying.
I actually miss Sid Wadell because you don't get to hear the famous voice. I also wish that Jay Helfert comment more but I think he is great at organizing tournaments especially the Karen Corr case in the 2009 women world ten ball.
Wow this is getting long and this is just my first post. I registered because I want to defend Bob. We don't know each other. I actually wanted to ask him a pool question in one of the qualifiers at Star Billiards but he looks unapproachable and was frowning at that time(lol!). I am just defending him as a commentator because I am learning a lot from pool just by listening to what he says. The way he admires great players. I remember how ecstatic he commented when Efren made that 3 rail shot in one of the Asian 9 ball tours, the combo shot of Alcano against Souquet and so on and so forth. I sometimes wonder what would happen if I played him and see how he plays. I am pretty sure he is a good player maybe not an Efren-uesque kind of player but at least Chuck Shriner,Laurance or Rufino won't stand a chance against him. We need commentators like Bob that explains the scientific,mental and physical aspect of pool. For me, he should not be compared to the below average level of Chuck Shriner. Bob is clearly what this sport needs.
