Rolf Kalb

Rolf Kalb at the German Masters 2012

Rolf Kalb (born September 29, 1959 in Doveren near Hückelhoven ) is a German sports journalist and commentator for the private television station Eurosport .

Life

Rolf Kalb, who lives in Gütersloh , is the second son of a driver from the Sophia-Jacoba colliery , grew up in what is now the Hückelhoven district of Doveren near Erkelenz on the left Lower Rhine and has been married since 1985. His older brother Rainer Kalb is also a sports journalist as well as a specialist book author and football expert.

Professional background

Rolf Kalb interviews the multiple snooker world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan

Kalb began his journalistic career in 1973 with the local edition of the Rheinische Post in Erkelenz , whose sports editor Hans Groob was his mentor . After graduating from high school in 1978, he studied computer science and mathematics in Bonn . During this time he was (until 1991) the press spokesman for the German Billiard Union (DBU). From 1982 he worked for WDR and ZDF. In addition to his freelance work as an author of non-fiction books and films, he has been working as a commentator at Eurosport since 1989 . There he comments on the areas of billiards - especially the snooker version - as well as rowing , dance , taekwondo , darts , bowls , weightlifting , basketball and Thai boxing .

At the German Masters 2011 , which has been held in the Berlin Tempodrom for the first time as a full world ranking tournament since 1997 , in addition to his television moderation at Eurosport, he also acts as a " Master of Ceremonies ", a kind of moderator who gives the involved referees and actors a short announcement before the game starts The stage asks and introduces the sponsors and officials at the awards ceremony and briefly interviews the players. This made Rolf Kalb known to a larger audience in front of the camera.

Appreciations

"He is the voice of snooker: Rolf Kalb."

- Der Spiegel from May 9, 2005

“The spectators in Germany are more and more fascinated by snooker. More than 1.5 million people in Germany watched the final of the 2006 World Championships. This is thanks to German commentator Rolf Kalb. He explains the rules to beginners with expert knowledge and has interesting anecdotes ready for experienced viewers. "

- Süddeutsche Zeitung of May 11, 2010

“Eurosport commentator Rolf Kalb is the voice and face of German snooker. [...] Rolf Kalb stands in the foyer of the Tempodrom and signs autographs. His signature is as coveted as that of a star. "

- Der Tagesspiegel from January 29, 2014

"Kalb manages to take newcomers with them in front of the screen, lecturing, but never teaching them, but at the same time not boring the regular audience."

- Berliner Morgenpost from April 27, 2017

Publications

Billiards made understandable: pool, collision, snooker . 3rd updated edition. Copress Sport, Munich 2003, ISBN 3-7679-0556-6 (128 pages).
with Thomas Hein, Anneli Nau: Snooker: the intelligent way to a better game . 1st edition. Copress Sport, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-7679-0951-0 (127 pages).
The fascinating world of snooker . 1st edition. Edel, Hamburg 2018, ISBN 3-8419-0611-7 (208 pages).
Rolf Kalb, Klaus Hose : Billiards: ten steps to success . with a practical training companion. 1st edition. Sportinform, Munich 1994, ISBN 978-3-8254-0462-8 (132 pages).

Web links

Commons : Rolf Kalb - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Literature by and about Rolf Kalb in the catalog of the German National Library
Works by and about Rolf Kalb in the German Digital Library
Eurosport snooker column by Rolf Kalb

Individual evidence

↑ "Do you already know ..", Sport-Bild from April 7, 1993, p. 70
↑ Christian Gödecke: Interview with Rolf Kalb: "Snooker consists of many dramas". Der Spiegel , May 9, 2005, accessed on February 24, 2017 .
↑ Snooker - The Most Amazing Sport in the World. Süddeutsche Zeitung , May 11, 2010, accessed on February 10, 2014 .
↑ Jörg Leopold: Eurosport commentator Rolf Kalb: Snooker in the suit. A portrait. Der Tagesspiegel , January 29, 2014, accessed on December 3, 2014 .
↑ Thomas Richter: That is why more and more Germans are enthusiastic about snooker. Berliner Morgenpost , April 27, 2017, accessed on February 22, 2018 .

personal data
SURNAME	Kalf, Rolf
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German sports journalist and commentator
DATE OF BIRTH	September 29, 1959
PLACE OF BIRTH	Doveren near Hückelhoven , North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

[1] "Do you already know ..", Sport-Bild from April 7, 1993, p. 70

[2] Christian Gödecke: Interview with Rolf Kalb: "Snooker consists of many dramas". Der Spiegel , May 9, 2005, accessed on February 24, 2017 .

[3] Snooker - The Most Amazing Sport in the World. Süddeutsche Zeitung , May 11, 2010, accessed on February 10, 2014 .

[4] Jörg Leopold: Eurosport commentator Rolf Kalb: Snooker in the suit. A portrait. Der Tagesspiegel , January 29, 2014, accessed on December 3, 2014 .

[5] Thomas Richter: That is why more and more Germans are enthusiastic about snooker. Berliner Morgenpost , April 27, 2017, accessed on February 22, 2018 .