Joe Johnson Reflects On His Incredible Career | Ronnie O'Sullivan Show | Eurosport Snooker

[@RB747domme]

I grew up in Connecticut. But we had a really good TV receiver, and we picked up Canadian television networks, and I remember watching this match thinking that he's never going to beat Steve. And after the first two sessions with him still staying with Steve, I remember thinking, well he may really have a chance.. Although I still thought he would falter behind Steve towards the final stage. But he didn't. I was only edge of my seat in the last session, willingham on hover ball after ball, and he just kept putting them. I was so happy for Joe. We were not really big snooker fans being an American family, however I still enjoyed watching all cue sports, and every time the World's came round every year it was always on one of the Canadian networks. I've been a snooker fan ever since emmigrating to the UK the following year. I should always remember it as a great match.

[@jimboBFC1]

I remember playing at one of Joe's snooker clubs in Barnsley in 1996. I was 18 and not really a very good player but loved playing nevertheless. I knocked 3 or 4 consecutive pots in with nice position and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Joe keenly watching me with a bit of a raised eyebrow. The next shot I twitched badly and missed a simple black off it's spot and his chin dropped! However, what a lovely blowk. He came over and gave me a few pointers as to how my alignment could be better and how important it is to be perfectly still on the shot, alluding to my twitch on the missed black that he witnessed. I was buzzing at a world champion not only watching me but giving me some advice. Thanks Joe. I sorted my alignment out and learned to stay still through impact but I'm still shit 27 years later!

[@martintemelkov]

Joe is probably the most knowledgeable commentator on Eurosport, wonderful voice as well. I always enjoy when watching games with his commentary. Long may it continue, great guy!

[@DannyMac786]

yes i agree 100percent

[@RudgeDailyNews]

Wonderful voice? Has the wettest sounding voice like he has lot of spit in his mouth. His the worse one.

[@chrisjohnson4165]

Lovely! Ronnie - you excel at interviewing just like you do at playing. It's SO nice to see this.

[@gianlucaclarke8345]

Class interview! Joe comes across very well and i've always enjoyed his commentary. Ronnie is also a great interviewer and seems to love his snooker history.

[@getmetothegeek4066]

I loved Joe's win. He seemed such a nice guy at the time and he's a great commentator as well. Nice appreciation for him in the comments.

[@bendream544]

Remember that little pillock Hendry belittling Joe's win afterwards more or less saying it was 99% luck that he'd won. No wonder he's friends with Williams...

[@tubemeup19]

Joe Johnson, what a nice and at the same time entertaining guy. I watch this for the fifth time now or so and still am fascinated with his story and especially the way he tells it. Really a model player and personality!

[@peterlewis3540]

The Welshman, Terry Griffiths, was another first time wonder. In only his second professional tournament, back in 1979, he lifted the trophy at the Crucible in Sheffield. That's pretty magical

[@cjones1499]

Impressed with Ronnie's chilled style

[@7brothersclub176]

Oh what a great person he is.. Joe, hearing his story for the first time.. it's been a few yrs since I started liking the game of snooker because of Ronnie and xao xintong.. this man Joe is absolutely a gem.

[@damianleah6744]

Joe Johnson is a great commentator too! 😎

[@jb894]

he is terrible.

[@johnmc3862]

@@jb894 He's a lot more insightful than many others. Dennis Taylor is a joke of a commentator.

[@johnmc3862]

Agreed.

[@jb894]

@@johnmc3862 he is the worst at eurosport.

[@johnmc3862]

@@jb894 He's the best at eurosport.

[@TheMrBennito]

In those days snooker also had become very popular in the Netherlands, I watched that final with a friend, on TV. Of course we supported the underdog, and Johnson played fantastic!

[@johngammon963]

Ronnies a natural, you can see his loves snooker, the players and the fans.

[@williamstdog9]

I love these guys so much .. what beautiful souls both of them are!! ♥️ Ronnie generously helping Joe relive this magical career defining moment .. Joe generously sharing intimate details about the occasion … GREAT STUFF ES.. Great stuff!! 💪☺️🍿👍

[@deeperanddeeper]

Although he says he didn't expect to win, I remember him replying to scepticism from a BBC interviewer at the time that he wouldn't be there if he didn't think he couldn't win. Maybe nobody thought he could do it but Joe Johnson himself, but it is the belief of the person doing the doing that counts.

[@tacman1974]

Ronnie, even as a favourite always is supported by the kind of people who always support outsiders!! Very lovable guy!! Top class

[@nickhaswell6011]

Amazingly friendly lovely guy joe johnson is highest respect for players always has Great to see him he should have more of a role in snooker conversations etc His interviewing is fantastic

[@mpeterll]

I remember watching that match against Davis, and the thing that really stood out was his long pots. Many times Davis would play a pretty good safety shot to leave the cue ball on or near the balk cushion, only to have Johnson knock in a red the whole length of the table. I remember thinking that there was just no defense against that.

[@amigodawn1728]

Joe. A great guy, great commentator, humble and he truely deserved his place as a world champion. God bless you Joe.

[@Bloxdio_God]

what a lovely bloke Joe Johnson is, and a terrific player.

[@imnotavingthat6813]

Bradford legend, played a blinder And showed it was no fluke by getting there again year after. Brilliant story and a lovely bloke

[@davidnicholashill834]

Ronnie is a great interviewer. Asks brilliant questions and let’s the guy talk. What it’s all about 👍

[@jupiter-8405]

What a likeable guy, he's talking about the money and why not!

[@McElhinney65]

I really enjoyed that final, great memories Joe.

[@richardcoffeygeneral]

Reached the final again the following year as well, so his win was no fluke ☺️

[@FloydMaxwell]

Two great guys. What a premium video / re-enacted moment.

[@brianb.2894]

Two champions enjoying each others company.👍Glad Joe`s still a commentator.

[@animalcol1]

Ronnie is a superb interviewer. I'm really very pleasantly surprised. Love Joe, and loved his WC win.

[@mairyhuff7102]

This is quality! There should be more videos of Ronnie interviewing the greats 👍

[@johnmc3862]

Joe beating Davis was a breath of fresh air. Joe was potting them off the lampshade that year.

[@weekuah]

What a fine person , those shoes, skills and humility.

[@xbe1971]

How wonderful to see a happy Ronnie Its your calling Ron

[@StoodersFam]

Classic match in every sense. What a top bloke Joe is

[@andywright3450]

Great potter Joe was he's a lovely bloke I was there first time he beat Davis in final .... Deserve too win it that year brilliant 💯😊

[@niallearly426]

Absolutely brilliant interview never to be forgotten Joe's achievement

[@jamesbong7852]

Pants; he was very regretable. A rare slump in snooker made way for this one hit wonder

[@shooz5251]

Magic.its never over till the last ball.never forget.

[@ilovetattoos9682]

A very humble man

[@johnmc3862]

The secret to life!

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Joe was first player to best Steve on his best form he outplayed him

[@johnswarbrick2365]

I had 2 tickets opposite the blue spot 3 rows up for the evening session. My mate couldn't make it so I didn't go. Regretted it ever since.

[@louiem2]

Always like listening to Joe's commentary on Eurosport, he's always been a class act!!

[@maximumsecurity9411]

Remembering Joe's final all those years ago, I thought He would lose, but He persevered, well done Joe! 😁

[@erikhalvorseth3950]

Is it just me- but Ronnie is such a fantastic interviewer! Amazing stuff. Ofc Joe is such a charm and easy as such to chat with for him but still.. I loved this one

[@ianwatkins6202]

Joe Johnson and Terry Griffiths such fabulous players!

[@ig2d]

His long potting in 86 /87 was out of this world

[@FordTransitvan]

What a great chap Joe is.

[@jhkk1269]

Great interview. Top lad, joe

[@mattkent2651]

It was a legendary victory, one that a 15 year old (at the time) will never forget. Jo Johnson, also reached the final the following year. No fluke. A gifted attacking player. Just not fashionable or part of Matchroom unfortunately. Like Alex Higgins.

[@keithmockridge3329]

As much as I'd admired DAVIS, we all love the underdog to win. So seeing JOHNSON lift that trophy, was very special to watch.

[@davidfairbairn8]

What a lovely man.

[@lydiaknight7470]

Its funny Joe has this reaction to slow players I've always thought it was one of Ronnies big downfalls too...... Peter Ebdon is a classic example for Ronnie

[@stevensutton4677]

That observation about playing the table rather than the man is an incredibly astute one. Really interesting. Excellent interview.

[@KangenWaterTeam]

Incredible, World Champion!!!

[@ianwilliamson2980]

He doesn't let Steve get in his head that was the key

[@theallseeingmaster]

Both are quite genuine and very likable.

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Great interview

[@richardsteele6332]

joe is a lovely man. i saw him once in a hotel in bradford but was too overawed to speak to him. and those shoes!!

[@thomasreed49]

That was enjoyable Joe so likable nobody could’ve interviewed him better than Ronnie

[@davidfelix2594]

Lol.....in your eyes if Ronnie farted it would be the best sounding and smelling fart ever.

[@thomasreed49]

@@davidfelix2594 Thanks for your comment David I’m no fan of Ronnies fact I always want him to get beat I just thought he done this so well.

[@michaelhocking9037]

Nice thing to do Ronnie well done.

[@nzrdb6]

Joe's a great commentator

[@Letshavealaugh16]

Brilliant 👏

[@ianwilliamson2980]

Was amazing how Joe best Davis fair easy .he potted his way to title .great stuff

[@johnmc3862]

And Davis clearly admitted he was well beaten.

[@tontonanton]

great interview !

[@ianwilliamson2980]

One of best potters of all time he was

[@stephenrodriguez4484]

This guy should be on the bbc commentary team. Top bloke

[@ellendavies1692]

Often wondered what happened to you good to see you joe

[@jonglewongle3438]

I remember Joe Johnson being mentioned as World Snooker champion in sports dispatches on Australian TV, with the national broadcaster. Oh, well, good for him. I didn't follow it. It was also Davis / Johnson in the final the following year, as it turned out. You look at all the results over time with it and its very much an almost entirely British game. Its nearly all English, Welsh, and Scottish players. It is not that its exclusivist, but its their particular art form.

[@JalandharShere]

The game is dying over here. Where are the future Higgins Ronnies and Mark Williams? It will all be ruled by China in years to come. At the moment theyre robotic and mechanical. If they can bring their natural game and develop the winning instinct then they can be at the top soo er rather than later

[@jamesadcock5235]

Playing well he was great

[@JaspalSingh-ws9kj]

Tamed the nugget at his best congratulations Mr humility 👏

[@Alex-pr6zv]

Great commentor Joe is. He has that average Joe vibe about him, which I like, but obviously you don't get to be world champion without a reason.

[@warnerswheelingabout4879]

Really enjoy your video’s Ronnie

[@pinchopaxtonsgreatestminds9591]

I watched it all live, it was very exciting... anybody beating Davis was exciting. Davis was a lot like Darth Vader on the table, as a snooker player you felt that he could destroy snooker with his boring game. Barry Hearn was also scary, a snooker destructive team. People give Barry Hearn credit for saving snooker, but we already had Jimmy White so the only problem was Hearn, and Davis.

[@generalludendorff2657]

Harhar :D

[@adrianwright8685]

n 2009, the last season before Barry Hearn took over as Chair of Snooker at WPBSA, total prize money fell 450,000 to £3.0m in a total of 6 ranking events plus the Masters. Ten years later, in 2019, prize money had risen to £14.3m, nearly a 5 time increase - and there were 23 tournaments. Like him or not, at least give him credit for what he achieved from when Snooker was dying on it's feet.

[@pinchopaxtonsgreatestminds9591]

@@adrianwright8685 Nah, he just timed it right with Jimmy White vs Davis. That was all. In fact he introduced a lot of stupid music, and things like that, so probably ruined it a bit. It's like Richard Branson getting credit for Tubular Bells.

[@markhiggins8315]

@@pinchopaxtonsgreatestminds9591 To be fair I don't think even Branson would want to be given 'credit" for tubular bells. Tubular bells, probably qualifies as the most revolting album ever made. With most albums I can usually find something in it somewhere that I can get some degree of pleasure from but tubular bells is just a painful process from start to finish.

[@pinchopaxtonsgreatestminds9591]

@@markhiggins8315 You opinion of the best selling album of all time doesn't count.

[@johngreen2186]

brilliant, so good to see 'normal people' as they are true gentlemen the best of the best!

[@carlos18891969]

Breath of fresh air when Joe won

[@brian7193]

Now I am not a gambler but wat hing the championship that year I believed Joe's name was gonna be on the trophy so I put a bet on him in the semis I still got odds of 25-1 my friends thought I was mad but he won the title and glad he did he was such a likeable guy

[@pingpong9656]

Peter Ebdon is still driving home from the match with Ronnie...

[@hodderpaul]

He did play the best snooker

[@haroldmclean3755]

You never know your luck in the Big City 👍

[@troyclayton9981]

Peter Ebdon is still trying to take his first shot after 30 years. One of the slowest players ever.

[@digeme69]

He wasn't like that as an amateur and I used to see him practice often at Kings Cross snooker club back in the late 80s.

[@nigefal]

Ebdon completely changed his game - when he burst on the scene he was very attacking ponytail and all. It was only in later years he made each ball a battle of wills. It was obviously a strategy and it worked for him.

[@EsotericStarWarsRubbish]

@@nigefal it was a strategy that gave him the outcome he wanted, but time is the best judge. Nobody remembers Ebdon as the guy who won a world championship. They remember him as the bloke who made a break of 12 in the same time it took Ronnie to make a 147. To most spectators, old or new, that's all he'll ever be. I remember loathing Ebdon at the time for it. Ronnie's frustration was palpable through the television, but ultimately he got the last laugh. 25 years later and Ebdon's now a meme, at best: whilst Ronnie's still a fighting force *against* the best.

[@eoghantoner]

@@EsotericStarWarsRubbish you can’t knock a guy that’s won the crucible, the world champion. Yes, he’s been memed a lot, but he won the big one and few have.

[@EsotericStarWarsRubbish]

@@eoghantoner my point isn't so much my own opinion of his play. I'd wager a significant number of people who know about his 12 break had no idea he had won the world championship 3 years prior. That's the thing. Regardless of his history - ironically a fast attacking player during his ponytail days - that's not how he's generally remembered. That will only compound with time.

[@neilreed6675]

Great man battles with health and mental health

[@LIVERNIL723]

I cried when Joe Johnson beat Steve Davis because Steve Davis was my Hero.

[@michaelbarnes5719]

Great video

[@elliotbullman4765]

Unlike Mark Williams, when Joe won the 1986 WC, he celebrated with a late night Chicken Tikka Masala. True story.

[@thomas-fq1wi]

lovely guy

[@daveyeddie8176]

Had a tenner ew a year after that at 66/1 he nearly did it again, think he was 14-14 last session but Davis pulled away.

[@nickhaswell6011]

Love how joe says it again here about what a great guy steve davis is and respect he has for steve He said it after the match and again here and you can tell the way he says it here and after the match how much he appreciates steve in all respects

[@yankorusev]

Great guy

[@everythingbobbywolfe]

Love Joe! Hilarious that Ronnie is playing the shots better than Joe did and he not even trying 😂

[@markhiggins8315]

To be fair it's hell if a lot easier when you're not playin 1986 Steve Davis in a world final. Of course this is not to say that Ronnie isn't a better player than Joe was but to be fair Ronnie is a better player than anyone has ever been.

[@SuperJimbell]

I can never understand why the BBC didnt sign joe as a commentator..he's world class.

[@seanlynch6738]

The guys absolutely horrendous

[@welshcaesar]

Joe legend

[@czarnpg]

very cool!

[@fradaja]

Love joe

[@planetx1595]

0:06 Did the pink ball go in the right middle pocket?

[@franzherflek4116]

No

[@ChilliCheezdog]

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

[@sharkymoon422]

Not a Ronnie fan regarding politics and cold 19 but damn he is the finest player, a true genius and ambassador of sports hardest game, and now it turns out he is a great interviewer! 👍🙏Magic Joe Johnson, legend

[@davidhenryandthemysterons3220]

GG Joe

[@vincentspencer6046]

Well done joe

[@douglasgilzean9801]

Any player who is amongst the balls is going to win the frame. But play safe and keep them as far apart from potting a ball as possible and it’s anybody’s frame and the includes Ronnie

[@dylanmcgowan3932]

What a nice chin wag 👍

[@MorningtonCrescent]

Under-rated commentator.

[@danender5555]

So rate him if you think he is underrated... This "underrated" cliché crap is so cancerous over many YT videos.

[@MorningtonCrescent]

@@danender5555 rather better than average. Will that suffice?

[@danender5555]

@@MorningtonCrescent if he fits on your personal underrating rating scale, why not

[@MorningtonCrescent]

@@danender5555 so funny. Well done.

[@SPUGGY-t1x]

I remember the shoes,,,cooool I thought.