Why do you think he is the number one commentator in England and not Martin?

The greatest example was the 1986 WC final between West Germany and Argentina.

Argentina had a 2 goal lead and the Germans looked lost, yet he spotted some arrogance by the Argentinians and his comment was “The Argentians are indulging themeslves a bit and the Germans are just the team to make them pay for it”.

Within 10 minutes the Germans had equalised!!!

Brilliant…and his teamwork with Jimmy Hill was awesome.

Amen re Jim Maxwell and Brett Papworth. You’ll have to explain to me the rest of your post when I see you in KL.

Sam Taulelei

I remember Pat Summerall!! He used to team up with John Madden. He was the less excitable of the two, wasn’t he? When did he stop commentating NFL?

Cheers.

Dennis Cometti does rock though – his randomness doesn’t seem studied so it works!

Both of them are wonderful in their descriptions of the game and its surrounds, and both have the perfect knack of being able the play the straight man to Kerry O’Keefe in one stint, and then to perfectly carry the serious drama in the next. The sort of commentary you’d like to bottle.

A mention also to Tim Gavel, who’s knowledge of all sports would rival one B.McAvaney, and a nice bloke to boot…

Sorry to have gotten Samuel Beckett mixed up with Thomas Becket in another thread. Unpardonable! After reading almost everything he’d written, gone to his plays, read his biography twice! In one of the pictures in his bio, he looked good in his cricket whites.

But for me as far as AFL is concerned five guys stand out: Bruce McAvaney, Peter Landy, Dennis Cometti, Tim Lane, and Harry Beitzel. And let’s not forget the late Ian Major and the late Jack Dyer-’The Captain & the Major.’

North American sports fans might think of Keith Jackson, who called college football (and other sports) for many years on ABC before retiring in the last year or so.

for afl, it’s gotta be tim lane (even though he sold out), denis and bruce. drew morphett’s passion is also evident in his commentary. re soccer, martin tyler is peerless. motson was good when the planets aligned too. andy harper’s honesty in the a-league (‘that’s indescribably bad!”) is refreshing. and what about joe buck for baseball and nfl? when he’s on, nobody conveys the pulse of the game better.

Alan McGilvray
Martin Tyler
Phil Liggett
Simon Hill
Frank Hyde
Brian Moore
Ted Lowe

Bear in mind that I come from a non test playing country in which cricket is very much a minority sport and not part of the national imagination at all. The only famous Irish cricketer was famous for something else entirely. Samuel Beckett, the author and playwright. (Anorak fact: the only Nobel Prize winner to have played a first class cricket match, or so I’m told).

So to me and many of my countrymen cricket is an arcane and mysterious art and let’s face it, you’re not going to learn much about it by listening to Richie Benaud!. A much superior commentator in my view is Geoff Boycott. Opinionated, condescending and patronising but a man who knows his game and loves it enough to be able to praise and damn respectively those who grace or disgrace it.

As for rugby, those who say that Bill McLaren was the best by a country mile will get no argument from me. I think good commentators come in two varieties: those who are genuinely expert and able to draw the viewer’s attention to the finer points of the sport; and those with an infectious enthusiasm that can make the dullest event seem lively and interesting. The BBC’s legendary Murray Walker, who cheerfully and disastrously gaffed his way through decades of formula one commentaries is an example of the latter, whereas the likes of John Motson or Boycott or even Benaud, assuming you have sufficient knowledge of the game to appreciate him, are examples of the former.

The truly great ones can do both. McLaren was one such.

Peter Sterling – Rugby league formed part of a great trio with Ray Warren and Paul Vautin but it was his insight, honesty and fairness that I’ll always remember.

Pat Sumerall – NFL, best in the business and sorely missed.

“Whispering” Ted Lowe – Pot Black, love that smooth sultry voice.

Brian Moore – Football, grew up watching “The Big Match” and there was nothing better on a Sunday afternoon hearing the familiar theme music and his voice introducing the match of the day.

Jesse “The Body” Ventura – WWF professional wrestling, always added colour and controversy to Mean Gene Okerlund and Vince McMahon’s calls.

And forgetmenot, when you mentioned the one synonymous with Rugby League, I believe you are referring to the legendary Ray Warren.

mahony

Martin Tyler has to be one of the greatest of all time in any code, great voice, feel for the game and his enthusiasm seems to be just right and at the right moments.

PS Sheek I think it may be Quarters ex wife who is stunning, and its ex because of a certain Belgian film star…

Gordon Bray is good too but is usually surrounded by gooses.

Murray Walker just because you knew you would get a good laugh out of something funny he would say!!

I would give a tick to all the guys mentioned, even Jim Courier. I like him, although my wife detests him.

Alan McGilvray was the voice of cricket long before Benaud assumed his role on TV. There was another radio guy at the ABC in the 70s – John O’Reilly – who called all the footy codes. And let’s not forget Norman May – “Gold, it’s gold, gold for Australia” (I think was the correct word usage, not “gold, gold, gold”!).

Also, the race caller, was it Des Hoysted? Two of his favourite sayings were, “London to a brick on”, & “he’ll have to catch a cab to win from here”.

Rex Mossop & Lou Richards were a lot of fun for NRL & AFL respectively. And don’t forget Johnny Warren, who spoke of his beloved football with a deep passion & love.

And there was the Aussie boxing commentator, whose name escapes me for the moment. I also like Mike Stephenson, on the few occasions I bother to watch the English super league.

Gordon Bray – “the Taranaki pig farmer (Dave Loveridge) & the Manawatu meat worker (Gary Knight). Loved his call of the 1991 RWC final & whole tourny in general.

The best seem to have several qualities in common. Firstly, their passionate love of the sport they’re calling. Secondly, their deep knowledge of their sport. And finally, the way they engage us as if we’re there in the commentary box with them, like we’re old friends.

Oh, & I also have the greatest respect for Bruce McAveney when it comes to Athletics. And Steve Quartermain who calls the AFL as well. Used to do the sport on The Panel’. Has a stunning wife!!!

I would give a tick to all the guys mentioned, even Jim Courier. I like him, although my wife detests him.

Alan McGilvray was the voice of cricket long before Benaud assumed his role on TV. There was another radio guy at the ABC in the 70s – John O’Reilly – who called all the footy codes. And let’s not forget Norman May – “Gold, it’s gold, gold for Australia” (I think was the correct word usage, not “gold, gold, gold”!).

Also, the race caller, was it Des Hoysted? Two of his favourite sayings were, “London to a brick on”, & “he’ll have to catch a cab to win from here”.

Rex Mossop & Lou Richards were a lot of fun for NRL & AFL respectively. And don’t forget Johnny Warren, who spoke of his beloved football with a deep passion & love.

And there was the Aussie boxing commentator, whose name escapes me for the moment. I also like Mike Stephenson, on the few occasions I bother to watch the English super league.

Gordon Bray – “the Taranaki pig farmer (Dave Loveridge) & the Manawatu meat worker (Gary Knight). Loved his call of the 1991 RWC final & whole tourny in general.

The best seem to have several qualities in common. Firstly, their passionate love of the sport they’re calling. Secondly, their deep knowledge of their sport. And finally, the way they engage us as if we’re there in the commentary box with them, like we’re old friends.

I havent watched a lot of International Rugby, so Gordon Bray is the person who comes to mind for me.

I actually had the pleasure of being his audience once, and he was saying that he was once asked to commentate a match between to two foreign teams. Apparently the list with the all the players names and numbers was lost, so he had to make the names up, and he did so. He used about 5 names the whole match, and the amazing thing was that no-one rung up and complained.

Used to like Nigel Starmer-Smith (forgive likely misspelling) on UK matches, but haven’t heard him for some years.