Comments on: Suggestions for the Channel Nine commentary team

By: John of brisbane

John of brisbane — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:26:57 +0000

I have just been watching the nine coveregae of theFriday night football game Manly v Storm. Two things are reinfored again as to the state of the NRL and the Channel 9 commentators. On the firtc opoint I ave lived and watced and preyed that the NRKL would make the game totally unbiased and let the best tema win wigthout the interference and assiatnce of thses so called profewssional referress, Niow either the standanrd of referriung in this countryi s so poor that we should never expect t

By: Helen Christensen

Helen Christensen — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 06:53:12 +0000

I have found the only way I can watch the game on Sunday afternoons is to turn the sound off!!! The commentators are so biased, and it has never been brought home more clearly than this afternoon. I am the biggest Rabbitoh’s fan, and 17 minutes into the game it was 20 – 0 and the commentators, I don’t know which one of the dills it was, were saying “What is going through the minds of these young Rabbitoh’s players, they know they aren’t going to win this game”. I couldn’t stand it any longer, and even though I wanted to watch the game through and see how it ended, the totally biased commentary of the announcers sent me racing to the live score website to see what was happening. To see that my Bunnies won brought tears to my eyes, I was yelling at the TV for the commentators to shove that up their you know what’s, my poor husband was asleep on the lounge and didn’t know what the hell was going on. These commentators are so biased AGAINST the Rabbitoh’s, the Tigers and every other blue collar team. They need to shut up on their unasked for opinions and just call the game. They have their favourite players and their favourite teams. I just love seeing them with egg on their faces, they are a bunch of clowns and channel 9 needs to have a good long look at them, get rid of them, and get some fresh young and first and foremost INTELLIGENT commentators to take their places!!! Go the Bunnies!!!!

By: jen

jen — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 07:26:13 +0000

why do we have so much interference and freeze of picture with digital tv if this is new technology please bring back analogue so i can watch a program and actually follow the dialect

By: ian robertson

ian robertson — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 05:57:12 +0000

We notice that the Team refers to cricketers as “fielders” – and occasiopnally as “batters”.
Surely this is not cricket!
Traditionally, we have refered to them as “fieldsmen” aand “batsmen”.
Are the members of the Commentary Team being influenced by terms used in American baselall? Maybe so!

Please stick to the traditional terms for our players. We have had enough of Americanisms. Lets keep cricket as cricket.

By: Louise Radcliffe

Louise Radcliffe — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 21:39:44 +0000

Had Brad Fittler been drinking while commentating on the match on Saturday night?
His comments were not interesting, relevant or professional unlike Peter Sterling and Phil Gould.
It is no suprise he was sacked as the roosters coach. He needs to grow up quickly and perhaps take note of the more professional commentators.

By: sarah

sarah — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 04:00:49 +0000

I am a massive Wests tigers supporter. After watching every game of the season something occurred to me. At first I thought it may be due to I am a supporter of the Tiger’s but I do not think this is so. I have noticed how biased all commentators have been on their performance this year. They are constantly putting them down and picking on every error made by this side. The other side by them seems they can do no wrong. I think the commentators need to realize that even though they are being payed to give their opinion, they have to have an even ground on what they say and give due when deserved. Even last weeks game against the Sydney City Roosters was made out that our perfomance was a shocker. Reality check we were tied to the 100th minute and I don’t think that’s a shocking way to loose. Even the tiger’s come back at Canberra last night was a slim chance to the commentators and made out that it was not deserved! I have solved this ongoing problem by turning the volume down. It has got that bad. Just remember they can’t be that poor a team to be heading for a grand final!!!!!

By: ken hutton

ken hutton — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 07:11:04 +0000

I like all the guys on the team[commentary team].
but when they call the game and Gus Gould and Ray warren are together,
Ray seems to get cranky with Gus, very often in fact.
I am starting to think Ray does’nt like Gus.
At first it sounded like they are joking, but now i’m sure Ray is getting to be a cranky old man, like Gus says sometimes.
Gus is fine…he just goes along with it, but he did say the other day
“gees your’e a cranky old man”
What do other people think of this?

By: Chris Yates

Chris Yates — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:08:31 +0000

I agree whole heartedly. The channel nine commentary duo of Warren and Gould is nothing short of embarrassing. Warren managed to miss Lockyer’s 50 metre drop goal completly – thought it was a punt kick – because he was too busy sprouting channel 9 ads about upcoming tv programs. I will not be watching that again!

By: polyglot

polyglot — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 03:59:13 +0000

The thing that drives me mad is the condescending manner with which they slip these little cash for comments in.

It is as if their banter is purpose designed for idiots, an unacceptable, unsolicited, annoying and irrelevant interjection disguised as incidental chat amongst mates. Each time i feel my intelligence has been insulted and they are having a laugh at us behind our backs.

How about, “hey Rabbs is Underbelly on tonight”? Fair dinkum, its worse than watching the tennis because when they do it i get to see the cougars from Desperate Housewives, a payoff that negates my annoyance.

I DO NOT want the same type of pay off from the boys at Centrebet.

Here is my suggestion for a less offensive dialogue;

“Hey Rabbs guess what, theres good news for all the suckers that might have forgotten to get a wager on tonights game, they can still get on, and why wouldn’t they, good odds for the dragons at half time, they lead by 6 and they can get $1.02. And Rabbs you know what bet responsibly means, it means bet big, because the more you bet the more you win and and at $1.02 you’ll need to bet a motzer, why not gangster do. Hey Rabbs that reminds me, so i should remind the suckers that they love underbelly they just don’t know it yet”.

Actually i hope its not incidental banter or they’ll start talking about the greenhouse effect.

Geniuses aren’t they!

By: westy

westy — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 11:25:22 +0000

I watch the FTa coverage and listen to Morrow and ryan on 2BL. I do not always agree with them but enjoy their analysis and genuine joy of the game.

By: Mr Brown

Mr Brown — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 10:49:18 +0000

There was nothing wrong with the controversial penalty. The only thing that was wrong with the grand final was those calling it.
Talk about bias. That penalty was given because Slater was going to play the ball and Fuifui Moimoi pulled his leg from behind play which caused Slater to loose the ball. That is a penalty in my book. Good work ref you did a much better job than the commentators who were showing their Parramatta petticoat.
You boys need to listen to the whole game call to see how one sided you called it and quit calling altogether if you cant call it without spewing forth your own one sided trash talk. Talk about bad losers

By: znotty

znotty — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:18:00 +0000

One State of Origin game Rabs was telling us how a punter stood to win $200.000 on a first try scoring bet,i worked it out at a 25 grand bet,last week on Fox Andy Raymond was telling us how you had a good run for your money if you backed such n such at half time…both bets lost,Gambling is now a massive problem in Australia..

By: dWdHELLCAT

dWdHELLCAT — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:10:23 +0000

FOOTBALL COMMENTARY ON TV, DO WE REALLY NEED IT??
(august 2009)
Personally i can’t stand the commentary we get on sports TV, but for the football it is especially bad, think about it, you go to a game and there’s some guy sitting next to you retelling everything you’d just seen, you’d smack him ,or you’d want to wouldn’t ya, Coz when you really look at it that’s all we are getting from television commentators,
they are sitting in front of a screen seeing the same picture as us, very rarely are they watching the live action. Now think about the last time they told you something you didn’t already know? Like substitutions, usually you see it for yourself or if you don’t there’s always an on screen display that tells you who’s been substituted for who, there’s always graphics on the screen telling you the score, and how much time is left, the players names are written on the back of they’re jersey’s, about the only thing useful is injury reports on players that have left the field but this, and any other information could be conveyed to the viewer in a preview before the game, at half time or full time, so for me they are just a distraction i could do without, just this week during the
EUFA SUPER CUP the commentary was lost for seven minutes, it was the best seven minutes of the game, football with the crowd reaction in the background just like being there only in a more comfortable chair, and the director controlling which camera view to use at any time does a great job.
THERE REALLY IS NO NEED FOR COMMENTARY DURING THE GAME,
IT’S JUST ANNOYING.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:50:11 +0000

….I forgot to add that any $ placed on the Warriors is long gone!!

By: Kyle

Kyle — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:48:29 +0000

I just came across this post……so, a belated applause to you for highlighting the topic of gambling. I grew up with the ‘gambling acceptance’ in Sydney. Now, 30 years after living in the US, I see that little has changed (from my experience during visits to oz, as well as listening to the above-mentioned ‘Commentators’ (during cricket/League matches etc). In the US, players who bet on games while they are still playing/coaching will be banned for life (ref Pete Rose/baseball and Art Schlichter/NFL)….if caught. I suspect that it is not the same in oz (this might be a little off topic).

By: anopinion

anopinion — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:28:47 +0000

Carl Vagg,
I must disagree with Channel 9′s coverage of League being world class. Not until the commentators learn to use the correct tense when using words such as come and came or saw and seen can they be regarded as professional. Carl, we would agree that the English Language should be treated with respect by those with half a brain and those for whom speaking and commentating is a career.

By: Lorraine Carpenter

Lorraine Carpenter — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:28:18 +0000

Well the 2 referee system strikes again. A rookie ref has cost a team the chance to win. Go back to one referee & leave the rookies in the lower grades till they learn the rules & learn how to referee properly without making stupid decisions because of the pressure they are under late in the game or in extra time

By: Lorraine Carpenter

Lorraine Carpenter — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:02:20 +0000

Will someone get rid of Gus Gould when Souths are playing. I am so sick of the way he does nothing but bag Souths for the whole game. It doesn’t matter if we are leading by 50 points or 2 points or behind by 50points. Souths can do no right. Our defence is shocking our attack is shocking. We have had opponents taking 50 tackles inside our 20 but lo & behold if they score one try its because of Souths poor defence. Never a word about the other 50 tackles that have kept them from scoring. Gus is a joke & so anti Souths keep him out of the commentary for our games. I refuse to watch the games when he is carrying on and would rather sit in front of the computer & check the scores online.

By: Michael Liddle

Michael Liddle — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:17:57 +0000

Re great St George/Bulldogs game Friday 15/5 and the controversial disallowed try at the end.

…..I am an ex NSW born and bred (now in Adelaide) and enjoy seeing League (at 2am!!)

However I must ask you to draw attention to the apalling Channel 9 commentating at the close of a great League match.

PLEASE castigate the commentary team for NOT ONCE offering viewers a possible interpretaion of why the try was disallowed. All we got was the terrible word “Gobsmacked”. Proper commentary would require some analysis of the move which lead to the disallowed try. Yet all we got was the emotion of the commentators. As such they were no better than the spectators who were stunned. This IS NOT PROFESSIONAL COMMENTARY!!!

By: carl vagg

carl vagg — Fri, 08 May 2009 07:51:15 +0000

9 sport rpt just stated without attribution that Lockyer might be ‘past it’ [!]
I am just a league lover who played for 20yrs [hooker] and if anyone with half a brain is reading this, gooday, and
the first thing to do is put whoever that prawn is up against a wall and do the right thing by him..

Lockyer is one of those magic players who deserve the ruined term ‘great’..
Limited only by the players around him, he is my first choice out of all of them, for [my] Australia side..

While im here, ch9 coverage of league is without doubt world class in every respect, bar one,
despite the clever minimalist code hes developed to mask his mistakes and out of synch calling, routinely behind,
the ongoing play, and calling what has already happened, or making some pathetic excuse for why he called
the wrong play or player or misinterpreted the refs call, or just plain didnt see what we all saw on our screens,
Ray Warren is just not up to calling the modern game.. With world class camerawork and tech presentations,
on screen genuine greats of this game on the sideline, and doing their best to cover for “I fancy”, ch9 league
has it all, except for this one fly in the ointment..
Because hes behind the ongoing play, as we see it, hes talking about something, a 1970s match, last weeks crowd,
what he fancies, was about to say, said before, thinks, doesnt think, thinks players thing or dont thing, thinks players
thing but he doesnt think, and so on, the broadcast, so excellent and in the moment when say Peter Sterling calls play,
is like, when the audio doesnt match the visuals in a movie/video, the mouth talks but the sound doesnt come out
till 2 sec later.. its annoying and distracting from the otherwise, wonderful coverage..

he gets angry and petulant when Sterlo say has to correct his wrong calls, then makes out its a joke etc..
tells Sterlo and Gould to “shut up!” and tries to put them down – pathetic..
Self-referencing at every opportunity, “I fancy, I think, I dont think, I think he thinks, I dont thing the ref thinks, I was about to say, as I said before, as I said earlier in the commentary , I,I, dont think I said.. etc etc thats just a hint..
If theres no event to parasite “I think” to, he just makes something up! about the crowd, or anything..
Because hes routinely behind the play, talking about past events, he doesnt see the unfolding play or breaks
which catch him by surprise[!] and he starts to yell thru his sinuses..
thats just a few observations from a regular viewer of ch9 league since it started..

Obviously, it has become more watchable in every way, and the genuine experts who have actually played league
at the highest levels possible, cant be faulted, presentable, intelligent, respected by players and viewers, another
top addition to this top sports broadcast.. Except for, Ray Warren, who whatever experience etc he has
is just not up to the actual calling of the game.. Todays fast well schooled game is beyond him..

You have a good caller calling the other matches who can keep up with the play, can harmonise with the expert
player/commentators, has his own charisma and listenable calling voice, and has intelligence and knowledge
enough to control a panel of experts discussing league, not to mention the perfect caller Sterlo..

Whenever “I Fancy” forgets the game and regresses to some past game or other, Sterlo takes up the call and it
becomes part of the unfolding play.. He allows the natural excitement to flow by calling it as it unfolds..

Well I got a bit carried away there, intending to come out for Lockyer, on of the true greats of league..
But seriously, you do have a hard to fault top product in your league broadcasting, except for,
“I Fancy” who reached a certain level, then developed a suite of excuses and alternatives to
actually calling the exciting game as it unfolds.. Hes had a good run, time to retire..

but, eh, it is really superlative sports broadcasting, thanks..

By: The T

The T — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:16:42 +0000

I was just thinking about this the other night. It is just a bit off putting. Agree with the other comment that it was all down hill when they started advertising other Channel 9 shows, particularly when Rabs was doing after a big play and was finding it hard to tone the volume day for the next epside of CSI.

What next? Advertising drinking games? Everyone should scull a beer when Matt Utai drops the ball again – that would sell plenty of VB or Bundy Rum.

By: allblackfan

allblackfan — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:21:19 +0000

Considering Channel Nine has the Aussie FTA broadcast rights for rugby union’s next two World Cups, a horrid thought struck me the other day.
Who will Nine get as commentators?
If they decide to train up their RL talkers then I’d rather go watch the Waratahs play!!

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:57:04 +0000

Good article Steve. Love the line about tucking into the cut price six pack. Probably very true at the moment. For mine, sports gambling is not of itself a bad thing, but in moderation. The problem seems to be Rabs & Gus are glorifying the large wagers. Giving the odds, with a reminder to wager responsibly would be a good thing. Channel 9 sport has been on a slippery slope ever since the commentators were required to promote other channel 9 programmes during their commentary time.

By: Steve Kaless

Steve Kaless — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:27:25 +0000

Oikee,

I have no problem with the sponsorship, but just don’ t think it needs to be rammed down our throats. It is like listening to Alan Jones and John Laws with all this talk of “our very good friends.”

Patience on the Warriors, I’ll predict their price should ballon, whether that means they’ll then win the comp is another matter.

By: Working Class rugger

Working Class rugger — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:43:39 +0000

Those two are the reason I can’t stand watching any League on Channel 9. Andrew Voss a close third.

By: Hammer

Hammer — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:37:39 +0000

Just another example of how far Channel 9 has slid down the toilet bowl …. Warren and the self styled super coach are morons of the 1st order but you knew times were getting tough when C9 had Richie spouting odds and spreads during the cricket this last summer …. the sooner this channels loses all it live sports the better …

By: oikee

oikee — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 01:16:25 +0000

Steve i also think about the effects of gambling. To be honest i might have a bet on the warriors for the premiership, just waiting for the odds to blow out a bit more. The trouble is i dont gamble but would love to take some money off the bookies.

I always hear them say to gamble responsibly. Either way, gambling is here to stay so like other sports we have to compete.
I find it more disturbing in these tough times that we dont except sponsership deals because of other sponsers. Are we competeing , Bowing, what the hell are we doing, trying to self destruck. ?
If Telstra wont allow other competetors then maybe they should pay the extra 2 million that the doggies lose in revenue. We need to get this sorted out also.