Australian fans can be bad sports toward the media
Roar Pro
By johnhunt92, 31 Jan 2010 johnhunt92 is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Australian Open, Channel 7, Henri Leconte, Jim Courier, Tennis
In a week were we celebrated Australia Day, sports fans have been somewhat un-Australian. This week, the Australian sporting fan fraternity shamed itself so bad that it may take months to repair.
While Channel Seven’s obnoxious telecasting of the Australian Open was rightfully panned by sports lovers, the criticism of commentators was disgraceful and bordered on a witch-hunt.
This country’s sports fans are very good at taking down people involved in sports media for having an opinion and doing things differently. Take Henri LeConte and Jim Courier, for example. Their fresh attitude to commentary was panned because of who they were. Message boards were disgraceful in their criticism, which was baseless and bordered on stupidity. It seems hypocritical that a doctor or teacher cannot face up to being told how to do their job, yet they feel they can rant on a faceless website about the performance of a commentator. It is sickening and sad at the same time.
This shabby treatment also extents to other sports and commentators. Nine’s cricket team is routinely panned for not knowing enough about the game or talking rubbish. For a commentary team consisting of five players who have captained their country, I would trust them to tell me what’s happening on the cricket pitch more than some 40 year old who plays D-grade for the Wagga Wagga no-ones.
In AFL, Robert Walls is tormented for having an opinion – something we apparently desire but routinely put down. Kelli Underwood’s only problem was that she was a woman, something that should not stop commentators. If it were up to me, sports fans that bagged her because of her sex should be banned from watching sport.
It’s shameful and self-righteous. The only exception to this rule is the experts of soccer at Fox Sports who speak about the game beyond the level they played at. Most other commentators speak on the level they played at.
So, if you sports fans want to redeem yourself, shut up and watch or turn the volume down. Not all commentators are good, I admit, but they don’t deserve your faceless criticism.
PS: I will make a deal with teachers. You can criticise commentators if you stop whining about MySchool.
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Other Sports articles
- Victoria Azarenka vs Maria Sharapova: Australian Open women’s final live scores, blog (89)
- The sporting fallacy of the Olympic ‘Games’ (46)
- Sonny Bill needs to start boxing full time (46)
- Djokovic vs Nadal was great, but do we need six-hour finals? (36)
- Sonny Bill looking sharp for his first real test (29)
- Sonny Bill wins title in first round (25)
- Nadal vs Djokovic: The match for the ages (20)
- London’s Olympic Games have a long way to come (10)
- New champ Williams looking to next fight (5)
- Aust and GB aim to convert 4ths to bronze
- Young pitcher signs big deal with Red Sox (7)
- World Cup Darts heartbreak in Hamburg (3)
- Mayweather and Pacquiao have shamed boxing (13)
- Will Tom Brady’s legacy be affected by one drop? (20)
- London’s Olympic Games have a long way to come (10)
- World Cup Darts heartbreak in Hamburg (3)
- Mayweather and Pacquiao have shamed boxing (13)
- Will Tom Brady’s legacy be affected by one drop? (20)
- Sonny Bill needs to start boxing full time (46)
- Lachlan Murdoch squashing FTA sport for Fox’s benefit (4)
- Sonny Bill Williams vs Clarence Tillman III: Live updates, blog [video] (182)
- Explore:
- Australian Open, Channel 7, Henri Leconte, Jim Courier, Tennis
Kurt said | January 31st 2010 @ 3:12am | Report comment
What a strange article. So it’s ‘unAustralian’ for people to criticise sports commentators? Are you serious? You have it on good authority that the nation’s doctors and teachers are secretly attacking Jim Courier and Henri LeConte on various web discussion forums? Weird.
Andrew Watson said | January 31st 2010 @ 5:18am | Report comment
Interesting view. As a sports fan, I traditionally rant about administrations rather than commentators?
Commentry of sports varies. Some are very experienced in thier field and are usually matched with some TV type whom the networks think are a great ambassador of such sport. It is sometimes frustrating to listen to them talk over some of the experienced guys, but its more frustrating listening to a one-sided opinion, which is usually influenced by sponsorship of the sport or the networks.
One thing is for certain, 99% of sports fans watch the TV for viewing sport and if you dont like what you are hearing, turn it down or maybe switch to a live feed or radio for your audio?
Us Qlder’s will never like Phil Gould though
preciouspress said | January 31st 2010 @ 6:46am | Report comment
Those who get paid to commentate are by name professionals, therefore those who pay to hear them should expect professional standards including:
- An ability to find and use the right words to enhance the viewer/listener experience.
- Impartiality which eschews supporting any one player or side.
- Knowledge of the game of which they speak, bolstered by ongoing research.
Most of the Australian ex-players who dominate our TV and radio fail to meet all three requirements. Jim Courier, Tracy Austin and John McEnroe do satisfy all three. Some very good commentators e.g Arlott, Bhogle (cricket); McClaren(rugby); Martin Tyler (Football) did not play the game they cover at a particularly high level, possibly D grade in Woop Woop.
Mark Young said | January 31st 2010 @ 8:39am | Report comment
And its just like all the criticism that gets thrown at the ABC Cricket team on Grandstand.
.
.
.
Oh wait, they don’t get criticised because they are really good at their jobs.
And the ones that are rubbish on TV wouldn’t be criticised if they were doing a good job as well.
I kid, sorry. F1 has a bloke called Johnathon Legard commentating and the vitriol on the blogs about him is ridiculous. People want James Allen. But when they had Allen they wanted Murray Walker. And when they had Murray they took about ten years to stop complaining and learn to love him.
I reckon that because people take their sport so seriously it takes them a long time to get used to new voice.
Timmuh said | January 31st 2010 @ 8:59am | Report comment
The cricket commentary team don’t normally get panned for not knowing what they are talking about, but their bias and constant cross-promotion of Nine programs (often ones that most cricket watchers would have zero interest in) and Tony Greig, and others but especially Tony, banging on about the overpriced memorabilia run by his wife’s company every drinks break, return from lunch, and at random times in his commentary stint.
Being a good player does not necessarily make a good commentator. They are two completely different skill sets. Captains and those from leadership groups are more likely to make decent commentators, as they had to have some communications skills in their sporting career. Often, however, the best commentators didn’t play the game at a high level. These are also often ones who can cross sports more readily.
vinay verma said | January 31st 2010 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Johnhunt92, Richie Benaud is a consumate professional. Now in his ninth decade has always said ” If you can’t enhance the visual it is best to say nothing” Tony Grieg manages to say nothing even when he is talking!
Preciouspress is right in expecting paid commentators to be professional. Most in my experience are and are diligent in their research. If there is a criticism of the Nine Cricket commentary it is that overt flogging of the “Only 50000 limited edition prints”
The incessant super imposition of upcoming soaps and serials.This is a sure fire way to turn off potential consumers.
There are commentators I find hard to view but the best remedy is to take a walk or listen to Grandstand. Jim Maxwell,Glen Mitchell,Morphett and Roebuck are tremendous professionals and enhance the play in the middle.
Footbal Person said | January 31st 2010 @ 9:58am | Report comment
strange…………. strange article.
rugbyfuture said | January 31st 2010 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
i don’t agree with you on all fronts, especially cricket where the 702 mob are so much better than channel nine, but all ive heard with the tennis is that henri leconte is one of the best commentators they’ve ever had.
Beast-A-Tron said | January 31st 2010 @ 1:45pm | Report comment
In fairness, Walls will often theorise or reflect on something, only to have it contradicted on field 5 seconds after he said it.
Bay35Pablo said | January 31st 2010 @ 2:26pm | Report comment
Well done, you have managed to write an article I disagree with on all points!!!
The Australian community is very well informed about sport, unsurprising given we are such sports fans and it has been said the PM’s job is the 2nd most important in the country after the cricket captaincy. As such, although it has its share of unifnormed fools, it also often knows what it is talking about.
As such, when it has dross served up to it year after year by a free to air TV oligarchy that has managed to get government to tailor the anti-siphoning legislation to protect their flabby behinds, is it surprising that those sports fans vent?
Channel Seven’s poor coverage of the Oz Open has in many ways been the straw the broke the camel’s back. Almost all codes have put of whith bad decisions and/or commentators in their sport, and this has just brought everything to a head, or rather gotten the media (who are ones being criticised) to actually pay attention to this issue.
And your statement that commentators should only commentate on the levels they played at is just plain stupid. On this basis the recently departed Bill McLaren would never have commentated on international rugby, and thus become what many consider to be the best rugby commentator ever.
And if this comment is meant to suggest criticise or give opinion on, rather than commentate, it is still a silly comment. Only international cricketers or rugby players or whatever can “truly understand’ that level and therefoe comment on it?
I can see it now – the Emperor is walking the streets in his suit of new clothes (which are of course non-existent), with his 2 deceitful tailors. The child in the crowd, uncowed, calls out “But he isn’t wearing anything!”. And the tailors turn to him and say “You’ve never been a tailor, what would you know? Your comment means nothing!”.