Biased refs? What about biased commentators!
Roar Pro By Wally James, 15 Feb 2010 Wally James is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- commentators, Fox Sports, Rugby Union, Super Rugby
I watched Queensland v NSW on Foxtel on Saturday. I found it incredibly irritating. Marto and Kearns seem like decent blokes but their commentary is nothing short of appalling.
If the ref in any game exhibited the bias that these two do, he would never get another gig.
So why should the same principle not apply to, for want of a better word, commentators?
I don’t want to hear jersey bigotry during a game from them. A few sarcastsic digs occassionally adds to the humour of a match.
After all, everyone over 40 knows what teams the dynamic duo played for.
But that was over the top.
My suggestion is leave the rabid one-sided comments for the crowd. We don’t need any help there.
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- Explore:
- commentators, Fox Sports, Rugby Union, Super Rugby
February 15th 2010 @ 6:46am
Benny said | February 15th 2010 @ 6:46am | Report comment
Greg Martin is the worst commentator in any sport not named Justin Langer – i think Burgess must have opened his car door into Marto’s car or something because he never leaves him alone – dropped pass by flyhalf…burgess’s fault; forwards lose ball in ruck…burgess’s fault; trysaving tackle by burgess…nothing said
February 15th 2010 @ 6:54am
Sam Taulelei said | February 15th 2010 @ 6:54am | Report comment
Gave up on Fox sports team a long time ago, they’re embarrassing apart from Rod Kafer.
February 15th 2010 @ 6:59am
bruski said | February 15th 2010 @ 6:59am | Report comment
I agree (even though I have not seen the game in question on TV),The force match was shocking – They were both falling over themselves to praise the ref!!!
I dont mean by saying he was doing a good job, all they could talk about other than the Force not having a recognised 5/8 was how wonderful the ref was. It was over the top.
What was that about? It is embarrasing, cannot they not just call the game?
Richie Benuad says if a commentator cant add anything to the picture then they should say nothing, sometimes less is more!
February 15th 2010 @ 10:13am
preciouspress said | February 15th 2010 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Richie Benaud said that, but a long time ago. Nowadays he is just like the rest of the Channel 9 team – fill the commentary with praise for Australian talent and athleticism and compare them ultra-favourably to their inadequate opposition.
February 16th 2010 @ 11:41am
sam a said | February 16th 2010 @ 11:41am | Report comment
And while you’re at it Richie, don’t forget to throw in a plug or two for Nine’s new season of Top Gear…I don’t know if it’s more humiliating for him to say it or me to hear it.
February 15th 2010 @ 9:46am
Hammer said | February 15th 2010 @ 9:46am | Report comment
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve emailed Fox to request they allow viewers an audio option (like they often do for RL games) whereby you can listen solely to the crowd and ref …
and have to agree with Benny – Langer has done what I thought wasn’t possible – made the ABC cricket commentary impossible to listen to …
February 15th 2010 @ 12:34pm
Benny said | February 15th 2010 @ 12:34pm | Report comment
Super feminine voice and Ricky Ponting manlove
February 15th 2010 @ 9:55am
Spiro Zavos said | February 15th 2010 @ 9:55am | Report comment
Bobby Skinstad did a terrific job during the Sharks – Chiefs match in educating the other commentators in the box with him that the New Zealand referee, Keith Brown, was right and the commentators, John Smit (the Sharks captain) and the crowd were wrong in their condemnation of the decisions.
February 15th 2010 @ 10:04am
King of the Gorganites said | February 15th 2010 @ 10:04am | Report comment
Spiro, Bob Skinstad is the worst commentator in SA. did u hear his commentary during the lions tour, particularly the game between the Southern Kings and Lions. it was the most one eyed agenda filled commentary ive ever heard. lost a lot of respect for him that day.
February 15th 2010 @ 10:22am
stuff happens said | February 15th 2010 @ 10:22am | Report comment
I despair of the Fox commentary in Australia – dreadful. Clarkeeee tries his best but Marto & Kearns are embarrassing and talk non stop drivel.
The best commentary I heard this weekend was the Cheetahs /Bulls and OK it was a local derby but they were fair & balanced.Why can’t we behave like this in Australia?
February 15th 2010 @ 11:59am
True Tah said | February 15th 2010 @ 11:59am | Report comment
I dont think you could ever ask Marto to be “fair & balanced”.
Just look how he interviews players, always asking leading questions to give the answer he wants and he seems to get his facts mixed up.
February 15th 2010 @ 10:23am
preciouspress said | February 15th 2010 @ 10:23am | Report comment
Rare consensus on the prevailing and insidious bias in Australian commentary. What can be done about it. Perhaps for starters Spiro could write a few articles highlighting this scourge on our sports. Maybe each commentary box should have an impartial ‘plant’ to counter the encrusted bias of the current regimes.
February 15th 2010 @ 10:51am
Warren said | February 15th 2010 @ 10:51am | Report comment
Agree with all of the above. Kernes and Martin are more like cheerleaders than commentators.
I quite enjoy what the ref has to say to players, particulalry when explaining penalties. In one case on Sat, the ref had blown for foul play – Kearns and Martin spoke over the ref and then questioned his decision, completely missing the point. Hopeless!
If you can’t add value, then shut up!
What happened to inciteful, informed commentary?
February 15th 2010 @ 11:16am
MarkR said | February 15th 2010 @ 11:16am | Report comment
Wally, try listening to them call a Bledisloe when you’re an AB supporter. I think I’ve finally learnt to tune them out, turning the sound down doesn’t work as then you miss the refs calls.
February 16th 2010 @ 10:48am
Lee said | February 16th 2010 @ 10:48am | Report comment
Same though when watching to a Tri Nations game between the Boks and ABs with the Kiwi commentators especially “TJ” and “Nisbo”
February 16th 2010 @ 12:41pm
PastHisBest said | February 16th 2010 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
Yep ‘TJ’ is a tosser. May be a great bloke but his commentary is dire. I don’t mind Grant Nisbett though, but some of the Jaapie commentators are the best. Hugh Bladen is one of the best.