Like most sports fans, my weekend was one that had most of its time swallowed up by watching sport.
My itinerary included the Socceroos versus Chile, 5AA’s call of Port Adelaide versus Sydney, All Black and Wallabies Test matches, NRL and AFL premiership matches and some of the Hockey World Cup finals.
It was interesting to note the cross section of voices heard across TV and radio, as I believe we are in a transition phase.
It’s becoming apparent that some of the great voices of sports broadcasting are heading into their twilight years with the next generation beginning to acquire prominent positions.
On one hand we had Les Murray, Gordon Bray, Martin Tyler, Bruce McAvaney and Craig Foster continuing as usual.
Meanwhile, the likes of Scott Mackinnon, David Zdrilic, Lucy Zelic, Nick McArdle, Brett Finch and others are starting to become regular faces of sports broadcasting.
I loathe being critical but some commentators still have plenty of work to do to get anywhere near close to being elite.
While most commentators are well researched and presented, members of their panels that frequently refer to our national teams or local football teams as ‘we’ reduce the quality of the broadcasts tenfold.
I don’t care whether it is a directive of broadcasting companies or it’s just the current direction of broadcasting, someone needs to stop it.
It’s cringe-worthy to think that broadcasters imagine fans are so insular that we need to hear the pundits using inclusive terms during their broadcasts.
While it’s ok to be somewhat supportive, there’s a greater need to be professional and remember that contests involving Australia (Port Adelaide or Adelaide on 5AA) have an opponent.
The use of ‘we’ also stinks of condescendence as most sporting audiences aren’t dumb and can generally tell the difference between and good and poor performance without pundit intervention.
If you try to deceive fans by talking up something that isn’t there, you will lose their trust.
SBS commentators should especially heed my advice considering that Australia’s opponents in the group stage of the World Cup all have sizeable populations that immigrated to Australia.
Some of these people still support their homeland and a lack of objectivity from the pundits will see SBS lose an audience to the internet and other forms of broadcasting.
Take Craig Foster for example. Hyperbole aside, his punditry in the Australia versus Chile game was one of the worst pieces of commentary I have ever heard.
For a man who has been critical of Ange Postecoglou and his methods in the past, he was kissing the posterior of the head coach at a ferocious rate. His sins include on-air coaching, calling players by nicknames, talking over his co-commentator and most damningly, a general lack of respect for Chile.
The performance was so bad, even passionate Australian football fans I knew were uncomfortable with the level of bias in SBS’ commentary.
Foster and his mates at SBS need to sit and listen to a tape of stablemate Martin Tyler, whose performance 24 hours later made the SBS team look embarrassing.
Tyler, an Englishman, was the lone voice at the microphone for the England versus Italy match, yet he still gave an impartial and passionate account of the game.
While I’ve got no doubt he must have been anxious for an English win, he left his patriotism in his hotel room and brought his professional character to the Manaus microphone.
It’s the little things like that that gives him the reputation of being one of the best sportscasters in the English speaking world and makes broadcasters like Foster look amateurish.
The message of my article is simple – your attendance in the studio or broadcast box means that you cease to exist as a member of the team you cover.
You may have been a Wallaby, Socceroos or Power footballer in the past, but this sentence is written in the past tense which means it’s no longer the case.
Passionate analysis is one thing, but blatant bias in commentary just looks embarrassing and is reflected on poorly by the audience.
‘We’ are not Americans. Australians appreciate genuine sporting contests and don’t need the continued insular reminder of who ‘we’ are.
Tomonator
Guest
Not as cringe worthy as Phil Gould in Origin. Queensland supporters watching coverage for a national audience would have felt cheated by his bias comments. At least Fozz speaks on behalf of all Australians when commentating on Socceroos.
Kyle Stewart
Roar Pro
Lucy Zelic only has a job because of her bloodline and to be the token female. No I'm not sexist have you read any of her articles they are rubbish i've looked at toilet paper post-wipe that were better than some of her stuff. Zdrilla is not bad Ned is a muppet. SBS coverage is terrible, in particularly their "expert panels" i'd like to point out culina is the only one whose been to a WC and even he comes across as a muppet. Why couldnt fox sports have the rights as well, not exclusive in any way, they usually have terrific coverage
Jim Jones
Guest
+ 1 Hard to believe someone would even complain about this. It seems like a no brainer, targeting the audience. BTW, I would guess the commentators for about 90% of the countries in the world would also be "biased" for their own team. Its what most of their viewers want to hear. Bias in the news is completely different than a little bit of enthusiasm for the "home team."
magila cutty
Guest
Cuidadmarran of course it's not the big deal in sports that it is in news but i don't think it's nothing either. I do agree that faux balance is the curse of modern journalism, sports or otherwise the most glaring example being evolution v (without any sense of irony) intelligent design.
Dan
Guest
Nothing is as bad as channel 9 rugby league commentary and analysis. I've enjoyed the SBS world cup coverage
ciudadmarron
Guest
Magila I couldn't agree more with partisanship in the news but this is sport, and in this case, was one partisan alongside a bipartisan caller - not the total jingoism of an Olympics broadcast. In the case of the baseball the analysis is sound, they just have deeper knowledge of one side. I've heard some pretty atrocious attempts at balance when the caller clearly knows nothing, and to me its far worse than either example.
Punter
Guest
Yes that's right Channel 7 or more recently Channel 9, watching replays after replays of the same Australian winning the Olympic gold medal with interviews of their family, friends & first coach, ahhhhhhh. Give me Craig Foster anyday.
Declan
Guest
Craig Foster wasn’t a commentator at the Chile game. He was a random fan assisting the commentator. If SBS wants to have a random fan fulfilling such a role, why not have a real random fan. “Our fan at the World Cup” could be selected from a reality TV show/quiz where fans have to sing songs, answer questions, write about supporting A-league teams etc
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
wow - Aus commentators being biased towards the Aus team - how terrible. the next story will probably be about how the Aus fans at the WC are biased as well. turn the commentary off if you don't like it.
James Anderson
Roar Guru
Grow up, the match against Chile where Fozzie was commentating was one of his first roles as a commentator, and he was brought in for a reason - because it was Australia vs Chile. I counted maybe 4-5 times where I thought he was unorthadox as a commentator, but that doesn't mean he was bad, he was just different. Look at the excitement that Argentine and Brazilian commentators bring to a match, shouting GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL, but no-one criticises them because they're bringing a passion to the game. Fozzie was doing the same, bringing a passion to Australian commentating for an Australian World Cup game to a ... wait for it ... Australian audience.
Ian
Guest
I may be different but I don't care if Foster has some bias. I enjoy his analysis and commentary. So be it.
Bondy
Guest
I dont see a great deal wrong when National Teams are involved i.e we have to hit the flanks faster and with more fluidity, I think it includes the audience. Its a different scenario when its local club competition stuff of course . Although I feel Craig should calm down calling the players Timmy ,Matty and Bresc for instance . The word we is inclusive one and all ..
AR
Guest
Slow down Evan...that's crazy talk.
Lazza
Guest
Same with the Olympics then. No more of that annoying GOLD AUSTRALIA !!!!!! It's like other countries don't even exist?
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
Well Parmas 3rd certainly killed the vibe.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
This has nothing to do with Australian commentary,but its biased and involves an Australian so had to be sharedhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1FVCoe1h1U
magila cutty
Guest
Cuid... I am heartily sick of the extreme partisan reporting of all forms of media and news in this country. To the question 'does it matter' i think it does. Sadly there are many people who don't think for themselves and model their politics and world view directly from such outlets. It is damaging our society. This is obviously not a big factor in sports commentary though the style carries over and lend each other credence, in short people get used to it and accept same. It is lazy . Any half aware mug can chant c'mon or as noted above " yes... yes .. yee..ah ah that's better et al" as opposed to an objective, thought out and incisive commentary. This requires someone with knowledge though as anyone who heard/saw Denis Lillee's excruciating attempt back in the eighties there is a lot more to it. Maybe it comes down to personal preference, i don't think so though.
Evan
Roar Rookie
I'd rather press red for Ed then listen to Foster commentate again!
AR
Guest
Fuss: "I’ve really got no interest in having impartial analysis when watching my National Team. I guess, that makes me a committed fan .. or, in some circles, A True Believer." Wow. So to be "A True Believer" (fully certified in upper case) you require biased, partial commentary when watching the Socceroos? I would have thought the opposite would apply. But again...each to their own.
Lazza
Guest
Huh? I just read the article again and it's definitely about AFL as well.