These days I am becoming more and more irritated by the sports commentators behind the microphones. What are they there to do? What is their function?
Other than the obvious – that being to paint a picture of the game – they have managed to create a non-interruptible one-sided debate with the viewer.
Above all, I find the ‘comments man’ the most irritating.
Watching Super Rugby I find the three who are fighting for the ‘irritation crown’ are Justin Marshall of SkyTV New Zealand and Phil Kearns and his mate Greg Martin of Fox Sports Australia.
In the case of Marshall, he has the tendency to express his opinions on a referee’s ruling and continue expressing it until all meat has been gnawed from the bone.
While his comment or opinion can be worthy, he, like me, the viewer, cannot alter the decision already made by the referee on the field, irrespective personals views.
Marshall’s two counterparts in Australia, Kearns and Martin, in recent years appear to have commented on entirely different games than the ones I have been watching.
I note, however, that this year and with the introduction of Tim Horan to the commentary team, there appears to be a more balanced and toned-down version of what was previously being expressed.
Both gentlemen still tend to watch games through out-of-focus bifocals judging by the comments they make and opinions that can edge on impartiality.
While it is their job to express their opinion I often find it contrary to my own, which provokes a seething irritation. It can be constant and more warped than straight in its interpretation. Some may say that they are just doing their job with their provocative opinion.
But we should not let the commentators off the hook. Please get on with just calling the game and stop enhancing, highlighting or talking up new players.
These fresh new players will get their chance, but again the deliberate commentator focus of them is becoming excruciatingly embarrassing. Those players, should they be good enough, will be seen by selectors without your help.
Winston McCarthy, New Zealand’s best-known commentator of the 1950s-60s, was well known for making a radio listener believe that the dullest game he was broadcasting was the most exciting game of the century. He had the added advantage that the listener could not see the game. Today’s commentator doesn’t.
Gentlemen, I too can see what you can see, and while your opinion is heard by thousands it is also seen. I sincerely hope you have heard my lone voice in the gale outside your commentary box.
Eileen
Guest
I find Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski so annoying when they talk ALL THE WHILE someone is skating. First of all, you can't really hear what they are saying but it's obnoxious enough to annoy you when you're trying to hear the music and watch the skating.
Charlie
Guest
I would really like to be able to turn off the commentator's constant nattering. When watching I don't need to be told who or what I am watching and I don't want to hear any of the insane stats. Please give us a red button option to kill the commentary or drown it out with the noise of the crowd
Bakkies
Guest
Maloney is a producer he stay away from being on screen.
Bakkies
Guest
NFL commentators have so much downtime during games to analyse the game and two extra breaks due to the game played in quarters. Some of the stadiums are so vast and the field is smaller than a Rugby pitch maybe that's why they stand. You also have a small army of playing and coaching staff from both teams. When the College Football games were in Dublin Notre Dame brought at least 100 people. That's insane.
superba
Guest
Pete McA So glad Gordon Bray has gone .Biased and painful .
No one has mention Grant Nisbet, NZ commentator. If a try is denied against NZ he commands they be rewarded with their efforts a try should have been awarded. Every. Single. Time. Shows no respect to the opposition, and whenever a NZ player is binned for something cynical he goes very quiet as he cannot grasp the words to criticise his own team. He will not praise the opposition for beating a NZ team, rather say they got lucky. A typical McCaw catch phrase As an Aussie I find it painful to listen to both Phil Kearns and Tim Horan. Horan points out the obvious such as "he'll kick it here"...duh Horan. Marto is a pest behind the mike.
Could not agree more. One of the more bias NZ commentators. Has barely any respect for the opposing foreign team and critiques them ruthlessly. Yet when an All Black is carded for a professional foul he falls very quiet unable to grasp the words. I find it painful to listen to a lot of the NZ commentators, closely followed by South African microphone holders
Michael Warren
Roar Guru
Sorry...have not had the misfortune...:)
Michael Warren
Roar Guru
I must try to catch him and have a listen. Thanks mate.
Michael Warren
Roar Guru
Bill, on all the comments that have been on my subject here I am so pleased to find that I am not the only one who has found the irritations a real pain in the bum and hopefully will be addressed by the perpetrators. The great thing about The Roar and its followers is that it is read by many who are the cause from corporate to individual and if they don't get the message from the fan then the dollar dries up. As I have said before, "What do you get when you cross a parakeet with a tiger?" Don't know? "Neither do I, but when it talks you sure in hell better listen!"
Michael Warren
Roar Guru
Sadly the standards have dropped in favour of lay-back and this is reflected in much of the deliveries of both personal and media quality broadcasting. Its what we get when we accept cheap !
Michael Warren
Roar Guru
True comment I feel Sprigs!
no one in particular
Roar Guru
IMO, the best commentator in world sport is Doc Emrick. He does the NHL on NBC, you will be able to hear him when the Stanley Cup begins next week. He is knowledgable, but doesn't think he knows everything. The best thing he does is when a goal is scored he shuts up, he lets the crowd tell the story and bring the viewer into the atmosphere. Instead of yelling and screaming he knows you are watching to see the game, not listent o him
Bill Chapman
Roar Rookie
One of my own bug bears. My biggest gripe is that you get very little insight. Most followers of Super Rugby have more than a working knowledge of the game. We don't need (usually Fox Sports Australia) commentators screaming out 'forward'. We much prefer a Kafer/Horan analysis to the mindless meanderings of Greg Martin, Phil Kearns and the surprising inanities of George Gregan, who as a commentator makes a great half back. At times I (really) believe that the Australian commentators are paid by the word - 'Silence is golden'. If you have nothing useful and insightful to say then say nothing. I have had it said to me that I should recognise that sports commentators are now part of the 'entertainment industry'. That may well apply to Big Bash Cricket but not to Super Rugby coverage. We are mostly rusted on viewers. One particular gripe I have is the Phil Kearns "I do love a good scrum'. This line has been used for 15+ years. It is dull, boring and irrelevant to the coverage. He may well be a nice bloke and a very good hooker but he is a dreadful commentator
woodart
Guest
we have been getting french rugby on the Maori channel, and its absolute rubbish, the commentating and the playing.
woodart
Guest
top post cuw
chracol
Guest
Interesting point. Mexted was often ridiculed before Marshall took over only to be ridiculed. I guess they can't please everyone. The caller is usually not a former international whereas the comments man is and perhaps therein lies the problem. Being an international rugby player doesn't mean they are smart but the trend is set in concrete and players like Marshall et al have nothing else they can do. They have no professional training in broadcasting - either in appropriate language or how to deliver. Being ex-players they are treated as if they know everything and they can entertain too. I have problems with Jeff Wilson on Sky Breakdown as a host. He's okay as a sideline guy but as a host he is totally lacking in the professionalism that we used to think goes with that type of show although as with most sports shows these days the capital investment is kept to a minimum because the lowest common denominator will settle for a locker room mentality. They are not being trained and the Sky bosses think that's the way to go because all they worry about is the margin. The Breakdown crosses on Skype are laughable. Jones is okay but the rest of it is subjective opinion, as opposed to analysis, you could hear in any pub. It's an ex-player's club and because they're ex-players we bow down to their knowledge of the game while having to suffer their lack of professional discipline.
Terry Kidd
Guest
Hahahaha I was waiting for someone to mention Sean Maloney ..... that bloke has to be the worse commentator bar none in the history of Rugby.
Sprigs
Guest
Tony Johnson of New Zealand calls the televised game as though he is still working for radio. In a series of attacking moves, for example, he will mention the name of the half-back over and over again. In fact, he often says "Perenara again" as though it is a surprise the guy has touched the ball again. Nice guy and fair, but he needs professional training so that he does not tell us the blindingly obvious. e.g. the ball bounced
Pilferer
Guest
In fairness to sean he normaly commentates worst games so his one liners do make it easier to keep watching. I really hate the commentators talking crap when the captains are questioning the ref, Don't they want to hear what's being discussed as well especially as it can really help understand each refs interpretation. Martin is good on 360 though.