Bad Olympic Commentary

[silicone skyline]

I've seen snippets of criticism of the olympic commentary in various sports, so here's a thread dedicated to bagging the gits behind the mike who clearly have no idea what they're talking about.

I'll kick it off with Tom Williams and Peter Colquhoun.

I've heard them do the slalom kayak, and the BMX.
What the hell would these guys know about either of these sports?

Peter Colquhoun is the former host of temptation island FFS!
"Oh, a great run from Kamakaze in the BMX, but I wonder if he'll stay with his girlfriend after we introduce him to 12 single Asian girls?"

There's a list to be made here.

[smac]

I can't believe Peter Landy didn't get selected for the commentary team. Massive injustice.

[silicone skyline]

On another note, have a lot of respect for cycling commentator Phil Liggett.
That man sleeps on a bike i think.

[Brad]

On another note, have a lot of respect for cycling commentator Phil Liggett.
That man sleeps on a bike i think.

Mike Turtor is also excellent, but Liggett is the voice of cycling.

[MW]

Tom Williams had me fooled for someone who knows about Kayaking though

[mighty_tiger_79]

SIMON REEVE - gymnastics

Peter Lonagan - handball, just says the same thing over and over and over and over and over

i agree with Tom Williams and the BMX

but with tom williams and the kayaking - wasnt tom williams involved in surfing or some watersport prior to being in the media???? so maybe he has a rough idea of whats going on

[silicone skyline]

Napi San salesman John Harker doing the water polo.

"The girl's costumes look really bright and colourful in the green and gold, I've been down there and dropped some napi san in the water and you can see the results."

[Pidge]

ABC has alot of Olympic Coverage on the radio. What about the guy that did the weightlifting that time. Was it Darryl Eastlake. He should come back

[Interceptor]

ABC has alot of Olympic Coverage on the radio. What about the guy that did the weightlifting that time. Was it Darryl Eastlake. He should come back

I imagine he'll be back in 4 years time when 9 has the rights.
He would've been great yesterday with the big German fella winning with his final lift.
Instead we got a couple of no-name duds, who were crap.

My take (+ good, - bad):

+ Bruce with Raelene + Steve Ovett (Athletics)
+ Phil Ligett and Mike Turtur (Cycling)
+ Chris Dittmar with Andrew Gaze/Rachel Sporn (Basketball)

- Bruce (swimming) lacklustre effort
- ?? (weightlifting) duds
- Simon Reeve (gymnastics) amateur -female expert was fine though

[Pidge]

ABC has alot of Olympic Coverage on the radio. What about the guy that did the weightlifting that time. Was it Darryl Eastlake. He should come back

I imagine he'll be back in 4 years time when 9 has the rights.
He would've been great yesterday with the big German fella winning with his final lift.
Instead we got a couple of no-name duds, who were crap.

My take (+ good, - bad):

+ Bruce with Raelene + Steve Ovett (Athletics)
+ Phil Ligett and Mike Turtur (Cycling)
+ Chris Dittmar with Andrew Gaze/Rachel Sporn (Basketball)

- Bruce (swimming) lacklustre effort
- ?? (weightlifting) duds
- Simon Reeve (gymnastics) amateur -female expert was fine though

I dont mind Simon Reeve even though he is no expert on any sports he is covering. ABC radio has some of the best commentators i reckon

[Interceptor]

- Simon Reeve (gymnastics) amateur -female expert was fine though

I dont mind Simon Reeve even though he is no expert on any sports he is covering. ABC radio has some of the best commentators i reckon

He wasn't awful by any stretch, just didn't really know the sport.

[devilsadvocate]

You guys should see the spanner on the BBC Olympic breakfast show. He's a real tool bag.

This morning while the other host was trying to do an update and get his input, he resfused to talk because he was busy watching some old Croatian play table tennis. It was deplorable. If I was a Beeb producer, he would have been marched off set. Arrogant cockhead.

[JAS]

You guys should see the spanner on the BBC Olympic breakfast show. He's a real tool bag.

This morning while the other host was trying to do an update and get his input, he resfused to talk because he was busy watching some old Croatian play table tennis. It was deplorable. If I was a Beeb producer, he would have been marched off set. Arrogant cockhead.

Missed it this morning...hope it wasn't the Brummie Adrian Chiles...thought he's been a bit better than some.
I think newreader Charlie Stayt was supposed to be on the 6am to 8.30am shift.

The BBC do seem to have an aversion to crediting the commentators by naming them and there's no list on the website. The two ladies covering the softball yesterday were very good imho but I've no idea who they are...boo BBC.

Regards
JAS

[Pseudo]

What the hell would these guys know about either of these sports?

Does a commentator need to know anything about the sports (s)he comments on?

One of the most inspired choices for commentators ever was when channel 9 put Darrel Eastlake and Lou Richards in the box to comment on the Lawn Bowls at a Commonwealth Games some years ago now. 24-carat GOLD!

[devilsadvocate]

Missed it this morning...hope it wasn't the Brummie Adrian Chiles...thought he's been a bit better than some.

That's him JAS, he's really annoyed the crap out of me and today was the last straw.

Don't know why I watch it anyway, I really don't enjoy most Olympic events.

Actually, today was womens beach volleyball - that's why it was on!

[RustyCage]

I dont agree with peoples compliments to Bruce for his work in the athletics. I was watching the American news a couple of days ago and they replayed Bolts 100m win. Their commentators were going off, getting really excited and adding to the atmosphere of the event. Bruce doesn't do this, he tries to come up with an iconic one liner at the end of every event. This might be ok in a 3 second soundbite, but when covering an event it is really boring. Raelene Boyle, is actually quite good, but Bruces commentory is too flat and lifeless.

[BenchedEagle]

I dont agree with peoples compliments to Bruce for his work in the athletics. I was watching the American news a couple of days ago and they replayed Bolts 100m win. Their commentators were going off, getting really excited and adding to the atmosphere of the event. Bruce doesn't do this, he tries to come up with an iconic one liner at the end of every event. This might be ok in a 3 second soundbite, but when covering an event it is really boring. Raelene Boyle, is actually quite good, but Bruces commentory is too flat and lifeless.

Yeah Bruce aint so 'special' these days(excuse the pun, couldnt resist), olympics or AFL. Bit like Richie Benaud, goin a little senile, his commentry has no flow and pops up with a gem once in a blue moon!
Standouts in order
Liggert, Gaze, Boyle, Dittmar, Williams in the slalom kayaking! Surprisingly good

[JAS]

You guys should see the spanner on the BBC Olympic breakfast show. He's a real tool bag.

This morning while the other host was trying to do an update and get his input, he resfused to talk because he was busy watching some old Croatian play table tennis. It was deplorable. If I was a Beeb producer, he would have been marched off set. Arrogant cockhead.

Watching it this morning... he started doing it again...who knew he was so obsessed with table tennis. At least this time Hazel made a sarcastic comment about it.

I think thats the difference between having a tv sports reporter...Hazel Irvine (it's what she's always done)...and a tv presenter who loves soccer...Adrian Chiles. I normally quite like Adrian's style on other shows...can be a very funny guy but Hazel just makes him look like a bumbling idiot

Also I couldn't understand why the gymnastics commentator...Matt Baker...was an ex Blue Peter presenter who now normally presents Crufts Dog Show but apparently he was once a gymnast.

Regards
JAS

[magpie in the 80's]

the biggest gaffe i think of the games was just shown then.
when peter donegan tells the world there's your gold medalist to the chinese diver with mathew mitcham yet to have his last dive
as we know the rest his history. GOLD MEDAL to AUSTRALIA - peter donegan

[Adelaide Hawk]

I just wonder if the commentary team for the marathon can break the world record for saying "he looks very relaxed". I have confidence they can and Monas has said it twice already and the race hasn't started yet