Are there any good sports commentators left?

[Trigger]

Rugby League - Eddie Hemmings & Mike Stephenson, excellent commentary duo, mixing great match commentary with humour and piss taking.

 

[The Large One]

martin Tyler is half decent(anyone remember him on southern T/V when he was crap),
let down by the increasingly annoying Andy Gray.

Steve Cram is pretty good

Tyler used to do Anglia TV.

Southern TV first had Dave Lanning, then David 'Unlucky Saints' Bobin. (Although he is an Oxford United fan.)

Clive Tyldesley was awful when he started on ITV, went to BBC and got to be half-decent, then ITV knocked that all back out of him when he returned.

 

[alan partridge]

Commentators do my head in these days. Almost every single one I ever hear annoys me. I only watch football really though so can't comment on other sports.

I really thought Hawsey was a very good radio commentator. The times when our link was down and you had to listen to the other team's commentary really showed he was in a different league.

I used to enjoy Motson but even he annoys me now.

 

[Trufflehound]

King Edward - a great common 'tater.

[/Beano]

 

[User removed 4]

Andy Gray was good for a while, but has become increasingly irritating with his OTT love of the top four and the top four only....and Arsenal in particular.
Evidently he wields the power of choosing what games Sky show too.

...and the aynahl passarhge kissing by his co-commentator Mr Tyler is tedious.

Motson not as good as he used to be, but still better than the above.

All ITV commentators have a sickly sugary match by match agenda... particularly when focusing on star players like Rooney / Ronaldo

love of the top four ?? he hates chelsea.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Part of the problem is the cloning. If you listen to MOTD, virtually all the commentators sound the same with the possible exception of Pearce, and even he has clearly changed his style for the BBC.

That reduces the scope for individuality and 'character' commentators such as are being mentioned in this thread. Put it this way, if Alliss applied for the job now, he would never get it.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

I hate Alliss and for me he emodies all that is wrong with golf. Sam Torrance is much less formal sounding and has a really relaxing tone.

The guy I hate the most is Brian Moore on the rugby. He always mouths off about the referee but more often than not he conceeds seconds later that he was wrong.

 

[Simster]

TLO's original commentary selection is top drawer - I'd agree with all of that, except I really don't mind Henry Blofeld.

Also really like Peter Allis.

Jonathon Pearce and Clive Tyldesley are complete wankers. Pearce was always gash, even in his Capital Gold days. But Tyldesley was a breath of fresh air when he started. Now he just grates.

 

[Simster]

The guy I hate the most is Brian Moore on the rugby. He always mouths off about the referee but more often than not he conceeds seconds later that he was wrong.

He does indeed, but I really like that about him. He calls it as he sees it, but then retracts and apologises when he's wrong. If anything it brings into focus just what a hard job the man in the middle has.

Compare and contrast to Andy Gray's MOANING when he has the benefit of play back technology and 14 camera angles...

 

[crodonilson]

I think the Richard, Andy and Jamie trio on Super Sunday works excellently together, they feed off each other and challenge each other to give you the best viewing experience.

I also like Andy Townsend and Robbie Earle on ITV for a good balanced analysis on a game.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

He does indeed, but I really like that about him. He calls it as he sees it, but then retracts and apologises when he's wrong. If anything it brings into focus just what a hard job the man in the middle has.

Compare and contrast to Andy Gray's MOANING when he has the benefit of play back technology and 14 camera angles...

I suppose, but I like a bit of impartiality in the commentating and he is so pro England its untrue. Austin Healy is the same. Think England were getting trounced one game, but they broke to him and he showed some attacking play by England

 

[Simster]

I also like Andy Townsend and Robbie Earle on ITV for a good balanced analysis on a game.

Good call.

They're f***ing shithouse!

 

[dingobruce]

I also like Andy Townsend and Robbie Earle on ITV for a good balanced analysis on a game.

The Dreamteam

 

[Man of Harveys]

The only one who really stands out for me in Jonathan Pearce; I think he's excellent, a really intelligent bloke who actually does his homework properly - I "bonded" with him during the last world cup where he was magnificent. Especially now he's cut out much of that silly shouting that he did when he first started, I think he's one of the best.

 

[Fourteenth Eye]

The issue is this. The old school of commentators ( Carpenter, walker etc) started comentating before the advent of Television. They were required to paint a picture of what was going on and really honed their skills. When they transfered their skills over to TV they didnt change their delivery for a different medium.

Althogh most of todays comentators also started in radio they all grew up in the age of TV comentary thus being influenced by it.

On another note i would love to see Hawsy get a shot at TV.

 

[CheeseRolls]

Jimmy Armfield - quality football co-commentator.

And, of course, Peter Alliss.

Seconded Jimmy Armfield, a truly expert summariser, quietly authoritative.

Don't like Inverdale at all, strikes me as vain, shallow and pompous with an arrogant disregard for football.

Would add Simon Brotherton to the list if only because he is a local.

 

[Ludensian Gull]

I hate Alliss and for me he emodies all that is wrong with golf. Sam Torrance is much less formal sounding and has a really relaxing tone.

The guy I hate the most is Brian Moore on the rugby. He always mouths off about the referee but more often than not he conceeds seconds later that he was wrong.

Spot on about brian moore , the bloke is always back tracking on comments the problem nowadays is that every one has a side kick with them

 

[BHAFC4EVER]

I also like Andy Townsend and Robbie Earle on ITV for a good balanced analysis on a game.

Haha what? Andy Townsend is the biggest waste of space on TV.

 

[The Large One]

Seconded Jimmy Armfield, a truly expert summariser, quietly authoritative.

Don't like Inverdale at all, strikes me as vain, shallow and pompous with an arrogant disregard for football.

Would add Simon Brotherton to the list if only because he is a local.

Can't agree with you there about John Inverdale.

He comes across as intelligent, articulate, well-informed, non-patronising and relaxed. He doesn't retreat into excessive hyperbole and calls it as he sees fit. I remember on radio once about 15 years ago, he had to break the news of a top class skier crashing to their death in a race. He did so with grace and dignity, without being morbid or resorting to sensationalist soundbites.

In any other context, I would regard him as 'old school'.

 

[BHAFC4EVER]

I say get Hawsey back on BBC Sussex commentating on the Albion plus Harty doing the phone-in.