Do we really need commentators?

A couple of questions for all. 1) Do you prefer live sport or televised? 2) When you go to a live event (football obviously), how many times have you sat back and thought: "I wish there was someone sat here with me telling what was going on in preference to the down to earth chat and real atmosphere of the crowd around me"

Flicking through many of the Olympic channels, watching many of the nonsense events being televised, they seem to be enjoyably short of pointless 'Professional' comment and unnecessary explanation of what is going on. Indeed, the televised football seems a little light on commentary compared to the Murdoch League equivalent.

I recently watched the BBC's latest innovation of having Chris Moyles and some other geezer entertainingly chatting about real football amongst other stuff and musing throughout England vs Sweden at the Euros on the red button. This in preference to having to endure Lawrenson et. al. telling us about relative stamina levels and other such crap that the typical football watcher does n't give a bugger about on matchdays. Obviously, I know who Chris Moyles is but I've never heard him on the radio as I tend to prefer Radio 4 these days, so I have great allegiance to him by the way . In my humble opinion I d like a similar option for every televised event. I suppose turning the sound down is also another option which I reckon is better than some of the pundits. I personally now rarely turn on any televised match till kick-off time and I avoid match of the day for obvious reasons.

I know there is a growing ground swell of animosity against the over-paid gravy train of talentless ex-pros now turning their hands to the tele on retirement, so maybe we should get back to basics a little. Karl Pilkington in preference to Robbie Savage for instance. Perhaps be a little more innovative with match accompaniment rather than the contemporary opinionated, patronising clap trap and elongated space filling build-ups we are being forced to endure for more and more sporting events these days.

 

We get the best of both worlds exactly how it is. I prefer sports live but it'd be bloody annoying if there was a bloke sat next to you going "Chester. To Hobbs. Plays it to Dudgeon on this left hand side." etc. Let's be honest, we'd all end up kicking the **** out of him.

But I do think that when it's televised, commentary adds something to it. I rarely dislike commentators - I think people get too easily wound up - I really don't mind Lawrenson, McCarthy etc whilst everyone else seems to have some sort of huge hatred towards them. If anything I quite like Lawrenson because he says what fans are thinking rather than trying to be hugely professional e.g "for goodness sake, get up". It may be a polite version of our thoughts, but it's better than "Oh well, you can't blame him for trying to win the free kick."

I think it's more to do with support, though. I would never watch a City match on TV unless I was out of the area (not that we're on TV much anyway) but it's always good to see us on away days.

 

Off topic I know, but Chris Moyles is the worst human being who ever existed.

 

Did I miss the moment when he murdered his wife?

Genuine question. Everyone seems to really hate him for no particular reason.

 

i have no idea about Chris Moyles to be honest, but I thought him and the other bloke was far more entertaining than even Motson, let alone the usual pundits stealing a living from the licence fee purse.

 

as i say, no loyalty to the bloke from me, but where else would he turn being from leeds as he is i believe. so do we need commentators?

 

In the early days of his early morning slot he talked regularly - I mean almost every day - of his hatred for football and how proud he was of this fact and that he knew nothing of the pathetic national obsession. Then, when football went through a renaissance, all of a sudden he's a died in the wool TWS fan, playing their songs and revelling in triumph whenever they won.

Sums him up - basically a ****.

 

and where are you on the burning issue of how far a thread can deviate from the original topic?

 

I don't like Moyles either to be honest. I just find him annoying. But thats just me. As for the Original post I used to like the thing Sky used to do on their football when they got fans to 'commentate' it used to lead to some quite funny moments. Don't know wether they still do it?
I don't mind commentators to be fair- With the exception of Lawro who is the most miserable, unhappy, boring man ever to have walked the planet.
Oh and Peter 'Expert Summariser' Swann.

 

nice one OLM, still vaguely on topic. and as a mod (and i don't mean wearing a target on your back whilst riding a ting ting), i expect no less decorum as such!

 

In response to your questions Mussie, I prefer live sport especially when it involves watching The Tigers but I don't mind watching televised sport. As for commentators, some are good, some are bad. Some of the stuff they come out with can be tedious and pointless, but sometimes it's good to have the commentary to build on the excitement of the moment or share valued opinions on key events in a game.

 

I may be that annoying person at football matches, as I actually commentate for my Dad who is totally blind!! He chooses not to use the Head phones supplied by the stadium as he feels that it cuts out the atmosphere, and feels that he can follow the game better by becoming part of the crowd, and taking in other people's annotations in their voices as to how the game is played.

However when it comes to television you may argue that having commentators will help the blind, however I often find myself explaining to my Dad what is going on, as often there is a ten second pause before the commentator mentions what is going on in play rather than what I would say is just 'football gossip' that is not relevant to the game in play. If the tv game is also on the radio we often turn the tv volume down and put the radio on but then you often have the radio 2 or 3 seconds behind the tv!!

There just is no pleasing some of us! However I do feel that there is a need for commentators on the tv, and the tv companies to re assess what the role of the commentator is, is it to inform us of what is going on in play, explaining technical skills etc. (I find this may help younger followers)? Or Is it to provide additional sound over the game and give us nonsense drivell?

Having said that I think Burnsy et al on the radio can improve a bit as well, often I will cringe with despair when him and Swanny are sometimes talking for 20 seconds (a lot can happen in that time during a football match) about what bet they have put on, and how the pies taste, the radio commentators to me are often the most guilty of talking drivel as to me, that is the time when every body needs them to be our eyes and paint a picture for us as to what's going on in the match. It is great they put there personalities across but to me they have to be more aware of how long they are talking about issues not related to what is going on in play at that time.

Sorry if this sounds like a rant, but it is something that is close to my heart, and i feel that the media do not use commentators skills effectively enough (or in some cases have the right commentators in place) I could carry on and on, but really don't want to bore you!

 

Great point well made, however, in stating my original point I am afraid I was selfishly and obviously shamefully thinking only of those with full sight.

From this standpoint, my preference would be for down to earth football (Chris Moyles style perhaps) fan talk. However having considered what you say (and perhaps taking my foot out of my mouth somewhat), who would I be to deny less ad-lib commentary to the thousands of blind people who enjoy football, but as you say, apart from the dedicated and I guess uncomfortable ear-phoned service offered at most if not all games, even radio or TV must rarely fulfil his real needs as such.

I apologise if my comments seem insensitive, and for those with such a disability of sight there is obviously a massive need for accurate commentary, for which radio and tv could play a vital role if delivered in its classical form without the diversions which the modern media seems to think its customer wants. With so many technical delivery options today, I think the two extremes of commentary should now be possible simultaneously, whilst the ever more pointless tirade of expensive ex-pros attempting to entertain and over-inform seems pointless to most customer segments.

 

No worries, your comments weren't insensitive, you just aired your views from your own perspective, thing is we all have our own needs and I agree with you, they, the media should get there acts together and provide an alternative/optional type of commentary that suits a wider range of people.

 

Chris Moyles is highly successful and, I would imagine, incredibly rich.

I don't know why, because his radio show is dreadful. So, so, so boring.

Mind you, it has nothing on Sara Cox's show in the boredom stakes.

I really don't know who listens to it, and who finds it funny.

I feel the same way about it as I do with Soccer AM. Another immensely **** program held in extremely high regard by someone. We don't know who, but someone.

Also, if you buy Chris Moyles books you also probably buy Jeremy Clarkson's. Don't do it!

 

If the TV game is on the BBC then the radio commentary is usually an option on the red button. (if I remember correctly you have to red button it and go into the game section from the main red button index, and from there the blue button lets you select audio)

In terms of commentary on TV/radio, it should be optional, and be there largely there to inform non-fans (or those who can't see for themselves) of what's happening, any history between clubs/players and that's about it, it shouldn't be for general fans of the sport.

 

Nice to hear the dulcet tones of Barry Davies again this Olympics.

Long gone from MOTD, he's the chief Hockey commentator. Must be cracking on a bit now.

Always liked him, never more so than when he provided his voice for 'Actua Soccer' on the PS back in my youth.

 

LIVE SPORT WITHOUT QUESTION. In saying that i do enjoy my sundays in front of the box. From Sunday Supplement, Goals on Sunday to the various Live matches on sky and when espn have one on. After a walk and my tea i then sit down and watch La Liga on a sunday night. Oh i love sundays, normally.

Enjoy still John Motson and Guy Mowbray but i do miss Barry Davies and Murray Walker(F1). Who remembers Eddie Waring ? he was also a good laugh with his up and unders.

 

The commentary has been a bit crap since he left, I think the fact he'd laugh at his own mistakes without going too far helped. Other commentators tend to be either too serious when they're correcting themselves which puts a distance between them and the viewer, or spend about 10 minutes talking about it with their co-commentator when they should be concentrating on events on the pitch. The new guy seems better than the previous replacements though, but it's hard to tell if he's settling in properly with the highlights only races that have been on.