There's been a few lists on here recently of peoples fave something or other so I thought I'd see who people liked as their favourite commentators (any sport). There's been some great commentators over the years who are knowledgable and passionate about their sport as well as being informative and at times very entertaining. Here's my top ten: 1. Harry Carpenter 2. Eddie Waring 3. David Coleman 4. John Arlott 5. Kenneth Wolstenholme 6. Kent Walton 7. Syd Waddell 8. Dan Maskell 9. Ritchie Benaud 10. John Motson Many others spring to mind: Murray Walker, Henry Blofeld, Brian Moore, Barry Davies, Reg Gutteridge, Gerry Harrison (so bad he was so good) .......
agree about Jonners Dave, followed by John Arlott. for some reason cricket seems to produce very good commentators. probably because they have time to think about what they are saying.
Peter Alliss on the golf is ace By the way Canary Dave - the Thread Association game has a closed thread notice - I am shocked!!
Sorry, Thurnby, but personally speaking, Peter Alliss, Geoff Boycott, Stuart Hall and Steve Claridge all have me reaching for the mute button. Although, of course, that was not the point of the OP. I do enjoy Connor Macnamara, Jonathan Agnew (plus Henry Blofeld and Phil Tufnell) and Ted Lowe (RIP) the old 'whispering' snooker commentator. One of the joys of live streaming football, cricket, etc is that if you get a naff commentator or summariser, it's easy enough to locate a different stream. I watched some of the recent Bangladeshi Premier League cricket, and I swear there's a commercial after every single delivery Hard bloody going.
People, how can Bill McClaren not be in the top 10? TMS is generally top drawer although I am sure that it would have been a tough listen overnight with our batters doing a passable impression of my local pub team.
Ah well, it is all about opinions after all Cromer. I actually like Boycott as well but agree with Stuart Hall and Claridge. I thought that Wolstenholme was totally overrated.
It was indeed Jonners, but according to Ron Pickering, that was scripted in advance and waiting for the occasion! Doesn't make it any less funny for me, though my particular favourite has to be his reaction to Aggers comment, "He couldn't quite get his leg over" when Botham was out knocking his stumps over!
And right on cue.... [video=youtube;KsVTpX7LdZQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=KsVTpX7LdZQ[/video]
Barry Davies is a superb sports commentator. During the 1988 Olympic Mens Hockey Final Gt Britain v Germany and the great line.... "Just where were the Germans?.... And to be frank...Who Cares!" Who remembers the brilliant football commenatories on the radio Sport on 2 with the great Brian Butler and his co-commentator (who's name escapes me atm). They brought gravitas to their commentory as they described the action and the setting in such a great way you actually felt like you were there! They did the Milk Cup 2nd Leg Semi Norwich v Ipswich and I still remember to this day Brian's commentory as Steve Bruce headed in the winner! How to break a boys heart!
How absolutely marvellous. I just listened to it again for the umpteenth time and the tears rolled down my cheeks. The whole set up was brilliant. A combination of young boys getting up to mischief in a school dorm and the charm of a game on a village green on a Sunday afternoon. ' I say Aggers look at this cake Mavis from Whitstable has sent for our tea ' Recordings of their commentaries should be compulsory listening to all budding Sports Commentators to remind them that Sport is a pleasure and an entertainment - not a battle between life and death. For knowledge of their sports I would nominate Peter Aliss and Cornelius Lysett.
Has to be Arlott for me,and I am not especially a fan of cricket.His commentaries always had a lyrical tenor that made them interesting whatever the subject.I recall him saying something along the lines of "And the crowd makes a noise like a deflating bicycle tyre".By all accounts a nice man too.
Commentators don't appear to be the same nowadays. There are few current commentators, or recent good one liners that stick in my mind. Can't believe noone's mentioned THAT goal. Just for good measure... [video=youtube;KDM88n9ZHk0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDM88n9ZHk0[/video] This will stay with me forever! Also up there is Hugh Porter. Along with the Aggers and Johnston commentary, there's also a fairly recent one of Vaughan discussing the grip on a cricket bat.
I also have a soft spot for Richie Benaud for not joining Sky saying he would only work for public broadcasters.
