David Harmon Eurosport

phil s

Rick Chasey wrote:

If you get no info about time gaps, get the co commentator to do rough timings off tv with a watch.

One of the most misinformed things I've read on these boards.

stanislav

One of carltons faves,
13.6 TO GO,WHO`S JOINING THE PARTY!

tailwindhome

phil s wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

If you get no info about time gaps, get the co commentator to do rough timings off tv with a watch.

One of the most misinformed things I've read on these boards.

quoted for the giggles.








What Chasey said seemed reasonable to me though....


Edit- did Boardman not get the stopwatch out during the 'Lympics?

argyllflyer

Magnus Backstedt said something similar today did he not?

Cleat Eastwood

Kirby used to annoy but he's grown on me - he's very sharp - "Everywhere you look if you look hard enough.....you'll find a kilt" - he's very professional, as is Harmon.

But here's a thing - he can come up with memorable lines that associate enthusiasm with an event - he;s good PR, his tour of turkey was as memorable as liggets 'its roche' commentary. I cant really recall Harmon doing that - he does know the riders though does harmon which is a bonus.

In teh absence of harmon my fave coupling would be Kirkby with Smith, Kirkby with Kelly with Rendell on a moped.

Mikey23

Thatcher's to blame ...

Jez mon

I like Kirby for his titbits on long dullish flat GT stages, and that Tour of Turkey commentary was pretty good (although, he didn't really call it that accurately!). Yesterday, he just seemed too pumped up and too full of energy, I think maybe the occasion got to him?

I think another thing to bear in mind, is that the commentary teams always want to inject excitement into the race, and therefore they make calls which are often questionable to the die-hard fans.

alan_a

Gazzaputt wrote:

Carlton is alright and can be entertaining when there's no action but also be tedious other times. Point on the BW bike change last week seeing as how Wiggo uses a power meter on the climbs I think it was a valid point to commentate on.

His commentary from Tour of Turkey when Iljo Keisse win the stage was a classic.

I put money on no-one here could do his job.

Actually I bet I could, just need to suss out how I can get the opportunity. So if your watching Monsieur Eurosport please give me a call.

I've done lots of race announcing for triathlons, ski races, sportives, criteriums and MTB events, and although it is a different skill set to commentating, the main thing you have to be able to reliably do is talk for 4 -5 hours without swearing, offending or simply being a d!ck. Chatting live on air for 3 hours plus you are bound to make mistakes. Most punters won't notice it but us lot do because we are obsessives.

The multi lingual guys like Carlton / Harmon etc have a big advantage because they can keep up to date with the local tour radio / press etc. Carlton is great during Le Tour, funny as a 1 off for smaller races, but when he is left to talk about the same riders day in day out for 3 weeks then obviously we begin to get iritated by him.

Stick Cleat, Rich and Iain in a room for one of the races and record their chat, I bet it will be as equally informed as the best of Harmon and as poorly called as the worst of Phigget.

For my money the best commentator of the lot is 5lives Simon Brotherton.

alan_a

Oh and another thing...

Harmon - there was speculation a while back that he is INRNG. As we all know Inrng is by far the best informed cycling blog on the net, it deserves a much bigger profile. Assuming Harmon is the blog's author could this break have something to do with a new bigger better all singing all dancing inrng?

or

Will we have the delight of his commentary on ITV this summer. It makes perfect sense. If you were in charge of ITV's biggest summer sports audience for 2013 you would want rid of the embarrassment that is Phil and Paul and be prepared to spend money for Harmon.

I'd miss his dulcet tones during the day time but love them for the evening highlights.

danlikesbikes

Alan A wrote:

Oh and another thing...

Harmon - there was speculation a while back that he is INRNG. As we all know Inrng is by far the best informed cycling blog on the net, it deserves a much bigger profile. Assuming Harmon is the blog's author could this break have something to do with a new bigger better all singing all dancing inrng?

or

Will we have the delight of his commentary on ITV this summer. It makes perfect sense. If you were in charge of ITV's biggest summer sports audience for 2013 you would want rid of the embarrassment that is Phil and Paul and be prepared to spend money for Harmon.

I'd miss his dulcet tones during the day time but love them for the evening highlights.

What makes you think that ITV would want rid of their current team? Sorry not trolling just curious.

TheBigBean

Alan A wrote:

Harmon - there was speculation a while back that he is INRNG. As we all know Inrng is by far the best informed cycling blog on the net, it deserves a much bigger profile. Assuming Harmon is the blog's author could this break have something to do with a new bigger better all singing all dancing inrng?

I'd eat my hat if Harmon is the Inner Ring. Completely different types of people. My betting would be that Inner Ring is a lawyer of some description, but that is idle speculation.

alan_a

1. Politics - Ligget's brown nosing of Armstrong, refusal to sever ties with him and constant referencing of him during commentary.

2. Ability - Ligget's increasingly incorrect calling of riders making breaks or sprints.

3. Public opinion - The general consensus is that the ITV highlights package is far superior to Eurosport's / NOS / TV3 etc. The reason for this is the personnel ITV have at their disposal; Gary Imlach is a peerless with a razor sharp turn of phrase, Chris Boardman is the most articulate summariser in TV sport - his position at head of secret squirell club aslo ensures he has lots of inside knowledge, Ned Boulting is a great reporter / interviewer and Matt Rendall's encyclopaedic knowledge of the riders palmares is second to none. What lets ITV down is the errors, platitudes and waffle spouted by the 2 people who get the most screen time. Loved them in the 80's 90's and 00's.... time to be put out to pasture now.

oldwelshman

Harmon is on here

danlikesbikes

Alan A wrote:

1. Politics - Ligget's brown nosing of Armstrong, refusal to sever ties with him and constant referencing of him during commentary.

2. Ability - Ligget's increasingly incorrect calling of riders making breaks or sprints.

3. Public opinion - The general consensus is that the ITV highlights package is far superior to Eurosport's / NOS / TV3 etc. The reason for this is the personnel ITV have at their disposal; Gary Imlach is a peerless with a razor sharp turn of phrase, Chris Boardman is the most articulate summariser in TV sport - his position at head of secret squirell club aslo ensures he has lots of inside knowledge, Ned Boulting is a great reporter / interviewer and Matt Rendall's encyclopaedic knowledge of the riders palmares is second to none. What lets ITV down is the errors, platitudes and waffle spouted by the 2 people who get the most screen time. Loved them in the 80's 90's and 00's.... time to be put out to pasture now.

I can see that point 1 may be a bit embarrassing to ITV in hindsight but don't think that would cause them to get rid. Point 2 sounds like half the comments to this thread i.e. you either like or dislike a commentator again would be a 50/50 call and as such doubt that would cause them to get rid. Point 3 really is similar to point 2 as some people will have that opinion and others do not I'm not sure its 50/50 but again if its split I doubt that would give ITV cause for concern.

Agree with you about Gary, Chris & Matt all good points but thats my opinion & sure that others will not agree with you and me and tell us their bad points.

Edit: Just noticed I missed off Ned :oops: now where is that hangs head in shame emoji

rick_chasey

phil s wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

If you get no info about time gaps, get the co commentator to do rough timings off tv with a watch.

One of the most misinformed things I've read on these boards.

How come? ? I do it sitting on my sofa. Now for sure, I'm not also speaking into a mic and thinking of stuff to say, but still.

dougzz

Danlikesbikes wrote:

Alan A wrote:

1. Politics - Ligget's brown nosing of Armstrong, refusal to sever ties with him and constant referencing of him during commentary.

2. Ability - Ligget's increasingly incorrect calling of riders making breaks or sprints.

3. Public opinion - The general consensus is that the ITV highlights package is far superior to Eurosport's / NOS / TV3 etc. The reason for this is the personnel ITV have at their disposal; Gary Imlach is a peerless with a razor sharp turn of phrase, Chris Boardman is the most articulate summariser in TV sport - his position at head of secret squirell club aslo ensures he has lots of inside knowledge, Ned Boulting is a great reporter / interviewer and Matt Rendall's encyclopaedic knowledge of the riders palmares is second to none. What lets ITV down is the errors, platitudes and waffle spouted by the 2 people who get the most screen time. Loved them in the 80's 90's and 00's.... time to be put out to pasture now.

I can see that point 1 may be a bit embarrassing to ITV in hindsight but don't think that would cause them to get rid. Point 2 sounds like half the comments to this thread i.e. you either like or dislike a commentator again would be a 50/50 call and as such doubt that would cause them to get rid. Point 3 really is similar to point 2 as some people will have that opinion and others do not I'm not sure its 50/50 but again if its split I doubt that would give ITV cause for concern.

Agree with you about Gary, Chris & Matt all good points but thats my opinion & sure that others will not agree with you and me and tell us their bad points.

Point 2 is not really opinion is it, Alan A is right, Liggett gets a lot wrong, he doesn't comment on whether or not he likes or dislikes him.

phil s

Rick Chasey wrote:

How come? ? I do it sitting on my sofa. Now for sure, I'm not also speaking into a mic and thinking of stuff to say, but still.

You believe that speaking into a mic, thinking of stuff to say, processing information that's in constant flux, not knowing what will happen next, or indeed what shot you will see next on your small screen, all whilst wearing headphones and getting third parties speaking to you through those headphones, knowing also that millions of people are listening to you and that your mortgage depends on it is easy?

danlikesbikes

dougzz wrote:

Point 2 is not really opinion is it, Alan A is right, Liggett gets a lot wrong, he doesn't comment on whether or not he likes or dislikes him.

Fair comment there just reread 2 and guess my response does suggest opinion.

I guess it would be fairer to say that like this thread (concerning Harmon like/dislike of as a commentator) that Liggett's mistakes are more often called out as wrong by his distractors whereas those who actually like his commentary are less likely to suggest that option 2 would be a reason to get rid of him.

afx237vi

phil s wrote:

You believe that speaking into a mic, thinking of stuff to say, processing information that's in constant flux, not knowing what will happen next, or indeed what shot you will see next on your small screen, all whilst wearing headphones and getting third parties speaking to you through those headphones, knowing also that millions of people are listening to you and that your mortgage depends on it is easy?

I don't think anyone has even suggested that, to be fair.

Back in the days of David Duffield, he was always talking about setting his stopwatch going whenever the breakaway went under a bridge or through a village or whatever. It worked 20 years ago, why wouldn't it work now?

phil s

afx237vi wrote:

I don't think anyone has even suggested that, to be fair.

Back in the days of David Duffield, he was always talking about setting his stopwatch going whenever the breakaway went under a bridge or through a village or whatever. It worked 20 years ago, why wouldn't it work now?

There is a lot of presumption about how "easy" commentating is, or indeed what a "commentator" is. People calling summarisers like Lloydy, Maggy, etc "commentators", for example, when they are there to provide colour.
How many times in commentary will timings not be available? Not often. How many times in his career did Duffers do the stopwatch trick? How many times did he have to? Not often. To do it, you'd need a fair bit of luck rather than judgement, otherwise you'd just get totally distracted and start rambling on about cheese or wine. Oh, hang on...

blazing_saddles

So, it's Declan Quigley and Sean Kelly for the Giro. Harmon.

danlikesbikes

Just watching the racing now & David has just clarified that people misinterpreted his twitter message.

"I am taking some time off before the TDF Was simply that he has moved house and had some life changes & wants to spend some time away...."

So we have our answer. For me V happy as like his commentary and answers my question.

Tom Butcher

I thought it was a bit non-committal to be honest. What was it he said - I'm back for the TdF, or that's the plan anyway? Something like that wasn't it.

disgruntledgoat

Danlikesbikes wrote:

Just watching the racing now & David has just clarified that people misinterpreted his twitter message.

"I am taking some time off before the TDF Was simply that he has moved house and had some life changes & wants to spend some time away...."

So we have our answer. For me V happy as like his commentary and answers my question.

His wife's left him for a narcissistic sports pimp and he's developed a crippling toblerone addiction?

danlikesbikes

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Danlikesbikes wrote:

Just watching the racing now & David has just clarified that people misinterpreted his twitter message.

"I am taking some time off before the TDF Was simply that he has moved house and had some life changes & wants to spend some time away...."

So we have our answer. For me V happy as like his commentary and answers my question.

His wife's left him for a narcissistic sports pimp and he's developed a crippling toblerone addiction?

Well if thats the answer you were looking for

Turfle

Blazing Saddles wrote:

So, it's Declan Quigley and Sean Kelly for the Giro. Harmon.

I'm happy with that. Declan Quigley likes cycling, and he's not Carlton Kirby.


My two cents on Kirby: if he just stopped faking knowledge he wouldn't irritate me half as much as he does. And also if he could stop saying "end game", "long game", and describing attackers as "satellite riders".

gsk82

i wish all commentators would stop describing a solo effort as "timetrialing to the finish"

Gazzetta67

Blazing Saddles wrote:

So, it's Declan Quigley and Sean Kelly for the Giro. Harmon.

Good Pairing - Quigley knows his stuff and it will be an old boys act with Sean there. they will be both talking faster now . Why do irishman wear 2 condoms !!! "to be sure to be sure" 8)

emadden

Kelly & Quigley ... fantastic! I know these guys may accidentally start speaking in Irish or some real hiberno-English, so just to help you guys out, here are some transalations:

Hiberno-English

There are some words and phrases that, while not in Irish, would not be recognisably English to someone, say, from England. These have developed either from direct translations from Irish into English, or have developed independently since English was introduced into Ireland.

Eejit – n. Idiot
Gee – n. (Pronounced with a hard “g” as in “gold”, not with a “g” as in “Georgina”.) An offensive term for a woman’s private parts. Used widely and variously.
Gee-bag – n. A derogatory term; an insult. Based on the word “Gee”, is similar in meaning to “shit-head.”
Gee-eyed – adj. Extremely drunk.
Scarlet – adj. Embarrassed, as in red-faced. Usually pronounced by dropping the ‘t’ – scar-leh

Examples:

Quigley: Oh no no no ... I see Wiggins has dropped his chain again
Kelly: I think he must be gee-eyed

...
Quigley: Is that Kreuziger out the back
Kelly: I've said it before, sometimes Cruise-ziger lacks the turst for it
Quigley: He did win Amstel Gold
Kelly: He did but I tink his director sporteeve gave him a right fookin drillin

...
Quigley: Sean, we all know you were a bit fond of a bit of argy-bargy in the sprint?
Kelly: Em, I wouldnt say that exactly, but sometimes you might come across a gee-bag who wont hold his line. And in doze cases, you need to put the eejit straight
Quigley: Must have been great craic though?
Kelly: Certaintly.

FJS

phil s wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

If you get no info about time gaps, get the co commentator to do rough timings off tv with a watch.

One of the most misinformed things I've read on these boards.

Sporza has a special guy for that, Andre Meganck, who works with the two commentators. He times gaps, makes up a rough first results list at the finish, calculates impact on GC, that kind of stuff. In addition, they also often have a third commentator in the race on a motorbike, or in the field at cross races. Add to that truly knowledgeable commentary. No comparison. I think RAI have that third commentator on a motorbike too in the Giro at least