Carlton Kirby

rick_chasey

You'd help your cause if you could articulate why.

Pross

ilovegrace wrote:

I have said it before and will say it again , I like him.
Rob Hatch is pants , I start watching races, if Kirby is on I will keep it on , Hatch, if it is hilly I may keep watching , pan flat sprinters day , fast forward (I usually tape races) to the finish.

It takes all sorts I suppose!

RichN95.

ilovegrace wrote:

I have said it before and will say it again , I like him.
Rob Hatch is pants , I start watching races, if Kirby is on I will keep it on , Hatch, if it is hilly I may keep watching , pan flat sprinters day , fast forward (I usually tape races) to the finish.

I'd fast forward a pan flat sprinter's day if William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens were commentating

Flâneur

RichN95 wrote:

ilovegrace wrote:

I have said it before and will say it again , I like him.
Rob Hatch is pants , I start watching races, if Kirby is on I will keep it on , Hatch, if it is hilly I may keep watching , pan flat sprinters day , fast forward (I usually tape races) to the finish.

I'd fast forward a pan flat sprinter's day if William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens were commentating

What Rich said.

Re the topic, it is painful when exposed to his thoughts and comments for a prolonged / any period of time

w00dster

I actually find Carlton amusing. His rambling is often pointless gap filling, but from time to time there are some gems. I actually like his musings about what he had for dinner in a small European town etc.
He did confuse me yesterday as well when he said about Gilbert and Boonen being ex team mates.
I'm easily pleased though, Carlton appears to love the sport and for me his enthusiasm is good to listen to.

rick_chasey

w00dster wrote:

I'm easily pleased though, Carlton appears to love the sport and for me his enthusiasm is good to listen to.

If you want i'll mic up my living room for PR...

blazing_saddles

Kirby currently ruining Pais Vasco coverage.

bobbydazzla

ilovegrace wrote:

I have said it before and will say it again , I like him.
Rob Hatch is pants , I start watching races, if Kirby is on I will keep it on , Hatch, if it is hilly I may keep watching , pan flat sprinters day , fast forward (I usually tape races) to the finish.

Are you the sort of person whose favourite genre of music is annoying novelty pop records ?

thegibdog

w00dster wrote:

Carlton appears to love the sport and for me his enthusiasm is good to listen to.

If he really loved the sport he would've learnt something about it by now. His wilful ignorance is outstanding for somebody (presumably) paid to talk about it. I think what he actually loves is the sound of his own voice.

I was switching between Eurosport 1 and the commentary free feed yesterday. Can't stand Kirby's babbling but it is useful to have somebody telling you things that aren't apparent from just looking at the screen.

Hatch is infinitely better, I'm not sure why Eurosport didn't use him when he was commentating for the host broadcasters world feed. Even if Carlton commentates for free then it can't cost that much to get Hatch. Maybe we could have a whip round next time?

the article don

Garry H wrote:

Did I hear wrongly, or did he paraphrase the lyrics from Voodoo Chile during yesterday's race?

"He stood up next to the mountain, and chopped it down with the edge of his hand". Yup you heard right!

In fairness, I watched a rerun today and he was quickest to note that Sagan was felled by the barrier feet not the flag jacket). But that's the first time he's ever got a anything right.

bobmcstuff

w00dster wrote:

I actually find Carlton amusing. His rambling is often pointless gap filling, but from time to time there are some gems. I actually like his musings about what he had for dinner in a small European town etc.
He did confuse me yesterday as well when he said about Gilbert and Boonen being ex team mates.
I'm easily pleased though, Carlton appears to love the sport and for me his enthusiasm is good to listen to.

You'd really expect the commentator on one of the biggest races of the season to know what team two of the top 3 contenders were on.

F*cking idiot that guy.

mockenrue

Other commentators are available.

thegibdog

the article don wrote:

In fairness, I watched a rerun today and he was quickest to note that Sagan was felled by the barrier feet not the flag jacket). But that's the first time he's ever got a anything right.

Except it looks like it was a jacket that caused Sagan to hit the barriers:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 66515&_rdr

Kirby was quick to point out Sagan hit the barrier feet because they're one of the things he goes on about every race. He's one of those people who likes to find fault in things to make up for his own shortcomings.

kingstongraham

thegibdog wrote:

w00dster wrote:

Carlton appears to love the sport and for me his enthusiasm is good to listen to.

If he really loved the sport he would've learnt something about it by now. His wilful ignorance is outstanding for somebody (presumably) paid to talk about it. I think what he actually loves is the sound of his own voice.

I was switching between Eurosport 1 and the commentary free feed yesterday. Can't stand Kirby's babbling but it is useful to have somebody telling you things that aren't apparent from just looking at the screen.

Hatch is infinitely better, I'm not sure why Eurosport didn't use him when he was commentating for the host broadcasters world feed. Even if Carlton commentates for free then it can't cost that much to get Hatch. Maybe we could have a whip round next time?

Just leave Kelly on his own. I'd find it a bonification to watch that over a number of kilometres.

bobmcstuff

What do you reckon would happen if they did Kirby and Lemond?

I don't reckon Lemond would keep his cool, it would be pretty excellent.

DeVlaeminck

thegibdog wrote:

the article don wrote:

In fairness, I watched a rerun today and he was quickest to note that Sagan was felled by the barrier feet not the flag jacket). But that's the first time he's ever got a anything right.

Except it looks like it was a jacket that caused Sagan to hit the barriers:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 66515&_rdr

Kirby was quick to point out Sagan hit the barrier feet because they're one of the things he goes on about every race. He's one of those people who likes to find fault in things to make up for his own shortcomings.

Another one here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyQjmKTmjAU though to be fair to Carlton on the TV pictures at the time the feet of the barriers did look more likely.

DeVlaeminck

Garry H wrote:

Did I hear wrongly, or did he paraphrase the lyrics from Voodoo Chile during yesterday's race?

He did - though who knows if it was intentional - just as a monkey with a typewriter will eventually produce the works of Shakespeare with Carlton his verbosity must mean that most possible combinations of words come round with semi regularity.

takethehighroad

The worst thing he did during Flanders was to quote David Duffield, reminding everyone how he's not, nor never will be, anywhere near close to being as good as the great man

sherer

I was gutted I missed RVV but after reading this thread I suddenly dont feel that bad.

bluemoon17

All this talk of live power/heart rate data from the riders, new formats such as the Hammer series, and onboard cameras in an attempt to 'enhance the viewer experience' could be achieved by just having some decent commentators.

Although I'm not the biggest F1 fan, Martin Brundle is for me one of the best sports commentators around. He does a great job of engaging the viewer in the more nuanced aspects of the race, without coming across as patronising to the avid fans (i.e. when talking about tyre compounds and who should go onto what next).

If we had that type of insight and expertise in a cycling commentator then it would make the sport easily more watchable and engaging.

rick_chasey

Bluemoon17 wrote:

All this talk of live power/heart rate data from the riders, new formats such as the Hammer series, and onboard cameras in an attempt to 'enhance the viewer experience' could be achieved by just having some decent commentators.

Although I'm not the biggest F1 fan, Martin Brundle is for me one of the best sports commentators around. He does a great job of engaging the viewer in the more nuanced aspects of the race, without coming across as patronising to the avid fans (i.e. when talking about tyre compounds and who should go onto what next).

If we had that type of insight and expertise in a cycling commentator then it would make the sport easily more watchable and engaging.

Bang on Mr.

Eurosport should throw some money at McEwen.

Richmond Racer 2

^good shout

SBS are losing rights to show Giro, cos ES's bought exclusivity

Richmond Racer 2

bobmcstuff wrote:

What do you reckon would happen if they did Kirby and Lemond?

I don't reckon Lemond would keep his cool, it would be pretty excellent.

Lemond's not a good commentator. Soz.

salsiccia1

Richmond Racer 2 wrote:

bobmcstuff wrote:

What do you reckon would happen if they did Kirby and Lemond?

I don't reckon Lemond would keep his cool, it would be pretty excellent.

Lemond's not a good commentator. Soz.

Yup. A total legend and seemingly a good guy, but not a great communicator in a live setting.

bobmcstuff

Richmond Racer 2 wrote:

bobmcstuff wrote:

What do you reckon would happen if they did Kirby and Lemond?

I don't reckon Lemond would keep his cool, it would be pretty excellent.

Lemond's not a good commentator. Soz.

I know, that wasn't the point - I was hoping they'd start a fight live on air.

takethehighroad

Bluemoon17 wrote:

If we had that type of insight and expertise in a cycling commentator then it would make the sport easily more watchable and engaging.

We have got that, he's called Rob Hatch. But apparently he's too boring for "pan flat sprinter's stages", like that's the most important thing

Pross

TakeTheHighRoad wrote:

Bluemoon17 wrote:

If we had that type of insight and expertise in a cycling commentator then it would make the sport easily more watchable and engaging.

We have got that, he's called Rob Hatch. But apparently he's too boring for "pan flat sprinter's stages", like that's the most important thing

Don't forget he also has the habit of pronouncing things correctly, we don't want any of that sort of thing! (I've been critical of that in the past though to be fair).

RichN95.

Pross wrote:

TakeTheHighRoad wrote:

Bluemoon17 wrote:

If we had that type of insight and expertise in a cycling commentator then it would make the sport easily more watchable and engaging.

We have got that, he's called Rob Hatch. But apparently he's too boring for "pan flat sprinter's stages", like that's the most important thing

Don't forget he also has the habit of pronouncing things correctly, we don't want any of that sort of thing! (I've been critical of that in the past though to be fair).

I look forward to 'Owain Doull' in a Cardiff accent

Pross

And whether he pronounces the double 'l' in a Welsh way!

sherer

Sean Kelly does a decent job of bring the sport to life. Always liked what he had to say, even if he does go on too much about making the calculation.