View Full Version : Tennis Commentators .........
Sallydaisy
28-02-2012, 17:22
OK, there might emerge some other non-complimentary titles for this thread .....
"Ban Bouncy", "Cancel Croft" and "Lummock Lloyd" come to mind ...
All 'tongue-in-cheek' you understand!!!
However, there are some good ones out there (Peter Fleming?) so here's somewhere to moan, groan and praise them - or name and shame and identify which live streams they're on so we can avoid some of the blighters!
Anyway - the point of starting this is because Mark Petchey has given an interview (http://www.thetennisspace.com/how-to/petchey-how-to-blag-a-career-as-a-tv-commentator/) in The Tennis Space.
It's called "How to blag a career as a TV commentator".
His first bit of advice?
Start off with a very average career:
“That’s very important if you want a TV commentary job.
:p
RoastLamb
28-02-2012, 17:33
My fave commies on tennistv are Robbie Koenig and Jason Goodall. Good together and they don't take themselves or the sport too seriously.
Fave commies on ESPN: Brad Gilbert for his refreshing bluntness and honesty, Pam Shriver for the same qualities.
NBC: John Mac. He's just brilliant at the job, much like how he was playing the game. But with less insults.
My fave commies on tennistv are Robbie Koenig and Jason Goodall. Good together and they don't take themselves or the sport too seriously.
Jason's definitely on my list - he does fantastic stats analysis during Wimbledon for the Beeb.
I like Koenig and Goodall too :)
RoastLamb
29-02-2012, 00:02
Jason's definitely on my list - he does fantastic stats analysis during Wimbledon for the Beeb.
I didn't know he worked for the BBC as well. Makes sense, I suppose.
However, I don't like the American commies on tennistv. Can't stand them.
supergran
29-02-2012, 00:07
Love Petch, also like Peter Fleming. Frew MacMillan is usually OK. Jason Goodall is always reliable at Wimbledon.
Petch is great - Fleming usually so, although sometimes I think he gets bored with the whole analysis thing. MacMillan I can take. The worst of the lot IMO has to be Bradman, swiftly followed by Lloyd, Castle and Croft. Wade can have her moments too - I haven't yet forgiven her for saying that Andy's ankle injury at RG last year was physchosomatic!
hfwardhouse
29-02-2012, 11:59
Am still picking myself up off the floor at Mr Castle's very positive review of Andy's performance today :shocked: ..... did we finally get through to him at DC?!
Maybe he just doesn't want any more grief from silver-haired harridans when he's up at Braehead for the Belgium tie...
hfwardhouse
29-02-2012, 12:24
Indeed :rolling:
Of course it wasn't just silver-haired harridans having a go ..... :rolling:
I too was amazed - maybe Sky have written into Bouncy's contract that he has to be positive about oor Andy!!
supergran
29-02-2012, 14:50
Maybe he just doesn't want any more grief from silver-haired harridans when he's up at Braehead for the Belgium tie...Definition of harridan: strict, bossy or belligerent old woman. I can cope with that BUT I have blonde highlights therefore I am blonde-haired!:halo:
Just watched the recording of Andy's match. Couldn't believe how positive and complimentary Bouncy was about Andy.
Nearly fell off the chair!!
supergran
29-02-2012, 16:12
Amazing wasn't it?
MurrayAOne
29-02-2012, 16:15
Looking forward to the replay. I shall listen out for commentators' comments!
hfwardhouse
29-02-2012, 16:59
Looking forward to the replay. I shall listen out for commentators' comments!
Thankfully he wasn't commentating - he was just in the studio!
My favourite commie is Jo Durie, nice, quiet and commenting on match on court, can't stand Smith and Croft, talk too much, they are on something . God knows which birds' seeds they take. Band them from TV.
RoastLamb
29-02-2012, 18:46
On tennistv this week (for both Andy's matches) there are two English commies, one male and one female. Have no idea who they are but I quite like them.
You must be joking, the female is Annabel Croft. Awful. Bring back Koenig & Goodall.
daveollie
30-07-2013, 20:34
A program has just come on Sky Sports showing footy from 1998, with good ol' Marcus presenting. He had a full on head of ginger, does anybody else remember him like this? Watching him now on the tennis his hair just seems a mousey colour haha
Re: ROLAND GARROS 2017, R2: Andy v Martin Klizan. Thur 1st June, 12.45 approx. Lenglen
posted by david1610:
Living outside the UK I normally use streams, but I have used itv4 this week and heard a lot of Jim Courier. What I have noticed is that he is observing the match carefully and sometimes comes out with some insights that I had not picked up on - so I am valuing his contributions. However, the other commies oblige him to engage in the "tennis conversations" which can be annoying. Put another way, I think he can be used to good effect with an aware co-commentator and have found the commentary today an addition not a distraction to the match.
Anyways, c'mon Andy!
On the subject of tennis commentators, I totally agree with you david1610 about Jim Courier. He's certainly not as infuriating as the likes of Bradnam who makes me SEETHE. As you say, when the co-commentator draws his fellow commie into conversation, it is totally infuriating when they continue their conversation (usually unrelated to the match they are supposed to be calling) and ignore what is happening on the court. That begs the question why must there always be 2, and sometimes 3, commentators? When there is only one (as is sometimes the case with Tennis TV) it must surely cut out the endless banal chit chat that some engage in. For Roland Garros I am lucky enough to have the choice of ITV4 and Eurosport Player (which has commentary free streams) but I have always chosen ITV4, despite Inverdale!, because I think the commentators are much easier on the ear. Sam Smith and Mark Petchey in particular come to mind. I could rant on but I'll save the rest of my energy for the climb down from the soap box!
I can't get annoyed at Castle - he and Henmans absolute joy for him in that 2012 Olympic Final give both of them a free pass until Murray retires for me.
Mc Enroe is generally very supportive and always has been. Petchey is a Murray man to the core. Croft is small minded but occasionally has good comments. Lloyd is just green with envy.
My ha penny worth.
Monotonous Mac and Bonkers Bradman have to be the worst combination ever - the stuff of nightmares!!!
supergran
01-06-2017, 22:17
When Andy was a set and a break down this afternoon bonkers Bradnam implied it was all over and Klizan was on his way to the win. I actually thought that he thought it was best of three!
Where is the #NextGen of commentators? It's the same voices we've heard for decades.
angiebabez
01-06-2017, 22:56
Chris Bradnams voice makes my skin crawl...johnny mac is a pain..couriers chat would send ya to sleep. Petch can be ok but agree with bardot we need a commies overhaul..these old fossils need a changing of the guard.
What's happened to Leif Shiras? Haven't seen or heard him for a long time?
supergran
02-06-2017, 07:45
What's happened to Leif Shiras? Haven't seen or heard him for a long time?
I think he just works with Sky.
One more final little rant...I think the "two points away from..." comments should be consigned to Room 101. Hate them! :angry::angry:
According to Google, Leif Shiras works for the Tennis Channel, Sky and Fox news.
They don't drive me as mad as some people. I've always liked Petch and I'm a Mac fan through and through ... yes he talks non stop ... Same for Courier, they're American, they talk but I enjoy their insight. I also think Sam Smith is good but she seems to do mainly women's matches which I only watch at GSs. I really like Fabrice as well so ITV wins the FO battle for me even though now I no longer have sky, I can't get it in HD.
Frew McMillan is still my favourite.
I just lost at Inverdale Russian Roulette. The fear he will be commentating on a match you want to watch. :crying:
lovetennis
04-07-2017, 16:46
I just lost at Inverdale Russian Roulette. The fear he will be commentating on a match you want to watch. :crying:
Hopefully he will have used up his daily quota of inane nonsense in the Delpo/Kokkinakis match. The drivel he talked during that was unbelievable. He's incapable of just concentrating on the match in hand, instead he wants to hold a debate on an "issue", usually while play is going on
Just how jammy can these two get??
(Edit: I meant Fed and Nole obviously but it seems to have ended up on the comentators thread; But perhaps Inverdale and Greg are pretty jammy getting paid for talking a load of rubbish).
Irritating as Inverdale is when commentating, it is Bradnam who I think is at the very bottom of the commentating heap! Yes, to me he is truly worse than Inverdale! That's how bad I think he is!! :grrr:
lovetennis
04-07-2017, 17:00
Irritating as Inverdale is when commentating, it is Bradnam who I think is at the very bottom of the commentating heap! Yes, to me he is truly worse than Inverdale! That's how bad I think he is!! :grrr:
Yes Bradnam is VERY annoying. I usually turn the sound off when he is in the commentary box. Inverdale to me is a presenter, not a commentator, hence his insistence on turning everything into a debate
Yes Bradnam is VERY annoying. I usually turn the sound off when he is in the commentary box. Inverdale to me is a presenter, not a commentator, hence his insistence on turning everything into a debate
Agreed! I did say in an earlier post he (Inverdale) is better behind the presenter's table than in the commentary box.
david1610
05-07-2017, 00:21
Off Topic but this week I have been watching an event I have watched for years and a new expert commentator has made me see it with new eyes. If you get a chance, listen to David Millar's comments on ITV4 during the Tour de France!
Interesting David - will have a look after WImbledon has stopped. Just like we complain about tennis commentators many people into cycling detest one of the cycling commentators on Eurosport.
traveller7
05-07-2017, 17:38
Kim Clijsters was a good commie I thought on Jos match today.
I thought so too Angela , and James Blake is good too
retired players know what they are talking about & make good commentators
lovetennis
05-07-2017, 18:13
Kim Clijsters was a good commie I thought on Jos match today.
I like Kim too, and always like Sam Smith. You can always rely on women to talk sense :big grin:
RosieBear
05-07-2017, 18:27
retired players know what they are talking about & make good commentators
You can always rely on women to talk sense :big grin:
The words 'apart from Annabel' spring to mind, in both instances.:big grin:
I like Mark Petchey's commentating.
oh yeah , forgot about her , the exception for sure
Off Topic but this week I have been watching an event I have watched for years and a new expert commentator has made me see it with new eyes. If you get a chance, listen to David Millar's comments on ITV4 during the Tour de France!
I always watch the ITV4 coverage of the TdF and it is excellent. Haven't watched any of it yet this year but look forward to following it and the new commentator.
Agree other sports could learn from this.
Wimbledon: Balding backed by the BBC despite Inverdale calls
Really? Worth reading the comments after this article!! Some of them match up to what we were discussing on here!
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/wimbledon-balding-backed-by-bbc-despite-inverdale-calls-lq5ct25g8
What fun listening to a racist caller on BBC's 606 with John McEnroe, Tim Henman & Kim Clijsters. Tony form New Brighton's call was why Andy is always scheduled on centre court and he was angry about it.
"I just don't like the bloke at all, I'm British but I just don't like him"
McEnroe "Is that because he's Scottish?" Racist "Yes". Tim Henman found it highly amusing.
What fun listening to a racist caller on BBC's 606 with John McEnroe, Tim Henman & Kim Clijsters. Tony form New Brighton's call was why Andy is always scheduled on centre court and he was angry about it.
"I just don't like the bloke at all, I'm British but I just don't like him"
McEnroe "Is that because he's Scottish?" Racist "Yes". Tim Henman found it highly amusing.
I got very wound up by that caller and Mac and Tim's response! Took to Twitter to vent....
sir coolerking
07-07-2017, 08:30
The words 'apart from Annabel' spring to mind, in both instances.:big grin:
Annabel informed us on Monday that Konta's drop shot was something new she'd brought in this year!!
Henners "He's so humble, he's so down to earth blah blah blah" Tell that to Bernardes. :rolleyes:
Example of Nadal's humility, his €750,000 watch.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEKIYUhXcAEGc1t.jpg
RosieBear
07-07-2017, 21:22
Henners "He's so humble, he's so down to earth blah blah blah" Tell that to Bernardes. :rolleyes:
Example of Nadal's humility, his €750,000 watch.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEKIYUhXcAEGc1t.jpg
Wow. €750,000 for a watch and Rafa still can't keep to time.:p
Wow. €750,000 for a watch and Rafa still can't keep to time.:p
Meow........
lovetennis
12-07-2017, 19:49
Blimey that watch is horrid. I hope they're paying him to wear it, because I wouldn't like to think he paid them for it!
Rosalind
12-07-2017, 20:03
Sue saying disparaging 'with those 3 left it's got to be Federer hasn't it?' Not Sue's finest or kindest comment.
roytennisfan
12-07-2017, 20:22
At least I didn't have naff commontators to put up with
lovetennis
12-07-2017, 20:45
I usually like Petchey but at the end of Fed's match he came out with vomit inducing twaddle comparing Fed on Centre Court to Michelangelo in the Cistine Chapel :facepalm:
wish there was a " barf " emoji
Interesting David - will have a look after WImbledon has stopped. Just like we complain about tennis commentators many people into cycling detest one of the cycling commentators on Eurosport.
Mistake here
lovetennis
12-07-2017, 22:02
wish there was a " barf " emoji
This one comes pretty close :ill:
I expect we'll need it quite a bit before Sunday's over
I usually like Petchey but at the end of Fed's match he came out with vomit inducing twaddle comparing Fed on Centre Court to Michelangelo in the Cistine Chapel :facepalm:
Really??? That has to be a new low!!
lovetennis
13-07-2017, 18:26
Nice to hear Chris Evert describe Andy as a "gentleman" in the manner of his behaviour after yesterday's match.
WimbledonWestie
13-07-2017, 19:06
Yes, she was really nice about him.
Posted without comment. :whistle:
£150,000 – £199,999 John McEnroe – Presenter and commentator
£200,000 – £249,999 John Inverdale - Presenter
Rosalind
19-07-2017, 11:48
Posted without comment. :whistle:
thanks for posting.... sometimes it's better not to know ;)
Not a massive Balding fan partly as she's never off our screens - but interesting to see that, considering her on everything, she's in the same salary bracket as McEnroe who turns up for little more than 2 weeks / year and even then goes and does he's stuff for "American TV". :angry:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40653861
themass15
19-07-2017, 11:52
John Inverdale does several sports, including rugby and racing, so he is probably almost in full time employment with the Beeb, apart from his 2 weeks presenting the French Open for ITV
banskogirl
19-07-2017, 14:49
Henners "He's so humble, he's so down to earth blah blah blah" Tell that to Bernardes. :rolleyes:
Example of Nadal's humility, his €750,000 watch.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DEKIYUhXcAEGc1t.jpg
Although remember Andy when he won the US Open? It's what they have to do for sponsorship :)
72 year old John Motson and 77 year old Henry Blofeld are retiring from commentating. Take the hint Simon Reed(70) and Frew McMillan(75). :p
RosieBear
08-09-2017, 21:31
72 year old John Motson and 77 year old Henry Blofeld are retiring from commentating. Take the hint Simon Reed(70) and Frew McMillan(75). :p
I think you should be a tennis commentator, B - you could put a link on match threads which we could click and listen to you call the match. Give it some thought :) :thumbup:
I think you should be a tennis commentator, B - you could put a link on match threads which we could click and listen to you call the match. Give it some thought :) :thumbup:
It wouldn't pass the censors. :rolleyes: ;)
It wouldn't pass the censors. :rolleyes: ;)
:lol: We are not responsible for the content of external links ;)
Didn't really know where to put this, but as it's from Twitter ....taken from Stu Fraser's column in the Times
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DovU6yxXsAAqtQ2.jpg:large
Will miss the Best Commentator!!
Mods feel free to move if in wrong thread.:wave:
Just seen a tweet from @markpetchey that he is doing the Hopman Cup..
That’s a real shame. One of the better commentators.
That’s a real shame. One of the better commentators.
Agree Teresa, maybe he is just taking time out till Prime are up & running as he did do the US Open.
themass15
05-10-2018, 17:30
A real loss to tennis commentating.
WimbledonWestie
05-10-2018, 18:08
Shame, I love Petch, so honest and insightful. Especially like him chatting with Marcus bucklabd and commentating with Peter McNamara
Petch is definitely the best commentator.
Agreed with all the above. I was hoping he’d stick with prime :(
Well it does say he is taking a break not giving up so here's hoping he joins prime at some point next year.
Hope too Petch will continue commentating. Along with Peter and Todd Woodbridge [enjoyed his commentating at the Laver Cup] he is my favourite commentator. :)
There is nothing to say he is not going to do Prime, just not do any more Sky this year. It is next year Prime are going to be taking over from Sky for good. So fingers crossed.
Thanks for moving my post cazza, I did try to find this thread but alas didn't succeed Yes like you all I think Mark is just taking a break, most porbably helping his daughter before joining Prime.
Sadly David Mercer has died.
BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/53929336) - David Mercer: BBC commentator and former Wimbledon umpire dies aged 70
RoastLamb
28-08-2020, 15:07
Sadly David Mercer has died.
BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/53929336) - David Mercer: BBC commentator and former Wimbledon umpire dies aged 70
This one is very sad. Such a great commentator. I remember back in 2009 he commentated the Abu Dhabi matches - remember the epic one with Andy and Rafa. He was always so enthusiastic and I just loved his voice.
That is very sad news. I always enjoyed his commentary - which definitely reflected his experience as an umpire too.
JAMES4578
28-08-2020, 16:24
Yes was very sad news, certainly enjoyed his commentary- one of the best. I do remember him as an Umpire. https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2020-08-28/in_memory_of_david_mercer.html
Obituary for David Mercer from ATP - https://www.atptour.com/en/news/david-mercer-2020-obituary
RoastLamb
02-09-2020, 20:49
Obituary for David Mercer from ATP - https://www.atptour.com/en/news/david-mercer-2020-obituary
Wow I had no idea he had a career in law AND politics!!! Loved his voice and character.
Sallydaisy
09-11-2020, 16:35
Pete Bodo is leaving ESPN. Not that we can watch it here but I've followed him on twitter and it seems to me that he'll be sorely missed.
https://twitter.com/Neil_Harman57/status/1541498275035070470
:rolling:
suttontennis
28-06-2022, 07:21
It was good listening to Todd Woodbridge give an Aussie insider view on Duckworth during the match last night. Especially when he said that during close sets James really speeds up his play and often gets tense.
I had radio Five live on at the same time as the BBC. During Emma Raducanu's match talked about beer with Kim Clijsters. Later, during Andy's match, Tony Livesey then decided to play a game with Kim Clijsters and Gigi Salmon. He'd spotted Alexander Armstrong in the royal box and wanted to know the connection with Alexander and Wimbledon. The answer was Pointless.
suttontennis
07-07-2022, 07:04
Not sure if Lopez is bringing much to the commentary, apart from agreeing with McEnroe. Think he's only there for his connection to Rafa. His one attempt at an 'insight' was to say Rafa would serve wide on match point. He went up the T.
banskogirl
14-07-2022, 21:43
Not sure if Lopez is bringing much to the commentary, apart from agreeing with McEnroe. Think he's only there for his connection to Rafa. His one attempt at an 'insight' was to say Rafa would serve wide on match point. He went up the T.
I really enjoyed listening to Feli especially when they all went off on one about it being Rafa's foot which was the problem and he was disagreeing. Just shows it takes all sorts to keep us all happy!
I enjoyed listening to Feli too. Can't remember what was said now though but there were a few interesting snippets during the match.
Elizabeth
15-07-2022, 11:31
I didn't hear Feli commentating but I had a picture taken with him at Wimbledon.
themass15
15-07-2022, 12:24
I didn't hear Feli commentating but I had a picture taken with him at Wimbledon.
Lucky you!
I've got one of Feli's Tshirts won in a raffle.
themass15
15-07-2022, 17:01
I've got one of Feli's Tshirts won in a raffle.
And you!
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