Arguably Team GB's greatest ever athletics race. The commentary is bland and banal, his trademark "....a.a.a.a.and the American* is beaten" just doesn't cut the mustard. Commentary-by-numbers. He made it about as exciting as watching Songs of Praise......
*substitute whichever nationality the second place runner is representing in that particular race.
Steve Cram is a dreadful presenter apart from when he is commentating on an actual race. He has nowhere near the competence of an actual skilled presenter like David Coleman. He has no comprehension of what he needs to tell the viewer. Brendan Foster has much more of an idea how to do it. Michael Johnson is excellent. Most of the rest of the former athletes are poor to mediocre in comparison.
The problem with Steve and Brendan (and they ain't on their own) is they don't know when to shut up.
They've often so little to say during marathons, that they constantly repeat themselves or say the same thing in three different ways. They've little idea what are the historic buildings on which the cameras often focus during the London Marathon, other than Tower Bridge.
The problem with Steve and Brendan (and they ain't on their own) is they don't know when to shut up.
They've often so little to say during marathons, that they constantly repeat themselves or say the same thing in three different ways. They've little idea what are the historic buildings on which the cameras often focus during the London Marathon, other than Tower Bridge.
You're right, of course. Cram is only good for commenting on races that go around a track. He knows even less about the New York marathon route than he does about London. I think someone gave him a script for the Olympics so he knew a few Chinese landmarks and places of interest to mention. They need to give him one for London as well.
At the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, the womens marathon went off a little while before the mens - all the women finished in the MCG, then the men arrived shortly after. Cram and Foster mistook a 'less than attractive' back marker in the womens marathon for a course intruder at the front of the mens race - funny as hell!!
The problem with Steve and Brendan (and they ain't on their own) is they don't know when to shut up.
They've often so little to say during marathons, that they constantly repeat themselves or say the same thing in three different ways. They've little idea what are the historic buildings on which the cameras often focus during the London Marathon, other than Tower Bridge.
I find their continual brown-nosing over Paula Radcliffe very annoying
The BBC have a history of engaging "named" athletes as pundits.
They tried Cathy Freeman in the 2004 Olympics.
The poor woman couldn't string a comprehensible sentence together.
She made a rapid exit from their team.
The BBC just need the athletics collossus that is Michael Johnson, nobody else.
To the OP, if you think Denise Lewis sucks as a pundit, you should have seen her presenting the sports news on BBC Midlands Today :eek: Truely car crash tv!
I thought Roger Black, when he was doing it, was very poor. All he did was simper and sniffle whenever a Brit lost, and couldn't keep any composure. Very unprofessional.
And another thing, her getting pregnant was convenient for MT as she could leave by mutual consent!
Some people are just not adapted to certain environments(applies to everyone in some way I would have thought), Denise is seemingly not a natural when it comes to broadcasting. She maybe ok at giving a few opinions but anchoring a slot is another thing altogether.
Some people grow into the role-Gary Lineker was very stilted when he started as a pundit iirc but whatever anyone's views on him the Beeb gave him arguably the biggest anchor role in British tv history -so he must have got better ;-)
Others-Otis Deley for instance, have nightmares. And there was a guy who presented live Crimewatch slots some years ago who I got the impression had a slight speech impediment-at least a nervous one.
Whereas Leon Taylor who commentates on the diving is excellent.
He works as a public speaker and it shows.
Wouldn't be surprised if the BBC use him for more stuff
I thought Roger Black, when he was doing it, was very poor. All he did was simper and sniffle whenever a Brit lost, and couldn't keep any composure. Very unprofessional.
All I remember of Roger Black is his stuttering and flinging his hands about.
Speaking of no composure, I think they tried Linford Christie for a while as well. He'd say a few words then burst out laughing.
A lot of the top athletes turn out to be hopeless presenters/commentators. Not many make the transition. I don't really feel Denise Lewis brings very much to the programme, but they seem to keep her on.
Paula Radcliffe as a commentator always sounds a bit nervous and uncertain. And she keeps needing to clear her throat!!
All I remember of Roger Black is his stuttering and flinging his hands about.
Speaking of no composure, I think they tried Linford Christie for a while as well. He'd say a few words then burst out laughing.
A lot of the top athletes turn out to be hopeless presenters/commentators. Not many make the transition. I don't really feel Denise Lewis brings very much to the programme, but they seem to keep her on.
Paula Radcliffe as a commentator always sounds a bit nervous and uncertain. And she keeps needing to clear her throat!!
I remember Linford Christie doing that....:D He was totally unsuitable for punditry and they, quite rightly, quietly 'retired' him.
A couple of weeks back it was the Usain Bolt show on BBC Three. Every couple of minutes it was chat and build up to his race. They even had a countdown clock :rolleyes:
They had one on the other night before the relay race last night as well.
Gave me enough warning to turn over.
He wasn't a pundit but Amir Khan's non-double act with John Inverdale was the most pointless for me. " .........., the crowd were great ?", "that was a tough match ?", and other searching singular questions.
Unfair to single out Denise Lewis, apart from the swimming / pool lot and Michael Johnson they have all been bad.
The BBC is fast becoming the home of retired sports stars.
The BBC is not alone. Take a look at Sky Sports for example. All sports presentation on all channels is like this. Moving into media punditry is a well established career path for ageing sports stars.
Denise Lewis isn't a commentator so how can she be an awful one? She's ok as a pundit, and she's good to look at so what's the problem?
Not a fan of Paula Radcliffe either. Very much in the background and has nothing of interest to say.
don't you poo-poo Paula. She is capable of doing that herself.
Denise probably ticks the BBC ethnic + woman boxes. She only has to lose a leg in a freak girl-on-girl accident, and she'll probably end up running the channel.
Comments
Exhibit A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFSUpLFO2ZU
Arguably Team GB's greatest ever athletics race. The commentary is bland and banal, his trademark "....a.a.a.a.and the American* is beaten" just doesn't cut the mustard. Commentary-by-numbers. He made it about as exciting as watching Songs of Praise......
*substitute whichever nationality the second place runner is representing in that particular race.
Exhibit B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhiVdReN6uw
I rest my case
The problem with Steve and Brendan (and they ain't on their own) is they don't know when to shut up.
They've often so little to say during marathons, that they constantly repeat themselves or say the same thing in three different ways. They've little idea what are the historic buildings on which the cameras often focus during the London Marathon, other than Tower Bridge.
You're right, of course. Cram is only good for commenting on races that go around a track. He knows even less about the New York marathon route than he does about London. I think someone gave him a script for the Olympics so he knew a few Chinese landmarks and places of interest to mention. They need to give him one for London as well.
I find their continual brown-nosing over Paula Radcliffe very annoying
They tried Cathy Freeman in the 2004 Olympics.
The poor woman couldn't string a comprehensible sentence together.
She made a rapid exit from their team.
Yes she can.
Yes, she was pretty crap, from what I remember!
And another thing, her getting pregnant was convenient for MT as she could leave by mutual consent!
Some people are just not adapted to certain environments(applies to everyone in some way I would have thought), Denise is seemingly not a natural when it comes to broadcasting. She maybe ok at giving a few opinions but anchoring a slot is another thing altogether.
Some people grow into the role-Gary Lineker was very stilted when he started as a pundit iirc but whatever anyone's views on him the Beeb gave him arguably the biggest anchor role in British tv history -so he must have got better ;-)
Others-Otis Deley for instance, have nightmares. And there was a guy who presented live Crimewatch slots some years ago who I got the impression had a slight speech impediment-at least a nervous one.
He works as a public speaker and it shows.
Wouldn't be surprised if the BBC use him for more stuff
All I remember of Roger Black is his stuttering and flinging his hands about.
Speaking of no composure, I think they tried Linford Christie for a while as well. He'd say a few words then burst out laughing.
A lot of the top athletes turn out to be hopeless presenters/commentators. Not many make the transition. I don't really feel Denise Lewis brings very much to the programme, but they seem to keep her on.
Paula Radcliffe as a commentator always sounds a bit nervous and uncertain. And she keeps needing to clear her throat!!
I remember Linford Christie doing that....:D He was totally unsuitable for punditry and they, quite rightly, quietly 'retired' him.
Beth Tweddle seems very good as does Rebecca Adlington, both new this year to the job.
They had one on the other night before the relay race last night as well.
Gave me enough warning to turn over.
He wasn't a pundit but Amir Khan's non-double act with John Inverdale was the most pointless for me. " .........., the crowd were great ?", "that was a tough match ?", and other searching singular questions.
Unfair to single out Denise Lewis, apart from the swimming / pool lot and Michael Johnson they have all been bad.
Clip> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqbfK9_uPYc
I have the answer,
Michael Johnson In A Tutu.
Denise Lewis isn't a commentator so how can she be an awful one? She's ok as a pundit, and she's good to look at so what's the problem?
Denise probably ticks the BBC ethnic + woman boxes. She only has to lose a leg in a freak girl-on-girl accident, and she'll probably end up running the channel.
Same problem as why they probably won't put Susanna Reid in the 110m hurdles. I know, they definitely got that one wrong.