Liggett & Sherwin

[Grogs]

Matt Keenan is great - he obviously reads a lot and picks up as much as he can from the peloton, which he shares in his commentary (very rarely repeating himself). Robbie Mac is also great because he was in the peloton not too long ago (unlike Sherwen, who was there a very long time ago). Sherwen mentioned carbon wheels yesterday like they were cutting edge and had just been introduced in the peloton.

 

The Giro commentary was great this year - Dan Lloyd and Ned Boulting were fantastic (very similar to Matt and Robbie). Ned also commentates on football - his commentary in England's last match in UEFA (when they exited) this year was a scream at the end.

 

More Ned:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6RBiymo2w4

[Grogs]

.

[carbon29er]

The best bit of getting rid of DSTV is that I can choose which stream to take. Robbie McEwen has some interesting insights so I keep switching to him during ad breaks on EuroSport where Sean Kelly does the insights and Carlton Kirby does the call. But even he is wearing a bit thin with his sky man love.  Matt Keenan has good knowledge but not the voice for commentary.

 

It's a pity Dave Harmon doesn't do EuroSport any more, he was fantastic.  And Stephen Roche joining Kelly for the insights was bike racing nirvana.

 

But PnP? I'd rather stream in Flemish or French than listen to them repeat themselves for the 15th year in succession.

 

And when Cav wins I switch to French to hear them say Cavendeeeeeesh.

[Pure Savage]

I think the guys from GCN who commentated the Giro were much better. (Dan and Matt) 

 

They know whats cooking with transfer news, twitter, politics in the peleton this century and actually talk about tactics. 

 

These too old fogeys are useless. Took 10 minutes for them to realise Nibali had been distanced, then instead of commentating on actual race tactics, they try to read the riders faces and tell who is popping. Ugh, move along and get the GCN boys in.

[Tumbleweed]

Liggett getting long in the tooth, same as my Mom calling me my uncles name and my brothers name before she gets to my name sometimes ...

 

Of course he's getting old. Part of his charm. He's like cycling's Murray Walker. 

[Pure Savage]

Of course he's getting old. Part of his charm. He's like cycling's Murray Walker. 

No, Murray walker knew what was going on. Except when he called Raikonen hakinen...

[Grogs]

Liggett reminds one of Charles Fortune (the legendary cricket commentator). I remember them having to pull him off the live feed in the late 80s when the poor old man was quite clearly senile. He was truly a legend, but he simply stayed on too long.

[GLuvsMtb]

Love em or hate em, they can talk up excitement in even a funeral procession. Ok so they get some names wrong and repeat the same catch phrases, who cares? Some of the other commentators sound like they are commenting at a game of golf.

[Tumbleweed]

No, Murray walker knew what was going on. Except when he called Raikonen hakinen...

 

He knew what was going on...especially if it involved Brit drivers! Hahaha! 

 

For a bit of distraction: http://murraywalkerisms.tripod.com/

[EmptyB]

Dan Lloyd and Carlton Kirby ftw....

 

Matt is very good and really enjoying Robbie McEwen too. Awesome listening to someone who is still so fresh out of retirement by comparison.

 

Paul "broken record" Sherwin

 

We said the same last year, Phil....bless him but its time to move on.

[StevieL]

With the economy of words which has become his trademark, Paul yesterday told us: “... yeah but, Phil, I think this is pretty much, er, once again like I used to say, is the lull before the storm, they're [the breakaways] just stealing a few more seconds before the main field really starts to kick in full power and have those big V8 engines with their turbos whistling to high speed.” Or maybe he's been spending too much time at Silverstone or Le Mans before the Tour. A little later he came out with “It looks like a drag-strip race here.”

 

Not content with this level of classic commentary dominance throughout his afternoon's work, Paul had one more memorable observation, this time on the breakaways' social standing. “Alaphillipe is hanging on for his life”, he reckoned. Well, it's not the life I would choose, but he is an elite athlete being paid at least well enough to keep the wolf from the door, I'd hope.

 

You can bet you will hear "This final approach is very precarious" from Pauls' mouth a few times sometime between now and the 3rd week in July.

 

[Pure Savage]

Love em or hate em, they can talk up excitement in even a funeral procession. Ok so they get some names wrong and repeat the same catch phrases, who cares? Some of the other commentators sound like they are commenting at a game of golf.

 

If you compare the commentary to "How The Race Was Won" by Casto Catalno, you will realise just how bad these two old farts are. 

 

He points out subtle things that make the racing so much more interesting, cross winds, rider positioning, feeding, which riders are riding on the front, positioning in sprints and strategies on the climbs.

 

Everyone can see the pain on the riders faces and gets amped up by the cheers of the crowd, its the details that make it so amazing.

 

All these old farts do is look at the current speed of the break and the peleton and then state the obvious, "The break is pulling away as they are going almost double the peletons speed" the fact that the peleton is not finished climbing the completely miss.

[carbon29er]

Between Dan Lloyd and Matt Stephens I'd still take Rob Hatch. The GCN boys are not my cup of tea.

 

Still, it could be worse, we could get stuck with chief wanker new generation tosser David Millar who is now on ITV. That would herald the end of my interest in cycle races.

[Joe Low]

This annual thread used to be called "Phil and Paul" so I guess attitudes are hardening.

 

To me, the tour is mostly wallpaper, sound and visuals, with a some compelling sections, so the commentary doesn't matter much.

[Mntboy]

Absolute legends, but yeah... their time was up about 2/3 years ago.

 

Really enjoy Matt Keenan

I unfortunately have to follow the TdF via text commentary and when I read CN's comments it's usually read with Keenan's droll Australian monotone. Likeable Aussie that one!

[jcza]

Paul should be a tour guide and Phil should stay in the VIP hospitality and entertain folks there. They add no value to anyone wanting to follow the actual racing. As someone mentioned earlier they are out of touch. I would like Rasmussen in the commentary box.