Kara talks far too much. Nobody needs to know, not once and certainly not 10 times, that the competitors in a heat where the top 3 automatically go through would like to finish in the top 2.
RG3 is the best of the color/former athlete commentators, but unfortunately they only brought him out for the NCAAs.
Kara generally offers great insight but her use of the word ‘she’ is endless… she this, she that… oh my goodness. Her producer needs to whisper in her ear reduce the use of the word ‘she’.
Devers is at 4% of the total word count. This is really bad. I would do it for a plane ticket and lodging.
They just need to get John Anderson back on the World feed.
100% and I definitely missed the two field pundits they had on the Olympics feed last year. The throws guy was excellent. The AM session was done well and Rob Walker is great, but Gail didn’t have much
There is no sense of grandeur from the production. Football announcers, the Tour de France and the US swimming announcer all act like their sport is the greatest thing in the world. Track announcers act like this is just another track meet that we have to get through. These are literally the fastest people in the world, the announcers should be projecting that with every syllable they utter. This actually is much more amazing than any football game or any other event, they just don’t realize it.
It's not that hard to do a zone defense on the race commentary.
Example race: 5000
Long enough that you can tell a story. So before the race you talk to the top 5 candidates to win, get where their running journey is at the moment and talk about that when they are in the lead. What was the mantra during the training for this day? Where are they training, who are they training with? 15 seconds of info right there.
Kara talks far too much. Nobody needs to know, not once and certainly not 10 times, that the competitors in a heat where the top 3 automatically go through would like to finish in the top 2.
RG3 is the best of the color/former athlete commentators, but unfortunately they only brought him out for the NCAAs.
Canada's not that bad. I can't stand Felicien (who's one of the main hosts... very bad), but the actual commentators are great. Obviously Mike Smith, being a retired decathlete, has insight into most events - I appreciate him pointing out little things in (eg) pole vault, shot put, hurdles, etc., that I wouldn't have noticed. To be honest, he's probably one of the most knowledgeable commentators out there - far superior to Dan O'Brien in terms of the saliency of his words, though Dan does have a bit more pizzazz, I guess. Kate van Buskirk as the distance analyst was fantastic as well. Poised, articulate, well-researched, with measured and helpful comments. Top notch. Far, far, far, far, far superior to Goucher, who's not terrible.
So Canada gets an A for sure.
The British commentators are really top notch though. The women are great if nothing else b/c they seem generally enthused by everything. The male commentators are also fantastic. Can't really fault them. Also A.
But the best by far? The Aussies. Incredible insight into every event. I THINK it was Jane Fleming, one of Australia's top heptathletes from the 90's? Best commentary I've ever heard. She and her host partner were seamless. Both well-prepared and articulate.
The problem with the US commentators is that they're looking for show and not substance. Let's be honest, does anyone besides track fans even know who Devers is? No. As a result, they're not really getting a ton of extra points for having her on staff. So why bother having her at all? Canada has medalists too, but you don't see Donavan Bailey doing a lot of colour commentary - just save him for some interviews once in a while. Surely, SURELY, the US can find someone who's been a medalist AND who has basic communication skills.
Most US athletes come across as idiots in their interviews (I'm sorry - it's true), with a poorer grasp of basic English than the majority of EUROPEAN athletes I see interviewed throughout the Diamond League. I'm also astounded how these athletes, for whom English is their second language (maybe third!), have a better grasp of sentence structure, variety of vocabulary, etc. So to think that purely being an athlete sets you up for a successful career in commentary is ridiculous - yet the US fails again and again in this area.
You know who I think MIGHT actually be a good bridge? Allyson Felix. Clearly talented on the track, and from the interviews I've seen she's measured, articulate, and classy.
Anyway, rant over. Clearly, US wants glitter and name recognition.
They just need to get John Anderson back on the World feed.
100% and I definitely missed the two field pundits they had on the Olympics feed last year. The throws guy was excellent. The AM session was done well and Rob Walker is great, but Gail didn’t have much
The Aussie commentators? Jane Fleming (I THINK - retired heptathlete) and her co-host were the best I've ever heard. By far. Second place definitely is the UK team - great balance of skills between the male and female commentators. The US broadcast teams get lapped in this race...
The Aussie commentators? Jane Fleming (I THINK - retired heptathlete) and her co-host were the best I've ever heard. By far. Second place definitely is the UK team - great balance of skills between the male and female commentators. The US broadcast teams get lapped in this race...
Yes I think Fleming did jumps/sprints with John Anderson/Rob Walker for Tokyo, she was excellent. They all had good chemistry because they were all mammoth track nerds. The throws announcer was a Brit and he was losing his mind with what Crouser did. I was definitely missing him yesterday when Crouser threw 22.2 going at about half speed, he would’ve lost it.
It's funny that you reference football commentators. As I watch football and listen to the commentators I can't help but think that if football fans were as "cruel" as track fans and were posting on letsfootball.com they'd be ripping those idiots to shreds.
I cringe when I hear them talk. I like Romo's enthusiasm but at least in track we don't have to deal with guys with obvious CTE trying to announce.
Football fans are a billion times more cruel than track fans.
I may be in the minority but John Anderson really sucks in the booth. I guess he’s okay as a sideline reporter but he’s a typical ESPN guy and thinks he’s a comedian and it’s annoying.
For proof, watch the Mu 800 Olympic Gold race on YouTube and tell me he knows how to announce a 2 minute race.
He, like the bad announcers like Devers (who was decent commenting on sprints) just lay out lame cliches.
Symmonds would be perfect but no chance they hire him after what he did.