Rawson

You don't have to be a track and field expert to be able to call the meets/races well. Look at guys like Jim Nance, Bob Costas, and Mike Goldberg. They can announce any sport thinkable and make it sound great. The biggest key is research, research, research. That may not be enough for some people though. USATF desperately needs to replace these guys. Every time I watch a USATF or NCAA track/xc event on TV, I wish one of the above guys was the one announcing.

USATF does NOT hire the commentators.

USATF pays the stations to air the meet, and the station provides their own commentators and everything else related to the broadcast.

Not in our hands.

Fred Capossela wrote:

When a preconceived storyline fails to materialize they(all current domestic announcers) often can not switch horses in midstream well.

Excellent point. In the 2007 US Champs 1,500, you'd have thought that only Webb and Lagat were in the race. When Manzano snuck in for 2nd, it was like he was never there. I don't think they ever mentioned his name, and completely ignored him for the post race interviews.

I'd like to see a telecast with Dwight, Ato and Eyestone doing the commentating. Larry's commentating style drives me nuts.

Listening to him on the espn3.com stream of the 2013 T&F broadcast. Again, so much better on a stream for the true fans than when he dumbs it down for a TV audience. Larry is not terrible!

smartned wrote:

Listening to him on the espn3.com stream of the 2013 T&F broadcast. Again, so much better on a stream for the true fans than when he dumbs it down for a TV audience. Larry is not terrible!

Calling Mac Fleet "Dale..."

Nattering about altitude training and for example...this runner named "Diego" who's last name he can't remember...and has to apologize for...then 3 sentences later remembers the name.

"Lawi, you can do ANYTHING...pause...ANYTHING..." (Sounding like he's on a date with Lawi."

smartned wrote:

Listening to him on the espn3.com stream of the 2013 T&F broadcast. Again, so much better on a stream for the true fans than when he dumbs it down for a TV audience. Larry is not terrible!

He's an embarrassment.

He's go 30 minutes to commentate...and he's polishing Lalang's nob. Not talking about other athletes at all.

He's touting these foreign athletes...and then he segues to wax thankful to high school coaches for helping athletes reach their full potential...

The irony.

I agree. I don't think Larry is bad. I actually enjoy listening to him. I have heard the same stuff for the past year but it's still entertaining to hear.

Complaining about bad commentating is kinda stupid. There is mute button. Considering most Letsrun nuts on here know everything about every distance runner at the NCAA meet there's no need to tune in.

The guy isn't going anywhere. He's going to be around for a while. Believe it or not..there are a lot people who appreciate his commentary.

Aside from all the dumb stuff he said, they gave almost no splits today. That's terrible commentating -- that's the whole event right there! Lawang was breaking away, getting reeled in, breaking away, but instead he's telling stories about running the 6 mile in 1955???

Imagine watching a football game with no 1st down marker and instead the commentators were telling you to go down to your local football field and throw a ball to see what it's like.