The Webb n' Solinsky Commentary at Oxy: What a Treat!

You can't be serious. That was gawd awful!

Tell me you are not serious. I have never heard so many ums, ers, and awkward pauses in a broadcast before .... not to mention the randomly stringed together sentences. Horrible.

Deadman Running wrote:

Tell me you are not serious. I have never heard so many ums, ers, and awkward pauses in a broadcast before .... not to mention the randomly stringed together sentences. Horrible.

Solinsky was good. No fault to Webb because he has always had a stutter but listening intently during a broadcast just made us all more aware of it that's all. Even if he does have a slight speech impediment it's nice to have those two guys there.

I'm dead serious. They're not exactly a polished act, but give them a break, it was their first time at it! I'd rather listen to a stuttering, bumbling couple of my all-time favorite runners than some clueless smooth-talkers.

I think everyone knows that Webb has a stutter and he talks very fast. He gets excited very easily. I think both were both composed for their first try, I enjoyed their commentary because I respect their opinions. However, I thought they both could have a lot more excitement in their voice but I recognize that this race wasn't the Olympics. I blame USATF for this because I bet you they instructed them to stay calm and provide athletic insight.

They both talked like they were on sedatives or an anti-anxiety drug but I'd rather them be too serious than too silly (i.e. Flotrack). Anyway, I actually think overall it was a good first try for both of them to be honest. They didn't seem too nervous and it's probably not as easy as it looks. If you ever record your voice and listen back to it, you can gain insight on how difficult it is to project just the right kind of emotion to make it interesting to the viewer while not sounding like some rediculous peppy cheerleader.

Trolling for dollars wrote:

You can't be serious. That was gawd awful!

Hopefully idiots like you won't scare them away from doing this again.

I am amazed at what critical idiots some of you are. I would love to listen to your lame asses that have likely accomplished nothing in this sport. These guys were some of the best Americans ever and are just getting going on commentating. I very much look forward to watching as they continue to improve and provide insight to us mere mortals.

Cookie monsters wrote:

I am amazed at what critical idiots some of you are. I would love to listen to your lame asses that have likely accomplished nothing in this sport. These guys were some of the best Americans ever and are just getting going on commentating. I very much look forward to watching as they continue to improve and provide insight to us mere mortals.

Agree one hundo

Did Webb sound relaxed?

Did Webb sound relaxed? Yes, he did it in trainers, too.

Carrie is 1,000 time cuter.

100,000 Texas relays wrote:

Carrie is 1,000 time cuter.

She also has a midwest accent which is like a cheese grater for ears

Cookie monsters wrote:

I am amazed at what critical idiots some of you are. I would love to listen to your lame asses that have likely accomplished nothing in this sport. These guys were some of the best Americans ever and are just getting going on commentating. I very much look forward to watching as they continue to improve and provide insight to us mere mortals.

You are truly out of your mind; really what amazing insight can they provide that you cant see for yourself in a race...Yah, wow they can beat the pants off of me in a 5k and mile. This has nothing to do with what they accomplished

Just because your a good runner doesn't make you a good commentator duh. Just because your a good athlete doesn't make you a good coach either ffs. They are no Tim Hutchings or Tony R. as commentators nor will they ever be-Yes, they were crap--put people in there that can create interest in what is going on in and out of the race.

Bottom line is, the average listener doesn't want honest, accurate analysis. They want to be entertained. Broadcast companies know this, which is why they have people like Webb and Solinsky on the team, but in a minor role. They are there to add legitimacy and a bit of color, and nothing else. If a producer has them on for more than that, for too much time, that is bad production management. It says nothing about the talent.

I've done live analyst tv and radio commentary, and it isn't easy. It can be a thrill the first few times, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone to have to make a living that way. Media is brutal!!

If we don't have to hear "go down to your local track and try to run a 60 second quarter" It's an improvement.

Mrr82 wrote:

If we don't have to hear "go down to your local track and try to run a 60 second quarter" It's an improvement.

That is saved for the mainstream TV broadcast... I actually don't mind Larry Rawson, at least he is self-aware and knows he is being a goof ball.

But does anybody actually like Tom Hammond? How does he keep getting jobs? That un-cut broadcast of indoor worlds was the most ridiculous thing I had ever seen, especially with him complaining about having to walk upstairs to go to the bathroom.

common wrote:

Bottom line is, the average listener doesn't want honest, accurate analysis. They want to be entertained. Broadcast companies know this, which is why they have people like Webb and Solinsky on the team, but in a minor role. They are there to add legitimacy and a bit of color, and nothing else. If a producer has them on for more than that, for too much time, that is bad production management. It says nothing about the talent.

I've done live analyst tv and radio commentary, and it isn't easy. It can be a thrill the first few times, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone to have to make a living that way. Media is brutal!!

Well, I think the trick is to both captivate the junkies (like us), and also bringing the "average" listener from having a casual interest into having a serious interest, and to do that, there must be some honest, accurate analysis woven in, along with the insight from people who are/were the "real deal" in the sport.

The third commentator had to keep bringing them both into the fold as they went into tangents about running more than once.

I did think Solinsky can become a pretty good commentator if he sticks with it. Alan just comes off like a kid who just ate a lot of candy.