Derek Thompson

[Posts: 6247Joined: 06 Mar 2003, 16:25]

I'm with Betlarge on this one, being just 24, I didn't really see (or that should be hear) O'Sullivan until he was on his last legs (profesionally speaking) but imo the giuy is rank average compared to the likes of John Hunt (my fav), Hoiles, Holt and even Mark Johnston tbh.

Was O'Sullivan responsible for 'the mares gonna get up' line or was it Peter Bromley?

[Posts: 1953Joined: 09 Oct 2002, 16:18]

[quote]Quote: from apracing on 9:59 am on Jan. 9, 2007[br]<br>It isn't only in racing that TV seems to offer a job for life. How about the following -

Murray Walker - total incompetent, kept going until his late 70's.

Bill McClaren - they'll be celebrating in the streets of Hawick tonight etc - a one cliche veteran.

Peter Alliss  -  simply awful, makes Thommo look like Paxman.

Gary Lineker - years of experience, still looks as wooden as Muffin the Mule.

Etc - I'm sure we can produce other examples.

TV producers dread the prospect of someone drying up on camera, so (especially for live programs like racing) they stick to the tried and trusted, simply because they know they can work in front of the camera. They also dread anything controversial - so we get the bland and the safe.

Thommo keeps his spot as they can always turn to him to fill a gap (loose horse etc) - if the producer asks him for 95 seconds, he gets 95 seconds. It might make us cringe as he thrusts the mike at innocent racegoers and it produces nothing worth watching, but all the producer cares about is having that gap filled with something, anything - and he knows that Thommo will finish exactly after 95 seconds with a decent cue to the next thing.

And once you've tried it for yourself, you know what a rare and remarkable skill that is!

AP<br>[/quote]

McLaren and Alliss, blasphemy AP, how could you!!! Bill McLaren I felt was a very competent commentator, he may have thrown in the odd cliché now and then,but I always felt he knew what he was talking about.

Alliss, I would really have to take issue on that one with you. Ok, he is getting on in years and does throw in the odd “Where did that come from?. However, down through the years he has always proven to be very knowledgeable about the game (past and present). He is not afraid to express his views on air, criticise players or the R&A. He is also extremely entertaining and in a sport that doesn’t go a hundred miles an hour.

JohnJ.<br>

[Posts: 4134Joined: 07 Dec 2002, 17:02Location: Talbot Green]

Bill McLaren turned himself into one big cliche.

The only thing that changed in his commentary from game to game was the name of the players.

Sorry, Bill.

BTW, is Gordon Brown from the same lineage?

Colin

[Posts: 1532Joined: 31 May 2004, 16:59Location: Warwick]

McLaren was truly appalling ('a lettle bet of hargy-bargy'. Oh please.).

Alliss I can't get a handle on.  He drones on like the gin-soaked, home counties club bore, telling all his BBC viewers that the dear old secretary at Surrey Lakes, 94-year-old Reg Twaddle is close to pegging out (so let's all think of him and his dear wife Norma) then says things that are often profound and occasionally very funny.

My real target at the moment is Sid Waddell though, who seems to be going increasingly mental as the years go by.  Having set his stall out to massacre the English language many years ago, I feel the joke is past just wearing thin.

Mike

[Posts: 1953Joined: 09 Oct 2002, 16:18]

If you actually listen to Alliss when he is talking about golf, he does know what he is on about and does bother to keep up with changes in the game, i.e. the swing, new technology etc. So what if he throws in the odd the Secretary Reg Twaddle story, he can be highly entertaining, yet he still knows his craft.

[Posts: 4157Joined: 20 Jan 2006, 11:28Location: The Ainsty of York]

O'Sullevan - 'the voice' - those dulcet tones were a glorious gift and rendered any limitations in race-calling superfluous, which were few at his peak IMO.

The rose-tinted eardrums of the middle aged harking back to days of youth perhaps: John Arlott anyone?

Yes DJ it was O'Sullevan who called home Dawn Run in the GC.

On balance today's race-callers are a very able bunch.

Richie Benaud the cream of the commentators - no contest.<br>

(Edited by Drone at 10:40 am on Jan. 12, 2007)

[Posts: 4134Joined: 07 Dec 2002, 17:02Location: Talbot Green]

John Arlott......what a voice, what a commentator............remember his commentary on the removal of the covers!?!?

Colin

[Posts: 626Joined: 29 Mar 2001, 11:40]

Idea for another Sir Peter book,

commentators of his time, what memories he could recall from his long past,<br>my favourites Arlott and Jonners,

will my grandkids talk of Thommo with the same nostalgia???????

[Posts: 2439Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 16:31]

Not if they're well brought up :o

[Posts: 1532Joined: 31 May 2004, 16:59Location: Warwick]

[quote]Idea for another Sir Peter book,

commentators of his time, what memories he could recall from his long past, <br>my favourites Arlott and Jonners,

will my grandkids talk of Thommo with the same nostalgia??????? [/quote]

Sorry, Baz, but I'm not having Arlott.  His florid turns of phrase were betrayed by the fact that he misunderstood the media in which he was working.  His radio commentaries were never enhanced by such trivial matters as telling you the score, for example.

Brian Johnstone, on the other hand, was total quality and spoke with humour and warmth, without forgetting the purpose of the job.

Benaud was good, but ridiculously overrated.  Punctuating twenty minutes of silence with the word 'Shot!' is hardly commentary.

The 'final farewell' moment in the 2005 Ashes was just embarrassing, although it was at least chucked into amusing chaos by Pieterson getting nailed on 158 at that exact 'goodbye' moment.

A few more sacred cows slain then!

Mike

[Posts: 750Joined: 22 Apr 2004, 10:39]

Your fondness for Arlott and Johnners changes my whole view of you Barry.:)

[Posts: 750Joined: 22 Apr 2004, 10:39]

Betlarge, it was precisely Benaud's economy with words that made him great.

[Posts: 4134Joined: 07 Dec 2002, 17:02Location: Talbot Green]

I agree entirely, Zorro.

Benaud seemed to appreciate that the viewer didn't need constant chatter, oh that a few that do the job now would realise that.

Colin