Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Here and There

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  • Richard Llewellyn,

    Not picking on our guys in particular, I don't think they are any better or worse than their offshore peers, and I guess there is space for every type of commentator, from the one-eyed fanboy, to the gushy romantic in love with the higher virtues of the game, to the 'just the facts' expert commentator.

    I'm all for mixing humour with commentary, so I tend to prefer the likes of Kerry O'Keefe, and Dennis Commetti in the AFL, but that said, I've always thought that Ian Smith was by far our best sideline comments man - where has Smithy gone?

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I've always thought that Ian Smith was by far our best sideline comments man - where has Smithy gone?

    Yeah I agree, I think he's part of the next generation. I'd be keen to hear him make the trip up to the box more for rugby games. I've been impressed how he made the transition from cricket to rugby and still sounded like he knew what he was talking about and actually said some intelligent things. And was always able to do his job, like tell us when players were being changed, rather than us just having to guess from when everyone on the field is wearing a number higher than 15.

    And Mexted's commentary is like being verbally farted on. My 8 month old daughter with six words and lots of grunting and growling would be more useful.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Fitzgerald,

    I'll add my voice to the chorus of calls to bring back Ian Smith.
    As Ian Smith was a wicket keeper is it any surprise he can talk on his feet?

    Since May 2007 • 631 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    RB; if it was valid for TJ to wax lyrical about the benefits of the reconditioning programme, why didn’t he balance that by noting that Kelleher had just been subbed because he was dead on his feet?

    Not so sure about Smith though; seems to be less critical / observant than when he started.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Off the rugby for a moment, but still on commentators - anyone know who subbed for Brendon Telfer in the netball semis?

    Missed his name, but we knew it wasn't Telfer because he knew the rules, the players, managed to remember the score & appeared to be able to read the game.

    Telfer was back for the final though.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    I guess there is space for every type of commentator

    except for that screaming and hysterical guy who comments the swimming.

    swimming is never so exciting as to warrant wetting your pants while watching it.

    much like yachting.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Fitzgerald,

    I'ld love to have audio channels that hook up to the same TV shots so you can hear Oscar & Nathan, Smithie, Mex & Stu, the Mighty Quinn, or one of the growing number of women who are far more knowledgeable than I ever was when I played - you're choice .

    Since May 2007 • 631 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Y'all need to watch more ESPN, easily the best sports coverage on Earth (though you do still have to correct them every now and again, because everyone's human...mostly)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    ESPN’s dumb-and-dumber coverage of European Soccerball is enough to put me off the channel for life.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I'ld love to have audio channels that hook up to the same TV shots so you can hear Oscar & Nathan, Smithie, Mex & Stu, the Mighty Quinn, or one of the growing number of women who are far more knowledgeable than I ever was when I played - you're choice.

    Agreed. Tracey Nelson knows more about rugby than I ever will. She moonlights from her bug-scientist job to be the live stats person for the radio commentary from Jade Stadium, and she's occasionally on Press Box. But still, buffoons like Stu Wilson get the big jobs ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Fitzgerald,

    The old watch TV & listen to the Radio of old but with more choice via the internet.
    For the Rumania vs Ivory Coast etc listening to some semi sober students could be a laugh too

    Since May 2007 • 631 posts Report Reply

  • WH,

    swimming is never so exciting as to warrant wetting your pants while watching it.

    This is a luxury normally reserved for the participants :)

    I quite like Grant Nisbett's commentary. Even Mexted and Deaker have been improving lately. As for TJ, the Boks did have a player sin binned after receiving repeated warnings for foul play. That aside, it was the best game I've seen in a couple of seasons.

    I'm looking forward to seeing these new rules everyone has been talking about.

    Since Nov 2006 • 797 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Llewellyn,

    ESPN’s dumb-and-dumber coverage of European Soccerball is enough to put me off the channel for life

    Oooh yeah, lets not get started on Tommy Smyth 'wid a Y'.

    The absolute zen master of talking complete bollocks - able to pass sweeping - and completely wrong - generalisations about a game after just a few minutes of play, able to completely mis-interpret the evidence of our own eyes in a way that suggests he is simply guessing about whats going on out there.

    Now there is a commentator that really farks with my blood pressure. Have another whiskie Smythie.

    Mt Albert • Since Nov 2006 • 399 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    "able to pass sweeping - and completely wrong - generalisations about a game after just a few minutes of play, able to completely mis-interpret the evidence of our own eyes in a way that suggests he is simply guessing about whats going on out there"

    This is exactly the beef I have with Brendan Telfer - if Telfer tells you the (insert franchise name here) is well in control tonight, you just know that they're 20 points behind & about to lose another 10 points in a row.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    ESPN’s dumb-and-dumber coverage of European Soccerball is enough to put me off the channel for life

    Oooh yeah, lets not get started on Tommy Smyth 'wid a Y'.

    Ah, touche. I never bother with that junk myself (call me when the winner isn't one of three predictable teams).

    But c'mon, Sportscentre!?! (sorry Sportscenter)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Irvine,

    Smyth, Tommy is a shocker alright - he has no idea what's going on (ESPN football guys are calling the game from the US, not the ground). Get rid of him and the game could really take off in the US.

    At cricket, I find Ian Smith very, very negative when he's talking about our team - maybe he's just not as passionate about rugby? He's a very competant comments guy though for rugger.

    Melodie Robinson is great value for Sky, they should use her more.

    My all time fav NZ commentator is John Parker, of the old Sports Roundup radio cricket commentry - a very, very funny man. Not sure what he's up to these days...

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 242 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    John Parker’s CEO (or similar) for Sport Waikato.

    He was good; very understated. But it helped when you were bouncing off commentators like Richards and I. Gallaway.

    The closest thing going round in radio cricket comments these days is Tony Blain, but it’s not as easy when you’re taking the lead from Alan Mac and Rrrrrrron Snowden.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Agreed. Tracey Nelson knows more about rugby than I ever will. She moonlights from her bug-scientist job to be the live stats person for the radio commentary from Jade Stadium, and she's occasionally on Press Box. But still, buffoons like Stu Wilson get the big jobs ...

    Well said RB. Nelson's analysis is fantastic and a much more useful aide to the game than the rantings of some former players. Interestingly she's a long time fan of Ruben Thorn(e)...

    For all those that don't like the pay-tv commentary, you could always listen to the rugbyroundtable's commentary (with the dropkicks, the best rugby podcast/commentators around)

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    I actually thought that was a valid and timely observation, and also the kind of thing that tends to be much more evident when you're at the ground and on the sideline. I'm as frustrated by crap commentary as the next guy, but I don't think Johnson was out of line there.

    Yeh I've always thought TJ was OK (he's a good Marlborough man after all) up until the last couple of seasons when the imperative to lift the comments tempo seems to have gone up.

    Weirdly, the SAf commentators in the past have often been the easiest to listen to. Sure they're biased like the rest but they do more actual commentating on the game and the play than either the Aus or NZ guys do.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    By the way...those she-pee bums are a bit dodgy.

    Not being interested in rugby at all - but I like Mary Durham as a sports reporter, meself - the only contribution I can make to this thread is to say: Andrew, I believe those are real women. And that's what real womens' bums look like. All cellulitey etc. Marvellous.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Interestingly she's a long time fan of Ruben Thorn(e)...

    Aren't we all?

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Oooh yeah, lets not get started on Tommy Smyth 'wid a Y'.

    Hear hear Richard. I'm always happy to watch Liverpool and Barca in the Champions League (until West Ham get there that is) and he doesn't half stink the place out.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • rodgerd,

    Aren't we all?

    If by 'we' you mean 'inhabitants of the Republic of Canterbury', yes.

    I liekd Iam Smith as a commentator; one of the few who seems interested in something resembling a critical approach of what's in front of him, rather than mindless boosterism. And Grant Fox was fantastic as a commentator. Five minutes listening to him will teach you more about rugby tactics than a decade watching anyone on the current team.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    I was not a fan of Thorne during the last cup, I remember his captaincy being (thankfully) usurped by Justin Marshall during the game against Wales and thinking 'about time'. But since then, and also based on some of Tracey's analysis, I've realised how effective he is in his position.

    Re Fox, I completely agree with rogerd's comments.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • LegBreak,

    Fox isn't a bad analyst at all.

    Especially when you consider he never watches any games....

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

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