Especially regarding Serenas greatness! Morgan is another sad entry into the "great player, terrible sportscaster" category. Being from England, I cant comment much on the US tv commentators, but virtually all the 45+ British commentators just do my head in over here! In my opinion the worst commentator is Mal Washington. Just like those analysists _always_ know what one was to buy or sell _after_ the market closed. There were signs of tensions building between RSF and SAF but . You may not be a great commentator, but we'll always love you anyway. Many residents watched the movements of high-profile foreign diplomats in Khartoum as an indication of risk. He asked what I was doing, and I said, Nothing! Then he asked, Do you want to do TV? and I said, Sure! A few days later I got an offer to commentate for ESPN International. oh roddick just got broken by routine passing shot, YEAH BUT THATS GREAT PLAY BY RODDICK. Plus it always helps to have someone in the booth whose actually played the guys on court. US commentators point out that the 2021 military coup came just hours after Fattah al-Burhan assured the US special envoy for the Horn of Africa of his commitment to a transition to civilian rule. Wait a moment and try again. Jun 5, 2009. Can't get his 'AWWWWWW YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDIN' ME!!!' I've heard good things about Todd Woodbridge too, but I've never had the pleasure. At the time, I think a lot of people wondered about my game, because I had a different style, and I wasnt the biggest guy. You were, and probably still are a great tennis player, and lets keep it as that. Most tennis commentators are either bad or awful. Its what viewers expect. But I hope Im still doing this when Im 90, because it feels like a dream to be courtside for the epics: Those times when both guys are cracking the ball, and youve got sweaty palms because you dont know whats going to happen. 2. I've heard her pretty often and thought she's fine. As nutty as he was playing on the court, he is shockingly very calm and normal in the booth. Every player makes mistakes and chokes, and its important to point it out. Arias: I knew there were some guys who thought I was good, and others who didnt think so. Especially with that raging coke addiction. Also, for those Brits on this board, there were a bunch of British Wimbledon commentators in the 80's that I just detested. Sadly, he was as overrated as an announcer as he was underrated as a player. Thankfully, he is now on the sideline and the only time fans have to hear him is when he is caught on-mike screaming at his Golden State players for their bad defense. This is the worst of worst case scenarios, Volker Perthes said. Archived post. NBC asked if I wanted to try commentary, and I said, Sure, lets do this. Id always loved breaking the game down. Any ex pro who is not trying to talk too much is fine by me. Kind of contradicting my point about the British commentators loving Henman lol. I can't remember how often I've thought "SHUT UP ALREADY" while watching USA's Flushing coverage. The story of a match isnt obvious, the framing isnt automatic, says Ken Solomon, CEO of Tennis Channel. Wish he was more of a regular or even guest presence. I bet he was great. His english is not bad, but doesn't express himself as good, and it shows. No clue, I don't speak the language, but his voice and joy make you enjoy even the dullest matches. Thank You Lord !!! Walton was very difficult to understand and never quite delivered his thoughts at the right moment. Its his easy amusement, lack of insight and worship of winners/any rally exceeding the length of a serve that irritates me about him. She has a fairly nice voice to listen to, and even her accent is kinda cute, imo. You really want people to understand how much is happening out there. I didnt have a big serve, so I needed to think my way through matches. The way he analyses the game and how he expresses it, just makes watching the match so much more interesting. He was bearable before that though. To top it off, her voice sounds like nails on a chalkboard! I'm sitting trying to watch the Nole-Zverev match right? Then Malvai WA - he might be a nice guy but I don't care when the camera is on - his insight is bland and he's not very professional in delivery. Gilbert breaks down players' abilities and suggests possible working strategies for them to win their matches (unfortunately for them, they cannot hear him during a match). So annoying to listen. Brad Gilbert (ESPN): People forget how much less tennis was on television 30 years ago. I think being a parent helps [Shriver has two sons and a daughter in their teens]. Jeez shut up already. I actually like how he sometimes gets amused by his own humor lol. His personality livens up all matches. Please get rid of Mark Petchey he is the worst tennis commentator ever and just never SHUTS UP! In western capitals, there will now be difficult conversations about what could have been done more effectively to guide a transition from military to civilian rule after the fall of the veteran authoritarian ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019 following months of popular protests. Pam Shriver was, and still is, the worst. Feb 21, 2004 #1 We can settle this once and for all. Reply posted by Bobby Fackrell, at 16:06 18 Nov 2020 Bobby Fackrell. It is always fun to see him and Andy Roddick crack jokes at each other and to watch him discuss strategic outlooks on matches. Even if an innocent man was sentenced to life, there was, uh-oh, a racial. Who is the WORST commentator?? He offers no insight, and the only time I was ever amused by him was when he revealed a fun fact about tennis that was unknown to meanybody can just read off trivia, though. Enberg -- at his best while keeping an eye on NFL scores That ESPN crossover guy is out of this world too forgot his name. Best for me: Roddick, Connors honorable mention. Talk about reviving a very old thread. Pat McEnroe is so judgmental and boring (terrible combo). Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, and Pam "Will you just look at Venus, she's as good as I thought she would be when I saw her in Compton" Shriver. By contrast, I think the Arabic speaking commentator who shouts as if every point is a celebration is awesome. I watched the FO2020 final live on NBC and it was commentated by McEnroe and a few others, but he has such a clear idea of how to discuss the match in a way that isnt annoying. ago Shapovolovolov 2 science2finance 5 mo. After that, though, it came naturally. On Friday [14 April] evening we thought that de-escalation had begun We were wrong, Perthes said to UN staff in the internal meeting. The worst is when he's in Europe with a Jensen doing the fall Masters for ESPN. I was aware of the pressure between the RSF and the army and certain that [it] could at any time escalate into an unwanted [violent] situation. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. He breaks down many players' games effectively and is a great representative of all American players. She sympathizes with great players who have not quite made their mark yet, most likely since she was once that person before she evolved into a new level of greatness. talking about Carillo is he still on the tennis commentary circuit? I love JMac, he says what he is thinking about whoever is playing the match. I'm completely shocked by the survey and a lot of your guys' comments. Tweetle-dee and Tweetle-dumb. Tennis commentators must have gone to the same schools that stock market analysists went to. The next week . How do these former players see their craft? Austin: Tennis players are used to doing things by ourselves, but you always have a partner in the booth; its like doubles. In 1999 Stevenson qualified and ultimately reached the quarterfinals at Birmingham, a grass warmup to Wimbledon, before withdrawing to Magi Serna because of a stomach muscle pull. Austin: The fun part of tennis is that its this tug of war on more than one level. You must log in or register to reply here. But when its Day 13 at Roland Garros, what else can you say about Rafael Nadal except, Hey, hes great on clay?. He claims to be a "tennis historian," but the only truth I find in that is that he has lived through nearly the entire history of tennis. These are people with masters degrees in tennis competition; theres so much detail in what they see in each point. But yea, Chris Evert is the WORST tennis commentator on TV. But they can also be made fun and entertaining by great analysis and comments about the players and the match. Most players were lucky to get on TV at all. Justin Gimelstob 1 of 7 The way Gimelstob talks is easily understandable by the. Not when Doug Adler and Stephanie Dubois are working! Mal Washington is OK, except he conducts the worst post match interviews. Here is the list of the 20 worst announcers in sports. The way Gimelstob talks is easily understandable by the people and makes the most sense to non-tennis fans. From the television side, Id like to see more innovation. It took me awhile to really let go. Roddick Won a Set Against Federer while playing the worst match of the tournament. Aaaaaaaaaagassiiiiiiiiiiiiii.the only match I remember him commenting was the Roddick Fed 07 USO semi and he was probably the best commentary I've ever heard. But at the same time you are right because what I pointed has been relevant over the last 5-10 years but now that Henman is nearing the end of his career they feel they can trash talk him. Yes, that's Colin Cowherd. There werent many female announcers then, and the big story at the time was the Billie Jean King-Marilyn Barnett palimony suit. Very boring with the same mono tone voice all the time. The major networks usually feature men, but Navratilova was and will always be one of the brightest thinkers in tennis. Scan this QR code to download the app now. His humor adds vibrancy to a typically dull television set, and his personality amuses all the time, even if he sometimes seems to cross the line (although I enjoy it). Others, such as Stefan Dercon, director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford and development adviser to successive Conservative foreign secretaries, said they thought the UK had been unrealistic. I like the slower courts, because I like rallies. jmac and pmac are both pretty good too. Jim Courier is the only one I've heard a lot of in current times who I think tends to avoid that kind of absurd nonsense. Kornheiser is a great talk show host and his show, Pardon the Interruption, is one of the stronger segments on ESPN's programming schedule. To each their own, though. QF ( 1977) Mary Carillo (born March 15, 1957 [1]) is an American sportscaster and former professional tennis player. Im amazed that so many people like Tracy Austin, the condescending know-it-all that she is. Chris evert is by far the worst commentator. But I do think players miss chances for all-court tennis, to use the forecourt, to play with variety. Sometimes if you are lucky you get a no commentary option. She talks a lot about the behind the scene stuff that we don't get to hear much about. Early on, a producer said I sounded flat. Personally, I thought I was rocking it, but then I listened to myself. I muted the TV after watching this post. No, we did not have any early warning, Perthes said, according to minutes of the meeting viewed by the Guardian. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Sadly, those announcers are few and far between. I was nervous, and self-conscious about having a nasally Buffalo accent, so I lowered my voice a little. Absolute cheerleader. Mini Arkou Minawi, the governor of Darfur and the head of the Sudan Liberation Army a former rebel group that joined the government in Khartoum in October 2020 after fighting for about 18 years said he had warned from March that war was coming and had urged both factions involved not to fight in the cities among women and children, we used to go and fight in the mountains. Also eff the fake crowd noise and the ads that follow in the changeover. Most knowledgeable with insights to learn from: I couldn't be bothered to list the best commentators because they vary greatly from day to day. Federer Roddick USO Semi 07 w/Andre's commentary for anyone interested: Best: lucky to get the Aussies commentate during the slams so former and current players like Hewitt, Millman and Groth offer an amazing insight that the older commentators don't have. So here I am at 19, and the first question Im asked on TV is about that storywow! Johnny Mac was paid a six figure some to come down here for the Oz Open and commentate for Channel 7. ago Swiatek - there's no 'n' in her last name. And I do think he's entertaining from time to time. He acknowledges the great movers and base-liners of today's game. I would say Andrew Castle is the worst commentator. I like Jim Courier also. But I dont think anyone likes to be criticized. Arias: Everyone hits and moves great. compared to the likes of martina nav she's like a harmless puppy tho. I remember that awful match at the Open a few years back where he kept degrading Donald Young, who I think had recently left his "academy". Just shows they have no idea what they are taling about and just state what is going on right infront of them instead of taking history and other things going on in the rest of tennis to account. We are in a classic 21st-century multipolarity in the Horn It has always been an area of competition, but there is now a constellation of different states, she said. I was so embarrassed for him a couple of years ago when Andy Roddick played his first Wimbledon in 2001 and Jim felt he had to go into the nearest studio and record an original song on acoustic guitar dedicated to Andy. I give Johnny Mac a pass (much I like do Chrissie's incessant drivel) because he's an ATG. roddick is great. Many of the great commentators have played professional tennis as a previous career, but it does not necessarily matter if the person was that good as a player. Some sportscasters, like the immortal John Madden and Harry Caray, manage to combine interesting commentary with a love of sports that actually enhances the fan's experience. Kasatkina - there's a 't' In her last name. I think its obvious this ****** is the worst i've ever heard. She's self consumed and never has anything relevant or analytical to say about the matches. "He's as tough as a woodpeckers lips", that's a new one lol, Everytime the big 3 are playing, these commentators end up kissing their ass all the time. He just repeats himself over and over again. Once you see tennis as a chess match, youre hooked. What I want, and I think fans do too, are good matches. Wow! Now, everyone can actually enjoy the tournament. Maybe some of you like her, but I don't liker her commentary at all. It's great to hear about the players fitness regiments, equiptment, and some of the other exciting things in the players lives. Residents and regional experts say governments and NGOs should have been better prepared for violence. Sometimes announcers simply lose their shtick or fail to provide anything new to fans after awhile. I usually had a good idea of how I was playing, and what I wanted to do, anyway. As the Boston Celtics franchise center, he won 11 NBA titles and changed the history of the sport forever. If it wasn't for the fact that I like hearing tennis balls being struck, I'd just put the audio on MUTE. Anyone? Fred Stolle was a very insightful and interesting commentator for the AO. I was lucky enough to start working with Barry MacKay, who became my mentor. He knows the game very wellnot just from experience but from knowledge. Carlitos the Defender! I mean, it was horrendous, and a complete waste of three minutes. My ears bleed at the sound of her voice. Cliff Drysdale hands down. But at no point could you point to anything on the ground that would show that was the case, said Hudson. Some tennis matches can be very boring, especially if the commentators bring nothing to the table. So I feel like I can relate to the confidence and doubts of players. He could have arguably won the first set if not for his inexperience with the situation. People watch Nick Kyrgios act out and say, That should never happen. Its familiar to me, though; his impulses are those of a young male brain. But he happens to be when he speaks about today's tennis players. She's honest, and one of the few commentators that doesn't suck up to players. Sports are about love and fun: sitting back and basking in the pure joy of watching the game. Reply posted by Bobby Fackrell, at 16:06 18 Nov 2020 Bobby Fackrell. I'm just not very crazy about this guy. Optimism possibly misguided, according to many commentators remained until the last minute. Sorry, can't remember their names. Weve convened a roundtable of U.S. commentatorsTracy Austin, Brad Gilbert, Jimmy Arias, Leif Shiras, Pam Shriver, Chanda Rubin and Mark Knowles to give us a glimpse into life on the other side of the screen. Hard to understand over the television, Russell also often bumbled lines and never delivered punchy analysis on cue. Every time I tune in to a match that hes commentating on, I immediately either mute the volume or find another match to watch. Aug 26, 2019, 8:43 AM PDT. US commentators point out that the 2021 military coup came just hours after Fattah al-Burhan assured the US special envoy for the Horn of Africa of his commitment to a transition to civilian rule. Here is a list of the best tennis commentators who are still currently broadcasting for television networks. The message from the senior United Nations officials to their staff was honest if unapologetic. I have felt this since beginning my tennis career over a year ago. He remains one of the worst basketball announcers of all time. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Every time I see him on the sideline, I wonder: How does someone that large go up and down a football field? Insight, humor, down to the tone of his voice was all perfect. I am just thankful we still have these greats. Johnny Mac appreciates and accepts the way the game has changed since his era. Cookie Notice (modern). The start time is now listed as 1 p.m. LOL The same technique that you say was gained from professional help, is the same technique tennis commentators were saying . You are using an out of date browser. Not really. It's the combination of the whiney thin nature of her voice with her superior air that just gets to me. I see the one you are talking about I think, I can't stand him. She's self consumed and never has anything relevant or analytical to say about the matches. and our What amazes me the most is that the BBC and ITV still roll him out for most major sporting events - is there really that much of a dearth of competent sporting journalists to pick from? Shiras: Ive learned so much working with legends like Jimmy Connors and Martina. MeatTornado Talk Tennis Guru. He also seems very full of himself. Most annoying commentator characteristics to you? Which channel was he on (so I know to avoid)? Gimelstob wasn't the best player in his day, but he is one of the best supporters of tennis today, which makes up for his lack of a major impact as an athlete. He is painful to listen to I agree. I love Magic. i like ted robinson a lot too. I don't know if commentators are different across English speaking countries, but man some of the British ones we have are so annoying, When did Roddick commentate on a match? Unless, of course, he is busy on a tangent about Britney Spears during overtime of a major college football game. LOL! Try again Dick Enberg gets a nod for his extreme lack of connection to the sport, but the worst BY FAR is Johnny Mac. Stevenson made her professional tennis debut in 1998 as a wild card at the US Open where she lost in the first round to France's Alexandra Fusai. I thought she might have been alluding to the one who does not read her e-mail. Like many former players, Jackson knows a lot about the NBA game. 1 player in the world loves to joke around. Was there no warning, one staff member asked? You are using an out of date browser. Please get rid of Mark Petchey he is the worst tennis commentator ever and just never SHUTS UP! JavaScript is disabled. Do yourself a favor and mute the TV. Mary C didn't just used to be a man, she still isand can kick yurass to prove it! John Alexander and Roger Rasheed have filled the dad-commentator niche over the last decade or so. So its hardly a surprise that fans love to discuss their relative merits. The UK special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Robert Fairweather, told a recent meeting of Sudanese lawyers in London that in his discussions with Fattah al-Burhan and Hemedti both expressed their worries about what would happen to them the next day if they were to relinquish power. They say it was always clear that army units loyal to Sudans military ruler, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, would end up fighting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, and that warning lights were flashing red long before 15 April, when the shooting started. He's total *********-iness is matched only by Chris Fowler. There is this one commentator who literally whispers instead of saying out things aloud. Since joining the TNT analysis crew, it's hard to say whether Johnson has provided any genuinely insightful analysis into a basketball game. ..so damn lame. Seriously, since when is saying, "a hundred-yard touchdown return for the touchdown!" It was a disaster for my sanity. Worst atrick McEnore (to pro-America; knows little about women's tennis), Ted Robinson (obssessed with Maria Sharapova Jim Courier (argues over nothing, John McEnroe (knows absolutley nothign about women's tennis) His constant gripes about players' actions, mid-major performances (even as they became ever better), and the energy surrounding his games finally got him booted into retirement. not if i'd actually care that much about ESPN-commentators and their agenda :shrug: Is Pam Shriver the worst commentator right now? just curious has anyone here ever heard Austin commentate or is it just me she annoys. He plays no favorites and leaves nothing inside. Its our job to point out all the tactics taking place, but also to talk about the emotional side of the sport. Cameron Hudson, an expert in US Africa policy at Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said: There were moments where sanctions could have been used to great effect and could have changed the trajectory Hemedti has been able to reinvent himself as a politician and a statesman and we, the US, allowed that to happen.. It's better to hear Andre describe what it's like to face Fed & Andy than it is for 50 year old McEnroe to tell us how he thinks they should be playing. So I disbanded it and basically did nothing. When I played, we all had strengths and weaknesses, and we tried to exploit them. She eventually retired and is now carrying out the same characteristics in commentary for the sport. Right question, wrong setting. You're lucky you don't have him in the US. I work for Tennis Channel and the BBC at Wimbledon, and I might have six different partners during a tournament. Dr Hannah Waddilove, a Foreign Office east Africa analyst, said western influence had declined from a high point in the early 1990s. I start to feel as though I'm sucking on lemons during her quiefs. Dean Treml/Getty Images. On-court coaching is a no-brainer. So I wasn't missing the intensity. I am happy that he is no longer a main commentator, and I will definitely not be reading any of his books in my lifetime. Almost everything he says is just a reiteration (stuttering included) of what the current scoreline is. Yes I respect her playing accomplishments, but I can't stand her constant thinly veiled digs at players, especially Ivanovic and some others, but especially Ana. I've come to the conclusion that there are just too damn many to choose from. You won't find a more knowledgeable basketball man than Dick Vitale. Tim McCarver shows why over-analysis makes bad sports announcers. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I was referring more to his ridiculous phrases he comes out with. Chrissy Evert! Is he on the payroll like others? I often dislike it when commentators speculate on a player's current state of mind and say it like it's true. Sang Bin Jeong had his third . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Shriver: I understand the importance of the mental game more. Minawi said a key moment was the conclusion of a UN and US-backed deal late last year, which was supposed to lead to a transition to civilian-led government and security sector reform. Theyre calling history as its happening.. It's not just Pat Cash, we're also forced to tolerate the uppermost unctuous peon cnut Sue Barker. Cris Collinsworth suffers so strongly by comparison that he ranks as one of the worst announcers ever in sports. I had long blond hair, so maybe I looked like a star, even though I wasnt one. The best person for pronunciation appears to be Tim White who is probably the least well known. After youve called match after match, you can predict that its the mentally stronger player whos going to win. Sitting next to him was like sitting next to an analyst every day. Was that Nick Mullins? Shriver: From courtside, you can understand a match in a way you cant in the booth. We believed what Burhan and Hemedti were saying: that they had the intention of turning power over to civilians. Gilbert: I love it. Now retired. Like she gets GLEE from watching girls she doesn't like lose. It comes from the minds of the commentators, from former players with unique perspectives. I assume so. There's something invaluable about having a commentator who has played against both opponents in a match he's calling. She's pressed her singles career could never go further than Memphis MM. Martina Navratilova was inducted into the International Tennis Federation Hall of Fame in 2019. You can hear a few others recently like Sam Groth, Casey Dellacqua, Dylan Alcott. But Patrick? Passion is out the window as a motivator, so it must be money. B. I like them, they can't even be compared to the stupid and clueless comments made by Pam Shriver and Cliff Drysdale (when will he retire?). Folks, don't watch that crap.". The only way I can do the job is just to say what I think. She provides insightful commentary and I think her digs are hilarious. One criticism is that sanctions should have been imposed on Hemedti and the RSF to send a strong signal after they massacred about 200 pro-democracy demonstrators in June 2019 as they moved to sideline civilians and consolidate their grip on power. I still feel lucky after 20 years to be doing what Im doing.