Carlton kirby - has to go !!

[mariposa]

Personally I think that ITV4 have dealt with the first two stages of La Vuelta much better than Eurosport even though they are only doing highlights. They even got more of the second stage as a result of Eurosport taking the feed late.
I suppose it is a matter of personal preference . I prefer someone to comment on the race and that means being able to identify riders and have done some background work on who is riding the area they are riding in etc. I don't know if Carlton Kirby was thrown into doing these two stages at the last minute but he made some really stupid comments which a little bit of background research would have avoided. The comment about the Astana rider (Gasparotto)talking into his radio( holding his shoulder) and getting in the way was also pretty bad
Like others I am dreading Harmon's return as no doubt we will be told all about his ride with Wiggins. I used to like him but now find the constant justifying of his own credentials as a cyclist and/or important person increasingly irritating. Only problem is that as Eurosport are on live and , in theory, for longer I can't resist watching!

 

[Cycle Chic]

Personally I think that ITV4 have dealt with the first two stages of La Vuelta much better than Eurosport even though they are only doing highlights. They even got more of the second stage as a result of Eurosport taking the feed late.
I suppose it is a matter of personal preference . I prefer someone to comment on the race and that means being able to identify riders and have done some background work on who is riding the area they are riding in etc. I don't know if Carlton Kirby was thrown into doing these two stages at the last minute but he made some really stupid comments which a little bit of background research would have avoided. The comment about the Astana rider (Gasparotto)talking into his radio( holding his shoulder) and getting in the way was also pretty bad
Like others I am dreading Harmon's return as no doubt we will be told all about his ride with Wiggins. I used to like him but now find the constant justifying of his own credentials as a cyclist and/or important person increasingly irritating. Only problem is that as Eurosport are on live and , in theory, for longer I can't resist watching!

Good post. I agree on itv4 coverage of the vuelta - Dan Lloyd was with Kirby during the TDF and has now absconded to itv4 - good on him !

Kirby's ego is unsurmountable - how he can possibly think that the viewer wants to listen to him rather than Sean Kelly or the pro cyclist who sits beside him is unbelievable.

 

[noddy69]

I have to disagree with alot of people on here. I quite enjoy the eurosport commentary, with either harmon or Kirby with kelly, who can be extremely funny at times if you get the Irish humour.
James Richardson however just should not commentate on any cycling races he really has no clue what he is on about and its horrible listening to him talking about something he seems to have no knowledge about.

Im sure he is a nice guy, but when one minute on eurosport you have commentators with all round knowledge and good rapport then you switch to james and a pro who is clearly embarrassed by some of his questions and lack of knowledge of what is actually going on , its quite frankly just not professional enough by eurosport.

As for Ant mc ....well if you put him and Richardson together I would switch off the sound.

 

[movingtarget]

I have to disagree with alot of people on here. I quite enjoy the eurosport commentary, with either harmon or Kirby with kelly, who can be extremely funny at times if you get the Irish humour.
James Richardson however just should not commentate on any cycling races he really has no clue what he is on about and its horrible listening to him talking about something he seems to have no knowledge about.

Im sure he is a nice guy, but when one minute on eurosport you have commentators with all round knowledge and good rapport then you switch to james and a pro who is clearly embarrassed by some of his questions and lack of knowledge of what is actually going on , its quite frankly just not professional enough by eurosport.

As for Ant mc ....well if you put him and Richardson together I would switch off the sound.

I agree I think Eurosport is usually pretty good. Smith, Harmon and Kelly are fine as is Backstedt, Kirby is good but never shuts up and laughs at every one of his own comments which is pretty strange but he is funny sometimes, a relief from the serious tones of Harmon and Kelly.

 

[The Hitch]

I have to disagree with alot of people on here. I quite enjoy the eurosport commentary, with either harmon or Kirby with kelly, who can be extremely funny at times if you get the Irish humour.
James Richardson however just should not commentate on any cycling races he really has no clue what he is on about and its horrible listening to him talking about something he seems to have no knowledge about.

Im sure he is a nice guy, but when one minute on eurosport you have commentators with all round knowledge and good rapport then you switch to james and a pro who is clearly embarrassed by some of his questions and lack of knowledge of what is actually going on , its quite frankly just not professional enough by eurosport.

As for Ant mc ....well if you put him and Richardson together I would switch off the sound.

100% agree. The idea that any idiot who had some success with football, (including just interviewing the players.like boulting) is what cycling fans really want to hear in their coverage, well its insulting.

 

[No_Balls]

While i have nothing against Harmon per se, i rather finds his sometimes hasty adressing of "Sean", the mild-mannered Sean Kelly, on the go kind of amusing with the always pathented "yes" from Kelly in response, he clearly has a mancrush on Wiggins which is extremly irritating. Today he used the entire stage of talking about how he had ride, or shall ride, a bike with Wiggins, chatted with Wiggins, had a dinner with Wiggins and back and forth. I understand it is big with a british TDF-winner but gentlemen, please?

 

[Cycle Chic]

Kirby on the USA Pro Challenge

okay okay - I am eating my words...last nights coverage of the USA Pro Challenge with Kirby was absolutely hilarious. Kirby made me laugh so much...his commentary of the fans at Crested Butte racing alongside the riders in fancy dress costume was so funny....he just took the mick out of the whole set up...tellin the Antler guy to 'do one', then describing Aspen as a nice place for the next stage where they have spent some money on the place..'well they,ve got plenty up there havent they'.

And how he was off for a well earned beer, after that stage, with Bri Smith and gave the percentage alcohol in each beer...just hilarious. Even Brian Smith was amused by him.

Doesnt make up for him bein a cack commentator though

 

[One Man Grupetto]

okay okay - I am eating my words...last nights coverage of the USA Pro Challenge with Kirby was absolutely hilarious. Kirby made me laugh so much...his commentary of the fans at Crested Butte racing alongside the riders in fancy dress costume was so funny....he just took the mick out of the whole set up...tellin the Antler guy to 'do one', then describing Aspen as a nice place for the next stage where they have spent some money on the place..'well they,ve got plenty up there havent they'.

And how he was off for a well earned beer, after that stage, with Bri Smith and gave the percentage alcohol in each beer...just hilarious. Even Brian Smith was amused by him.

Doesnt make up for him bein a cack commentator though

I absolutely agree. I actually quite like Kirby but he is lacking a bit when it comes to calling big races. But for races like this one, later at night when you are watching at home with a beer then he is really, really good.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

+1.

He was absolutely brilliant last night.

 

[Cycle Chic]

The funniest was his Cadel Evans impersonation - classic.

 

[argyllflyer]

Can't bear Kirby doing the TdF intro show as 3rd wheel for Harmon & Kelly, but generally don't mind his commentary. But as Eurosport International is no longer available in UK, we'll no doubt be lumbered with 'Jimbo' (who I like for football but agree he knows less than the average Brit about cycling) and whoever they've collared off the British continental circuit that day for next year's tour show so perhaps I shouldn't complain!

 

[ferryman]

I don't have a problem with any of the UK Eurosport guys to be fair. If anything it would be twittering on when attacks go regardless.

I really like Brian Smith as an an ex pro analyst but can understand why his nasally weegie accent could grate on some.

 

[argyllflyer]

I really like Brian Smith as an an ex pro analyst but can understand why his nasally weegie accent could grate on some.

He's fast becoming the dictionary definition of 'ubiquitous'. During the Tour of California he was doing both it and the Halfords Tour Series and he has been doing both USA Pro Challenge and the ITV4 summarising for the Vuelta this week.

 

[ferryman]

He's fast becoming the dictionary definition of 'ubiquitous'. During the Tour of California he was doing both it and the Halfords Tour Series and he has been doing both USA Pro Challenge and the ITV4 summarising for the Vuelta this week.

He he. Kirkcaldy to Calif. Vive la difference

 

[Cycle Chic]

Kirby was on form again last night on the USA Challenge - this is where his wit and funny comments are apt....cause the coverage is nearly 2 hours and coverage is stop start and not much happening cycling wise....he could have a role as the funny side to cycling. 'jensy just passed the man in his underpants on his left'.

Leave the serious stuff to the ex-pro-commentator and Kirby do the funny interjections OCCASIONALLY.

Last night his verbal diarrhoea went into overdrive - its as though he has no control over his gob.

Brian Smith meanwhile is in Aspen AND Jaca.

Be interesting how they cover the Lance topic tonight - cant wait. Harmon and Kelly will no doubt give it 5 seconds discussion and move on.

 

[redcardinal]

Ahh doesn't time go by. The years roll on and still people are wittering on with their complaints about Eurosport commentators. The same know-it alls who of course could do better than the commentary team...

I remember when the complaints were all about David Duffield. Sad to see that nothing changes!

 

[Svetty]

+1.

He was absolutely brilliant last night.

+1 - excellent filling in whilst NBC failed with the pictures

 

[argyllflyer]

Kirby was on form again last night on the USA Challenge - this is where his wit and funny comments are apt....cause the coverage is nearly 2 hours and coverage is stop start and not much happening cycling wise....he could have a role as the funny side to cycling. 'jensy just passed the man in his underpants on his left'.

Leave the serious stuff to the ex-pro-commentator and Kirby do the funny interjections OCCASIONALLY.

Last night his verbal diarrhoea went into overdrive - its as though he has no control over his gob.

Brian Smith meanwhile is in Aspen AND Jaca.

Be interesting how they cover the Lance topic tonight - cant wait. Harmon and Kelly will no doubt give it 5 seconds discussion and move on.

Close call but Harmon and Smith were far more honest than Kirby and Kelly. i.e. the latter refused to criticise the liar at all.

 

[The Hitch]

smith criticised Armstrong? Didnt watch it today but i thought he was 1 of Armstrongs defenders before.

 

[LugHugger]

smith criticised Armstrong? Didnt watch it today but i thought he was 1 of Armstrongs defenders before.

You're right. He's been an Armstrong apologist in the past.

 

[argyllflyer]

You're right. He's been an Armstrong apologist in the past.

It was hardly a stinging rebuttal but he did, just about. I can't recall the exact words he used but the gist was that he himself did not condone what LA had done and that LA had let people down with all that had been going on. He then made a remark about the mess that Cycling in the USA is now in. Kirby was far more neutral and waffled on about the court case not being over yet so he would not say anything. He also said it wasn't his job to give an opinion as he was just a commentator.

David Harmon attacked Lance for the whole 'Cancer Jesus' thing on the basis that LA has let people down, but, like Kirby later, doubted USADA's right to strip titles. The closest Kelly got to saying anything controversial was agreeing with Harmon's latter point. He seemed to think USADA's case isn't closed and wasn't wanting to comment on the ongoing situation. Wonder if the tone will shift for stage 8.

What they all seemed to avoid conceding is that LA has missed the chance to fight this. By not going to arbitration, the case is closed - as far as USADA (and WADA) will be concerned.

 

[luckyboy]

Brian Smith rode on Motorola in 94.
Kirby made some absurd comment about how cycling now is as clean as it can get at one point.

 

[tony west]

I can only agree with all these sentiments, Kerbys knowledge on certain subjects are usually good, when commentating on motor sport he,s a normal person, but on cycling his constant motor mouth makes my ear,s bleed, there are times im sure he doesn't even draw breath, how the hell he can tell us whats in the riders minds, is beyond me, thank god for Brian Smith, trust me, it was calming to not hear him on races up to the Dauphine, I thought he,d gone, but ho no, my God, another Tour with him.

 

[RedheadDane]

Know who I think of every time I read this guy's name?

 

[70kmph]

ES could transfer him to synchronized swimming