Carlton kirby - has to go !!

[Moose McKnuckles]

I can only assume that Kirby and Harmon have jobs because they are a) cheap b) are performing sexual favours for the ES management or c) have compromising photos of the ES management.

LMAO! That's funny right there.

I can't explain how Kirby can talk and lick Wiggins' crotch at the same time.

 

[hatcher]

The thing is, there are 150-200 riders in most races, that is a lot of people to know in comparison to say a football match where there are 22 players on a field. I have seen plenty of football commentators get players wrong!!Personally speaking, I follow one pro in particular, a guy I have met in real life and I even struggle to pick him out some times, I very often have to look at the number for confirmation especially in a big group, in a smaller group it is much easier to pick out his riding style.

That's my problem with Harmon. He can't pick out riders by their style or physique, but he keeps on claiming he can. There was a race last year where every time a Katusha rider was on screen he'd identify him as Joan Horrach, and he was wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong, and then Horrach did attack and Harmon had the cheek to say "you can always tell Horrach from his style".

It's not a weakness to fail to immediately recognise a rider, but he seems to think it is.

 

[Cycle Chic]

I wonder how many applications Eurosport would receive if they put an ad out for a commentator !! with a professional cycling background and knowledge....it would be blummin loads i,ll tell you - what about all those young guys riding for teams and having to work part-time ****ty jobs just to be able to race. I can name a few ! Malcolm Elliott will be hanging up his shoes soon - and you can bet he wont be asked - coz the likes of harmon and Kirby have it sewn up !!

I notice Carlton Kirby and Harmons cycling background is non-existent !! and never published.

Can you imagine the uproar if Kirby was to commentate on cricket, golf or rugby !! they wouldnt dare - but they think cycling is such a minority cack sport - they can put any old twerp up there. Its a disgrace !

 

[BYOP88]

You,re right about the commentary - but take Brian Smith, Sean Kelly or Magnus Backstedt - they dont talk for talking sake. There are silences when nothing is happening - or they tell us a bit about the latest Team news, riders, race tactics etc...Sean Kelly is a great example - if nothings happening in the race he says nowt !! Perfect !

The way I see it, Harmon/Kirby are the play by play guys and Kelly/Smith and Mags are the color commentators.

 

[hatcher]

But the problem is that there is a very thin line between a doper and somebody who just hasnt been caught yet. How can you slam Vino and then eugolise over JRod for example who could be busted tomorrow for all we know. Its a thin line and to paint it as black or white as Harmon does is rather stupid. Does Harmon criticise Ballan or Cunego for example?

I agree. His stance on dopers (returning dopers especially) is wildly inconsistent, but it's not because Vino is from Eastern Europe.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Is that lifted from his agent's website or something?

Lifted?! How dare you!



Not from his agent's no, his own.

 

[Anonymous]

I noticed Kirby talking about the nasty tweets on the coverage today.

These tweets

@BriSmithy I love your valuable
commentary - like Sean Kellys - but its over to German international 4 me - Kirbys drivel !!
about 7 hours ago via web in reply to BriSmithy
Reply
Retweet

@carltonkirby its called ROAD RASH Carlton - which you would
know if you knew anything about cycling.
about 7 hours ago via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby actually i,m loving the cycling its just a shame i have
to listen to you. I,m very real - annoyed by your drivel !
about 7 hours ago via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby Is it not best Mr Kirby to leave the commentary to
Brian - seeing as he knows about professional cycling and YOU DO NOT !!
about 7 hours ago via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby Here we go MURRAY WALKER impersonation
3:35 PM Jun 10th via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby Do you know ANYTHING about professional riding
tactics and racing ?
3:33 PM Jun 10th via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby OH DEAR more mistakes and more drivel !! Give
someone with cycling knowledge your job ! an ex-pro for example like Brian.
3:28 PM Jun 10th via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby Will you be launching into your ridiculous Grand
National frenzy in the last 2kms getting the names of the riders wrong ??
3:17 PM Jun 10th via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby How much longer do we have to suffer your
ridiculous commentary.

Ms Woodward. You have serious issues. I think you and Carlton need to sit down and talk. Coming from someone who is certified mental, I feel qualified to say that you definately are.

Abusing someone over twitter and now coming here and starting two threads on the same subject. Why not talk about cycling if you love the sport as much as you say you do.

Im done.

 

[Cycle Chic]

BRILLIANT - thanks so much for showing everyone else my tweets.

 

[LugHugger]

Any quotes or recollections to back up your insane fantasy?

actually, this is a frighteningly accurate analysis of both harmon and kirby: "If rider does get busted, react with faux shock and pretend that you knew along even though you've spent the last several days/months/years creaming your pants at the riders every move."

actually, brian smith is 100% guilty as well. his comments on the recent CBS show went along the lines of "i rode with lance at motorola [debatable], this all happened in the past and i don't understand why it's all getting dragged up again"

i have never heard such wilful denial and sycophancy in all of my life it's this kind of collusion which propogates the problems in the sport. apologies for taking this into Clinic territory.

the best commentary/analysis i heard recently on eurosport came from John Herety (Rapaha Condor Sharp DS) in their pre and post PR show. absolutely fantastic.

 

[Anonymous]

BRILLIANT - thanks so much for showing everyone else my tweets.

if youre gonna put it on the internet, you have to expect it to be read. I did remove your twitter id. Though to be fair, everyone knew about you after you had your name read out on eurosport.

And on that note, I really am done. My doctor says I mustnt talk to mad people.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Team Sky Fan - i was being serious - thanks so much for posting my tweets. I would have done it myself if i had thought.....well done and thanks again !!

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

These tweets

@BriSmithy I love your valuable
commentary - like Sean Kellys - but its over to German international 4 me - Kirbys drivel !!
about 7 hours ago via web in reply to BriSmithy
Reply
Retweet

@carltonkirby its called ROAD RASH Carlton - which you would
know if you knew anything about cycling.
about 7 hours ago via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby actually i,m loving the cycling its just a shame i have
to listen to you. I,m very real - annoyed by your drivel !
about 7 hours ago via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby Is it not best Mr Kirby to leave the commentary to
Brian - seeing as he knows about professional cycling and YOU DO NOT !!
about 7 hours ago via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby Here we go MURRAY WALKER impersonation
3:35 PM Jun 10th via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby Do you know ANYTHING about professional riding
tactics and racing ?
3:33 PM Jun 10th via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby OH DEAR more mistakes and more drivel !! Give
someone with cycling knowledge your job ! an ex-pro for example like Brian.
3:28 PM Jun 10th via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby Will you be launching into your ridiculous Grand
National frenzy in the last 2kms getting the names of the riders wrong ??
3:17 PM Jun 10th via web in reply to carltonkirby

@carltonkirby How much longer do we have to suffer your
ridiculous commentary.

Ms Woodward. You have serious issues. I think you and Carlton need to sit down and talk. Coming from someone who is certified mental, I feel qualified to say that you definately are.

Abusing someone over twitter and now coming here and starting two threads on the same subject. Why not talk about cycling if you love the sport as much as you say you do.

Im done.

this is f'n great. might have to start my own twitter to bash danny nelissen live

 

[Anonymous]

Team Sky Fan - i was being serious - thanks so much for posting my tweets. I would have done it myself if i had thought.....well done and thanks again !!

it wasnt meant as a favour.

Seriously, you say you love cycling, yet your twitter is just a bunch of verbal assaults on kirby, the only time youve posted here is to slate kirby or ask if sean yates is drunk (which if you knew anything about cycling you would know why he talks like that)

There is so much other stuff you could be putting your energies into. Theres a brilliant race going on in france right now, theres the tour coming up, the various national championships, if you are in the uk, the tour series, the nationals. Try putting your energy into something positive, because on the surface you seem like a whiny old boot.

If you dont like kirby, watch one of the other options or turn the volume off. Im sure a worldly girl like yourself has good enough french to watch fr3 or italian to watch rai.

and now i really am outta here. im losing brain cells just talking to you.

 

[Cycle Chic]

If i,d known i,d have tears rolling down my face from being on a forum - i,d stay in every saturday night - classic fun !!

 

[euanli]

someone has a bad case of over inflated self importance.

one thing to remember that commentators are watching tiny tv monitors to commentate on. so its going to be hard to identify riders. try commentating via a bad internet stream with blocky riders. not far off what they have to deal with.

 

[Anonymous]

going to bed .

think i might join you.

Figuratively speaking.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

These tweets

@BriSmithy I love your valuable
commentary - like Sean Kellys - but its over to German international 4 me - Kirbys drivel !!
about 7 hours ago via web in reply to BriSmithy
Reply
Retweet...
...
...

Were you not the man--I use that term loosely--who threw a hissy fit when members here posted stuff of yours from outside this forum?

 

[The Cobra]

Have to say I really dislike people who are malicious and petty for no good reason. Yeah Carlton Kirby is not the best cycling commentator but there really is no need for this crap.

He's not a specialist cycling commentator, he does what he's told by Eurosport. It appears to be Eurosports policy probably for money reasons to have Kirby cover many different sports, I imagine its not easy to have the obsessive level of knowledge you demand in every sport he covers. Take it up with Eurosport, hes only doing his job the best he can the same as the rest of us!

At least he's manages to fill the dead air time, can you imagine the horror of just having Brian Smith and Kelly! Im convinced if he wasn't promted by Harmon he wouldnt say a word the whole race. He's only got the job because he's a legend of the sport not because he's a good commentator.

 

[Anonymous]

Were you not the man--I use that term loosely--who threw a hissy fit when members here posted stuff of yours from outside this forum?

actually, no, i had a paddy at acf, but mostly in jest. Me and acf like to have our little tiffs.

The difference is, I wasnt mouthing off at someone all afternoon on twitter, and then coming here trying to encourage other members to do the same. the OP had come on here to continue her lambasting on twitter and encourage others to do the same, therefore I felt the tweets had some relevance to help fill in the background story for those unfamiliar with the circumstances.

but anyway. for the third and final time. im done.

As for the "i use that term loosely" comment. I have at no point insulted you, there is no reason for you to insult me. Lets not turn this into a personal slanging match. I am a man, yes. There is nothing loose about it. I have male genitalia, a deep voice, and I shave when I can be bothered. Im not even sure how you go about being loosely a man.

 

[jamiephillips]

Bring back Robert Millar!! I'm sure he referred to Virenque as "a frog on a match box" some years back as a guest commentator!

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

actually, no, i had a paddy at acf, but mostly in jest. Me and acf like to have our little tiffs.

The difference is, I wasnt mouthing off at someone all afternoon on twitter, and then coming here trying to encourage other members to do the same. the OP had come on here to continue her lambasting on twitter and encourage others to do the same, therefore I felt the tweets had some relevance to help fill in the background story for those unfamiliar with the circumstances.

but anyway. for the third and final time. im done.

I have a hard time respecting someone who went section 8 when people posted stuff of his from outside the forum and then does the same thing to others. I guess I like consistency.

 

[William H]

Kirby's lack of basic understanding of the sport makes him a pretty bad commentator of cycling. Too often he says things that are just plain silly, and he has little sense of when are the important parts of the race and which are the times to waffle about irrelevant stuff because nothing is going wrong. Even this might be tolerable if he didn't seem to frequently feel the need to interrupt the expert commentator to add something inane or wrong.

 

[euanli]

If anyone could get Millar back it would be Brian Smith since they are good friends. Shame the best we will get is an occasional Rouleur article.

I still swear I see him every other week in the East End of Glasgow either on a road bike or a mountain bike.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a hard time respecting someone who went section 8 when people posted stuff of his from outside the forum and then does the same thing to others. I guess I like consistency.

Two completely and utterly different sets of circumstances, and I have no idea what section 8 is or was, but me and Acf do that. we always calm down.

Do i care if you respect me. Not particularly. Pretty amusing that you can actually base respect on what is said on the internet.

Anyway, there is a whole world of difference, between taking one comment, made by someone, about their personal life, on a social network site, that has nothing to do with the topic in hand, and taking a bunch of cycling tweets, where someone is having a go at an individual, the same individual that they then continue to have a go at on a forum.

If you cannot tell the difference between the two, then im sorry, but I find it very hard to respect you.

**** me, the occasional posters really do come out of the woodwork when theres a **** storm brewing dont they

 

[The Hitch]

Kirby is all right. Ok he knows little about cycling but I feel sorry for him. Just look at him

He tries. He really does, and he seems to like cycling and is enthusiastic about it even if he doesnt know much about the riders (eg saying Purito did well in Flanders).

His commentary during some stages of Cali was quite good. During the sprints i had to turn my volume down so as not to wake the neighbourhood because he was shouting so loud with excitemend without pausing for breath from about 3k. So what if he was calling the wrong riders, still some impressive commentary right there.

And you also have to feel sorry when he makes poor jokes to himself and then laughs afterwards, usualy to conceal a mistake he has made when the other commentator has corrected him.

As for Harmoon, hes not perfect and there are lots of moments when i think hes bad, but I dont mind him.

I dont agree with those who say he knows nothing. His knowledge about lesser riders is quite good. I feel especially Eastern European ones.

He often has a story in his pocker about those riders like Vaitkus, Grabowsky, Paterski, or can describe their careers.

His memory is perhaps not the best sometimes with results for example, like when he said Aprica was last used in 09, and forgets results, or agreeing with Backsted that Pais Vasco is in Vuelta every year, and sometimes doesnt recognise riders correctly but actually he often can tell a rider by their style.

My main difference with him is doping as he goes so far as to declare riders he likes as clean and is relatively impartial in cases like Piti, Basso, Scarponi and Lance where it is patentively obvious someone doped but didnt test positve, while being very antagonistic towards that did test positive especially Vino.

Its the way he says it sometimes like for example during the WW memorial stage "please try to put your feelings about Di Luca to one side" as if it was the fans and not him who were thinking about Danilos doping at that particular time.

But that is just a difference of opinion, I respect it.

Yes he has favourites, especially Gilbert and I didnt like that that 2010 in review programme spent 3 times as much time on Gilberts AGR win as on VInos epic LBL comeback but everyone has favourites.

Sure a lot of people on here know more about cycling but hes not that bad. Perhaps everyone if they spent as much time commentating on cycling as he does, would know their stuff, but the fact is Ligget and Sherwen and Kirby dont.

Harmonn does.