Carlton kirby - has to go !!

[Benotti69]

This is the kind of comment that degrades the Forum - if you have nothing constructive to say on the matter - sign off. However, I will address your assessment that I am bordering on being psychotic - Mr Harmon, Mr Kirby, Mr Duffield were fine when 3 people tuned into cycling - but now that it has a massive following and is also INTERNATIONAL - Eurosport should address the issue. Why must we put up with someone who is talking rubbish...and arrogantly talks over the professional co-commentator to listen to the sound of his own voice.

And for this Topic to have 27 pages it shows that it is worth discussing.

You have had nothing constructive to say in this thread, all you have done is pour scorn upon scorn on Kirby.

There are currently 2 channels broadcasting cycling in the UK as far as i know, that does not qualify as a massive following ,where did you get that idea from. Football has a massive following. Cycling is a minority sport.

You dont have to put up with Kirby. You can turn the sound down, you can watch it online with other european commentators or switch it off.

27 pages and what has been proffered? Nothing and yet you continue to rant about Kirby offering nothing constructive. Can you do better? Offer your services to Eurosport!

 

[Cycle Chic]

Oh hold on - I stand corrected - here is an excerpt from an interview with David Harmon and he describes his Professional Cycling background.

"bearing in mind that you passed me at a rather alarming rate of knots in last year's braveheart ride, i take it there has been racing in your career?

Yes, I did my first MTB race as an independent rider and a guy called Kerry Rochester approached me afterwards and asked me to join the Epping Forest MTB Club. It was a great time, we had the first amateur national champion in Paul McWalters and Darren Barclay was a junior rider with us. I ended up racing on a Kona Hei Hei, what a classic bike that was, coached by ex-Olympic coach Dave Smith."

oh and heres how he became a commentator...

"Coming back to cycling was another piece of happy chance, I sent a showreel of my motor racing commentaries to Eurosport but Duffers noticed I'd been a bikie and hauled me in to have a go. We got on like a house on fire, I think a shared passion for driving minis and good single malt helped. "

I find it hard to believe that with all Benotti's knowledge on cycling (because I have read his comments on this Forum) - he can support David Harmon's naive, novice comments.

I really am at a loss as to how anyone who follows cycling can listen to Harmon's verbals.

 

[hatcher]

Oh hold on - I stand corrected - here is an excerpt from an interview with David Harmon and he describes his Professional Cycling background.

"bearing in mind that you passed me at a rather alarming rate of knots in last year's braveheart ride, i take it there has been racing in your career?

Yes, I did my first MTB race as an independent rider and a guy called Kerry Rochester approached me afterwards and asked me to join the Epping Forest MTB Club. It was a great time, we had the first amateur national champion in Paul McWalters and Darren Barclay was a junior rider with us. I ended up racing on a Kona Hei Hei, what a classic bike that was, coached by ex-Olympic coach Dave Smith."

oh and heres how he became a commentator...

"Coming back to cycling was another piece of happy chance, I sent a showreel of my motor racing commentaries to Eurosport but Duffers noticed I'd been a bikie and hauled me in to have a go. We got on like a house on fire, I think a shared passion for driving minis and good single malt helped. "

I find it hard to believe that with all Benotti's knowledge on cycling (because I have read his comments on this Forum) - he can support David Harmon's naive, novice comments.

I really am at a loss as to how anyone who follows cycling can listen to Harmon's verbals.

Do you think Benotti is an ex-pro, or is it possible he got his knowledge some other way?

It is just such an awful point you're trying to make. The number of sports that feature ex-pros as their main commentator can be counted on one tiny hand. Tennis (I think), cricket, snooker, golf? Those who didn't go pro have been the best commentators in football, cricket, rugby union, rugby league, athletics, american football, baseball, motor racing, darts, horse racing, and now I'm bored.

 

[bobbins]

Oh hold on - I stand corrected - here is an excerpt from an interview with David Harmon and he describes his Professional Cycling background.

"bearing in mind that you passed me at a rather alarming rate of knots in last year's braveheart ride, i take it there has been racing in your career?

Yes, I did my first MTB race as an independent rider and a guy called Kerry Rochester approached me afterwards and asked me to join the Epping Forest MTB Club. It was a great time, we had the first amateur national champion in Paul McWalters and Darren Barclay was a junior rider with us. I ended up racing on a Kona Hei Hei, what a classic bike that was, coached by ex-Olympic coach Dave Smith."

oh and heres how he became a commentator...

"Coming back to cycling was another piece of happy chance, I sent a showreel of my motor racing commentaries to Eurosport but Duffers noticed I'd been a bikie and hauled me in to have a go. We got on like a house on fire, I think a shared passion for driving minis and good single malt helped. "

I find it hard to believe that with all Benotti's knowledge on cycling (because I have read his comments on this Forum) - he can support David Harmon's naive, novice comments.

I really am at a loss as to how anyone who follows cycling can listen to Harmon's verbals.

Totally agree.

 

[Anonymous]

Name a former pro that could do a decent job of replacing Harmon and Kirkby???

Good god, if Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche did all the commentary people would turn off in their droves. This is why people like Kelly and Backstead just do colour commentary.

Who else is there.. hmm.. Liggett and Sherwen. Kinda proves my point.

 

[bobbins]

Not being able to think of a better pro rider doesn't make Harmon and Kirby good. There are better commentators out there, Harmon especially is just too comfortable with his freebies and cronyism.

Time for Eurosport to clean house.

 

[Cycle Chic]

If I was to watch another sport that I had become interested in, and then found out that actually the commentator had no professional experience in that sport, I would be similarly appalled.

Case in point -
I,ve just gone to Sports Guide on SKY and flicked to Sky Sports 4 and put on The Horse of the Year Show - and presenting it is SUZANNE DANDO - she is an ex- GYMNAST......BUT the commentators are both Horse professionals...so when they commentate at least I know , that they know, what they are talking about. If Suzanne Dando had remained to commentate I would be chewing Eurosports ear off I can assure you.

If I followed golf and had to listen to Gary Linekar commentating I would be just as annoyed - what the hell does Gary Linekar know about playing on the PGA Tour ??

David Harmon would be fine in the studio doing a 'Suzanne dando' but dont let him commentate on any Professional Sports.

As the last post stated 'Eurosport need to clean house'. They got rid of Duffield, Kirby has cocked up for the last time I suspect on the Tour of Colorado and Harmon should be next.

 

[Benotti69]

i doubt they got rid of Duffield, at 80 i imagine he retired.

Most of the worlds best sporting commentators learned their trade on local radio and graduated to national. This would've been in the fields of Football, cricket and rugby in the case of the UK. Cycling again is a minority of a sport in the UK so where do you find cycling commentators?

all the best football commentators are on radio bbc5Live and not TV.

so when you find the talented up and coming cycling commentator cutting his/her teeth out in the sticks at the side of a rode for a local crit, grab him/her and drag him/her to eurosport. now until you do can we end the boring flogging.

 

[roundabout]

I didn't find Harmon grating when he first started and while I somehow find him more annoying now as a play-by-play guy he is ok.

Now Kirby is one of the reasons why there's a mute button on the remote.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If I was to watch another sport that I had become interested in, and then found out that actually the commentator had no professional experience in that sport, I would be similarly appalled.

Murray Walker has no professional motorsport experience. Al Michaels has no professional baseball or NFL experience. Michel Wuyts has never turned a pedal in anger.

Are you appalled every time you hear them?

 

[El Pistolero]

Murray Walker has no professional motorsport experience. Al Michaels has no professional baseball or NFL experience. Michel Wuyts has never turned a pedal in anger.

Are you appalled every time you hear them?

Karl Vannieuwkerke has raced with the amateurs by the way. He even wanted to dope him self to see how much effect it has, so he could become a better commentator

 

[Cycle Chic]

Euro Track Champs 2011 - Carlton Kirby

So are we all still happy with Eurosport's choice of Carlton Kirby ?? I watched the European Track Champs last night and was just aghast at his idiotic commentary (but you all know my opinion of him and Harmon).

I am sure Tony Gibb is beside himself today - Kirby interrupting him, talking over him and shouting.

I am just amazed that I seem to be the only person who thinks this twerp is an insult to cyclists.

 

[Richeypen]

If I was to watch another sport that I had become interested in, and then found out that actually the commentator had no professional experience in that sport, I would be similarly appalled.

Case in point -


If I followed golf and had to listen to Gary Linekar commentating I would be just as annoyed - what the hell does Gary Linekar know about playing on the PGA Tour ??

David Harmon would be fine in the studio doing a 'Suzanne dando' but dont let him commentate on any Professional Sports.

Your point doesnt work. Gary Lineker doesnt commentate on football. In fact most of the commentators (if not all of the main stream football commentators) never kicked a ball professionally in their lives. Its the same with nearly every sport.

 

[Cycle Chic]

I am now asking about the Euro Track Champs with Carlton Kirby !!

 

[just some guy]

I am now asking about the Euro Track Champs with Carlton Kirby !!

If you know so much about the sport turn the sound off and move on, can´t be worth all the stress for you or maybe contact Eurosport and try and get a job commentating on cycling since you think you can do better.

 

[Cycle Chic]

and where on any post of mine have I said I could commentate on cycling ?

And yes - any national rider could do better than Kirby or Harmon come to that - they certainly have more knowledge.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

and where on any post of mine have I said I could commentate on cycling ?

And yes - any national rider could do better than Kirby or Harmon come to that - they certainly have more knowledge.

Not of commentary, they don't. They'd be analysts.

Eurosport has a low budget. The alternative is no coverage. I'm sure many fans will put up with a low-budget commentary team and fill in the details from their own knowledge as a trade-off for actually being able to watch the race.

 

[just some guy]

and where on any post of mine have I said I could commentate on cycling ?

And yes - any national rider could do better than Kirby or Harmon come to that - they certainly have more knowledge.

Knowledge does not mean a better Commentator

 

[Benotti69]

I am now asking about the Euro Track Champs with Carlton Kirby !!

Have you contacted eurosport?

Did they reply?

Are you trying to get someone kicked out of their job?

What knowledge do you have on commentary except for being an armchair critic, the worst kind?

I cant think of any fantastic cycling commentators working at present! Minority sport is never going to attract very talented commentators unless they have a real passion for it.

About time you ended your crusade.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Have you contacted eurosport?

Did they reply?

Are you trying to get someone kicked out of their job?

What knowledge do you have on commentary except for being an armchair critic, the worst kind?

I cant think of any fantastic cycling commentators working at present! Minority sport is never going to attract very talented commentators unless they have a real passion for it.

About time you ended your crusade.

Yes I have contacted Eurosport and got no reply. On the Yahoo forums there are others who slate the commentating.

I dont need to have any knowledge of commentary to know that Kirby knows nothing about professional cycling/racing (ex; Euro champs track).

Minority Sport ?? not now it isnt.

About time I did not end my crusade until we get decent commentators who are not on the Eurosport lifetime contract agreement.

To other post - fair enough if they are low budget and cant afford to pay the likes of
http://www.cyclevox.com/commentary/

...but why do Kirby and Harmon hog the commentating ?? why not let the co-commentator talk more.

 

[hatcher]

Yes I have contacted Eurosport and got no reply. On the Yahoo forums there are others who slate the commentating.

I dont need to have any knowledge of commentary to know that Kirby knows nothing about professional cycling/racing (ex; Euro champs track).

Minority Sport ?? not now it isnt.

About time I did not end my crusade until we get decent commentators who are not on the Eurosport lifetime contract agreement.

To other post - fair enough if they are low budget and cant afford to pay the likes of
http://www.cyclevox.com/commentary/

...but why do Kirby and Harmon hog the commentating ?? why not let the co-commentator talk more.

They do use cyclevox commentators.

Their road cycling commentator is Ant McCrossan, who has no pro cycling experience. Their co-commentators have cycling experience. So a professional commentator next to ex-pro co-commentator. Just like the Eurosport set-up.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Fair enough ! I agree - but Harmon talks 95% of the time and interrupts and talks over the Technical Expert (co-commentator). So does Kirby.

They should be the minority input NOT the majority.

If they reversed the percentage talking time I would have no problem with the set-up.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Three of those guys at least already work with Eurosport, and are the analysts, not the main commentators.

Marty MacDonald is probably the guy I was talking about earlier, who commentated the Tour of Turkey online in 2010 on his own and did a really good job.

Eurosport is a low budget channel. Cycling is a minority sport in most of the world, and besides the hard to predict timing of races makes it a difficult product to plug into schedules on mainstream channels.

If the analyst does 95% of the commentary, it's ridiculous. The reason the pro commentator does most of the talking is so that the analyst can look at the facts, figures and analyse, then comment on what they've analysed. They don't have time for that if they're doing 95% of the commentary. Eurosport's commentary would be bizarre if you just had Kelly droning on about cranks for half an hour with Harmon interjecting the occasional bit about the race.

 

[Anonymous]

To other post - fair enough if they are low budget and cant afford to pay the likes of
http://www.cyclevox.com/commentary/

...but why do Kirby and Harmon hog the commentating ?? why not let the co-commentator talk more.

Are you seriously suggesting that Ant McCrossan is a) a better commentator and b) more experienced than Harmon, Kirby etc...

you seriously need a channel for your anger and hate. Try going out and riding a really steap hill. You might feel better.

 

[Cycle Chic]

As usual Team Sky bloke resorts to playground name calling. I,d kick your **** up any hill mate !