Liggett and Sherwen Commentary

[trealawboy]

I've been wondering that too - with LA finally retired for good, what's their commentary gonna sound like next year? Wait, wait, I bet it's gonna sound like it did at P-R this year, when LA wasn't in the race . . .

I think its clear that Andy Schleck is Sherwen's man now.

 

[trealawboy]

What I've noticed is that they are partial to English-speaking riders. I bet if you ask most American cycling fans who their favorite rider is, it's bound to be an American, an Aussie, a Brit, or at least a rider who can speak fluent English. That's why AC has not chance of ever becoming a big star in the States--in addition to him not kissing Lance's **** in last year's TdF.

.. which is why without the emergence of a US/UK/Aussie contender over the next few years, Andy Schleck will be their man.

 

[Hawkwood]

Dirk Hofman is hilarious, gets his sign in everytime, sucks for people around him when he pulls it out and blocks thier view of the sprint. cunning advertising however.

As for P&P they are annoying as hell when they go on about Lance, but when i think of who else would be good.....nothing.

Some of the things they say are just hilarious however, if Phill didn't have Paul he's be lost somewhere in the north of france still, phil definately has dementia

Dirk Hofman came up the other day on the forum, do a search and you'll find his website.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I think the problem is that the TdF is obviously cycling's showcase event and lots of non-cycling fans tune in to watch coverage who normally wouldn't. I think it's also fair to say that for the countries in which their commentary is being broadcast the viewers are more interested in the Anglophone riders, rather than the likes of Roman Kreuziger, John Gadret or Robert Gesink.

Very true, but nevertheless the tone of their commentary is equally patronising and tooled for somebody who's never seen a race before on every other race I've seen them do in the last few years. Sometimes it's obvious blatant lying to fit the sponsor's requirements (Tour of California), other times it's almost like they just love taking the piss out of cycling fans.

 

[Tim_sleepless]

While Phil's love of Lance can be kind of justified, what's always struck me as odd is his manlove for Julian Dean..... I don't think that there has been a contested sprint in the Tour this century where Phil hasn't screamed.. "and here's Julian Dean... can he win it?"

... No Phil he can't.. he never has and he never will.

At least this year he seems to have finally realized that he's a lead out man.

 

[online-rider]

While Phil's love of Lance can be kind of justified, what's always struck me as odd is his manlove for Julian Dean..... I don't think that there has been a contested sprint in the Tour this century where Phil hasn't screamed.. "and here's Julian Dean... can he win it?"

... No Phil he can't.. he never has and he never will.

At least this year he seems to have finally realized that he's a lead out man.

I bet you JD will win the Bordeaux stage tomorrow

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I see what you mean, I'm afraid that's what I've been assuming. I guess they don't really censor the posts, here's a funny one from there:
Dear Bob,

I have been a TDF fan since I was 10 (1983) and I have never seen a commentator like you. I am from Europe, and believe me: nobody knows you over there. It is so embarrasing how you attack AC day after day. Of course, nobody at Versus said anything about what great cyclists like Hinault or Indurain said about Andy´s incident, or what Bruyneel commented about it. Shame on you all! I have stopped watching Versus because of your lack of professionalism. Love, Angie





I'll let him know you said that. I have to forgive his inability to see through the mist as he's a uniballer also and has an emotional connection to the franchise and LA.

hysterical LOL!!!

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Here it is:

Paul:

"I'm sorry, I've been a professional bike rider, I know when somebody has a mechanical"

Phil: defending alberto

"Yea, but you've never ridden the tour Phil, you've never been in that situation"

Phil:

"Well no I haven't, but I have ridden in other tours though"

Paul:

"Like which?"

Phil:

"The tour of ireland"

Paul:

Laughs..

god, that is realy horrible and heartbreaking bash. Totally uncalled for

 

[thrawn]

Oh, you are definitely in the minority.

Versus website - ask Bobke thread

If you can see that thread i just posted have a read of it and it will show you what kind of audience Phil and Paul are catering to and their level of intelligence. Some of the dumb questions Americans ask over and over again about professional cycling. It just amazes me that most of them haven't learnt how to use google to search for an answer to their question that they are asking Bobke.

If you can't see that thread just go to the versus website click forums and go to the 'Ask Bobke' thread.

This is the last post on that thread currently - "Curious, does the gap in your teeth allow for more easy airflow to your lungs? scott kinzy, santa rosa, ca " WTF

 

[SpartacusRox]

That is no excuse! They still should commentate the race! They mention him when the happenings of the race have absolutely nothing to do with him and mention him in races he is not even in!

Whoa, settle down there cuddles. Just because they dont contrast the gap between LA and Cadel because its to big you dont need to get all feisty.

From my recollection The race was where Lance was given that he was in the front group and the peloton was having a day off. Yeah Phil and Paul are Lance fanboys, so what, it's TV, turn the sound down. At least he took the initiative to get in the break. If he hadn't he would have been criticized and when he does he is criticised...go figure.

 

[sunnyIce]

yeah these guys i find quite annoying.
i have been watching the eurosport transmission for the day. and it is so much better. atleast most of the stories (some stupid) they talk abt are bicycle histories, stories.

in any case, what is with the live TV for 4 mins and commercials for 3 mins on versus? ridiculous.

 

[CatsNK]

I just had the misfortune to have to watch Vs at the gym. I forgot that there was a bike race going on.

There were endless commercial breaks. Then Bob took a bike ride (with out a helmet...) and an interview with Lance. Lots of coverage of Sanchez's crash. And that's about it. Horrendous!

 

[joe_papp]

Although PL is making more and more mistakes, he seems less infatuated with Armstrong than Sherwin. Sherwin's commentary is the worst imo...

I wish I could share a P.S. comment made semi in-private (definitely not on-air!) about the uniballer and the spouse of a different commentator. Holy smokes!

That's another one for the book, I guess...

 

[joe_papp]

... Can anyone do better maybe we could get Fothergill to come back and do the job. ...

I could do better. I'd want Daniel Tosh (Tosh.0) as my side-kick...

 

[joe_papp]

the mistakes are the worst

That doesn't explain why Phil is constantly wrong. Wrong name, wrong team, wrong time, wrong position. It used to happen 2-3 times a race but now it's every time he opens his mouth.
Sorry Phil, you've been great, but it's time to retire.

Besides the relentless pro-Lance propaganda, the poor-pronunciation of most non-anglo names and Paul's recent personal attack on Phil's qualifications (re. the Tour of Ireland comment), what bothers me most of all are the inaccuracies, the mistakes, the falsehoods, the disconnect from reality they display 30-40% of the time.

But worst of all - and hear me out - is the fact that they DON'T CORRECT THEMSELVES! So whatever incorrect info they introduce into the broadcast they allow to propagate by not taking the time to correct themselves. I can understand not doing it necessarily every time you misidentify a skinny basque climber, but they make fundamental mistakes on a daily basis that are allowed to fester.

 

[bobmcpartland]

they're completely dictated to by the US networks...

PL is even talking like an American now, yesterday he used the term ' Freeway' when talking about a Motorway ( as we Brits call them )

Today's clanger came from PS who said, "This climb goes all the way to the summit."

 

[MacRoadie]

For me, it's the shocking lack of regard or undertsanding of modern technology. It's like Phil and Paul still have friction shifters and toe clips on their "randonneur" bikes.

Every tech segmant that Frankie does is like the discovery of fire for those two, especially Phil. Just the other day, he was absolutely shocked that the Easton wheelsets may have as few as TWELVE SPOKES (!) on them!

Framesets "as light as 900 grams", "sprockets" with 11 cogs on them, and just about anything made of carbon fiber elicits (what you can only imagine are) heads shaken in disbelief, accompanied by the requisite "Paul, what WILL they think of next?".

DON"T even get me started on the bottle that opens at both ends....

 

[rzombie1988]

Where can I watch the Eurosport feed? I've never seen it before.

 

[alberto.legstrong]

They suk. We get it.

i prefer it (the video) to streaming internet.

how many threads do we really need?

EDIT: OK, just one more....

 

[alberto.legstrong]

DON"T even get me started on the bottle that opens at both ends....

" Oh, Look Bob, it's the clean bottle guy. Why didn't we think of this? The bottle opens at both end so there's no mold."

Only time I ever had a mold problem is when I left sports drink in a bottle in the garage for like a week. Toss the bottle get a new one. Toss your product placement script. It is moldy AND stale, too. Along with your road id's.

 

[richwagmn]

I do appreciate Phil's enthusiasm. And of the two, I'd take Phil over Paul. Bob Roll is like a wet blanklet.

 

[Elagabalus]

in any case, what is with the live TV for 4 mins and commercials for 3 mins on versus? ridiculous.

I mentioned this the other day perhaps it needs repeating. If you think all those commercials are bad you should try doing the lead-ins and the lead-outs to all those commercial breaks, live, and then be expected to seamlessly jump back in to whatever topic your sidekick Paul happens to talking about-probably castles. Seriously, that might account for some of Phil's symptoms of dementia.

 

[Carlo Algatrensig]

But worst of all - and hear me out - is the fact that they DON'T CORRECT THEMSELVES! So whatever incorrect info they introduce into the broadcast they allow to propagate by not taking the time to correct themselves. I can understand not doing it necessarily every time you misidentify a skinny basque climber, but they make fundamental mistakes on a daily basis that are allowed to fester.

Thats one thing that i get annoyed with aswell. It was probably worst this year on the stage 3 when for 15 minutes they were talking about Geraint Thomas taking the yellow jersey, then suddenly starting talking about Cancellara taking it back. So actually I guess they did correct themselves but didn't give any indication to the fact that they'd been getting it wrong for the last quarter of an hour they just started talking as if they'd been calling it right all along.

 

[frizzlefry]

mute it and be your own announcer. Be sure to practice this one first: "evans is sliding out the back" you may be using it a lot .

lmfao.......

 

[bobmcpartland]

I wonder how many times PS has used the phrases, 'The heads of state of the peloton', or 'There's a serious organisation going on at the front'

What's your most annoying phrase?