Phil and Paul

[auscyclefan94]

Sherwen's pronunciation of 'Majka' was hard to listen last night. It really stuck out.

 

[therealtimshady]

Phil "is that a bloke from Star Trek"

Paul " no it's captain America"

Hilarious

 

[Mayo from Mayo]

Sherwen's pronunciation of 'Majka' was hard to listen last night. It really stuck out.

How many times did we hear Bardot today?

Men of a certain age!

 

[ggusta]

How many times did we hear Bardot today?

Men of a certain age!

i kept looking around every time Phil said 'Bardot' like a dog hearing a high pitched whistle only to realize nothing was there.... of course, I don't need to see Bardot today, she's pushing 80.

 

[JohnNordin]

Except that's it's a lot harder to talk for 2-4 solid hours than anyone knows. If any of us were to attempt to fill in for Phil or Paul, comments on this forum would crucify us in the first 10 minutes. We'd make so many errors of every kind we'd make Phil and Paul look like geniuses.

Well, sure, but this isn't really the point. Most of us couldn't keep up with Andy S. either, but we can still tell when he's not trying hard. Most of us can't fly a plane, run a company, be a commando either ... but we can still tell if it is being done well or badly.

You do have a valid point that good commentary for beginners is not going to make expert fans happy. But P&P are getting worse - they are repeating more and more, making more mistakes identifying riders and they still have the habit of constantly saying that this or that rider is just about to attack ... and he never does.

We can compare these two to others. And the Lance fanboy is still a blot on their copybook - but I do think Phil has really moved on from that.

 

[movingtarget]

Sherwen's pronunciation of 'Majka' was hard to listen last night. It really stuck out.

Every year we hear how he struggled up the mountains blah blah in 1981. Personal recollections are fine sometimes but I think I have already heard all of his before. All in all I think Phil has been a lot less annoying this year. Alessandro Valverde ! Well some things don't change.

 

[davidsonduke]

Well, sure, but this isn't really the point.

Actually, I thought it was.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

At one point on the climb to Risoul we were told that Majka (not sure whether he was being pronounced as Maker, Madge-ka or My Car at that point, all three were used in apparent rotation) was 45 seconds clear "that's about [pause for calculation] 750 metres".

Yes Paul. they climb mountains at 60kph. Of course they do.

 

[JohnNordin]

Don't you just love how P&P dump all over the computer predictions for when the break gets caught, because they are "too simple" and can't include "spirit" -- and then speak so reverently about Paul's "10 min per km" rule?

 

[Tonton]

Every year we hear how he struggled up the mountains blah blah in 1981. Personal recollections are fine sometimes but I think I have already heard all of his before. All in all I think Phil has been a lot less annoying this year. Alessandro Valverde ! Well some things don't change.

I think you hit the nail right on the head when you write that you have already heard all of this before. Casual viewers usually have a much better appreciation for P&P. They don't catch the "Alessandro Valverde"-like mistakes, enjoy the broadcast, and in all fairness to the duo, there's a lot worse out there (i.e. French TV coverage). For me, their blind defense of Armstrong and Landis ruined their credibility. Their rationale was heinous: it's a conspiracy, the (evil) French are jealous because they "haven't won a TdF since BH in '85" (another mention that we have heard before). They are clowns.

 

[AICA ribonucleotide]

Can I question why you guys still listen to these guys you complain about?
There are other options out there.

 

[Afrank]

Can I question why you guys still listen to these guys you complain about?
There are other options out there.

Call it...comedic relief.

 

[whittashau]

If you only understand English there really isn't a lot of options out there at all.

I'd personally rather listen to Matt Keenan do the whole commentary.

 

[tobyevans]

Can I question why you guys still listen to these guys you complain about?
There are other options out there.

because when out riding with my step-daughter 15 years ago, and with my son yesterday, it's "there's the attack! just look at this youngster from Slough!" they yell after style of P&P when sneaking past me

that's it. They're great at what they do, and it's good fun, if sometimes completely wrong. I've listened to Eurosport too, until I read Tim Moore completely nail Sean Kelly describe every rider as "majorly suffering" ... the Ned Boulting book describes how Phil L really is like that all the time, never stopping talking at that pace, even in the toilet ...

in the Giro, Eurosport did the live feed without commentary. That was interesting

 

[movingtarget]

Can I question why you guys still listen to these guys you complain about?
There are other options out there.

I prefer to watch on TV and in Australia, Eurosport does not have the rights, only local TV. I prefer the big screen to the computer. I have been watching them for years so if it was that bad I would just switch off altogether. So far it is bearable but usually I prefer Eurosport and have that choice for most of the other races.

 

[Archibald]

Except that's it's a lot harder to talk for 2-4 solid hours than anyone knows. If any of us were to attempt to fill in for Phil or Paul, comments on this forum would crucify us in the first 10 minutes. We'd make so many errors of every kind we'd make Phil and Paul look like geniuses.

I have my own criticisms of them, principally that they won't stop talking, but somewhere they (whoever "they" are) decided that constant commentary is they way you do a bike race.

but here's the thing about their constant 'talking'... it's television, not radio. they don't need to talk all the time. It's not like they're seeing anything different to what we are.
Take Nibali's attack on the road to Risoul when they cut away the moment after he attacked. Phil's waffling about how he's sure he saw him attack, and they'll let us know just what happened. Well, we saw it too, and we'll know as soon as the broadcast shows it again - it's the exact same broadcast he's seeing...

 

[leftover pie]

I'd personally rather listen to Matt Keenan do the whole commentary.

So would I, I think he does a great job and it is always more than a little annoying when they switch over to P&P™

The man I'd really like to hear commentate though is Richie Benaud, I think he would do a superb job, always measured in his commentary.

 

[argyllflyer]

in the Giro, Eurosport did the live feed without commentary. That was interesting

It was Rob Hatch and Sean Kelly for all 3 weeks? Or was that option on their website? Back in the day, early 90s, you could pick what language you wanted Eurosport and I think there was a 'no comms' option.

 

[Archibald]

So would I, I think he does a great job and it is always more than a little annoying when they switch over to P&P™

The man I'd really like to hear commentate though is Richie Benaud, I think he would do a superb job, always measured in his commentary.

Yessss... just marvellousss that

 

[42x16ss]

So would I, I think he does a great job and it is always more than a little annoying when they switch over to P&P™

The man I'd really like to hear commentate though is Richie Benaud, I think he would do a superb job, always measured in his commentary.

Possibly. Let's not forget that Benaud does such a great job with the cricket because he's a former Aus captain and an all time great of the sport.

Having said that, surely there's some good former riders with some media presence/training who would be happy to take up commentary - maybe Lemond or Zabriskie (Clinic issues aside) for example?

 

[42x16ss]

If you only understand English there really isn't a lot of options out there at all.

I'd personally rather listen to Matt Keenan do the whole commentary.

The difference between Keenan/McKenzie and Liggett/Sherwin is depressing. The Giro was a joy to watch with those two commentating, just the fact that they can go for more than 10 minutes without repeating themselves incessantly puts them head and shoulders above Phil and Paul.

Whenever SBS cuts over from Keenan to those two clowns I cringe...

 

[murali]

can they just get the names of the riders right, please!!!!


today these guys are bordering on stupidity.

 

[davidsonduke]

Doing Multiple Broadcasts?

Someone posted this in the comments section on today's stage on CN:

part of their problem is that they are doing multiple broadcasts at the same time. For example, Phil might be talking on ITV while Paul is on NBC (USA) or SBS (Australia), so there's no back and forth between them and it also causes them to repeat themselves A LOT.

Is this true? If so, they're a lot better than I thought.

 

[davidsonduke]

chrishent posted this in the comments section on today's stage on CN:

part of their problem is that they are doing multiple broadcasts at the same time. For example, Phil might be talking on ITV while Paul is on NBC (USA) or SBS (Australia), so there's no back and forth between them and it also causes them to repeat themselves A LOT.

Is this true? If so, they're a lot better than I thought.

 

[ggusta]

Can I question why you guys still listen to these guys you complain about?
There are other options out there.

60" plasma