Rob Hatch

[Tricycle Rider]

Hatch really is a hysterical these days and even more annoying ...

I usually have the volume on low anyway, but listening to Hatch will force me to exercise the mute option. He's just incredibly annoying.

 

[awavey]

"In the land of fine Italian dining, it is a big mac that wins it"

If ever there were a line that deserves the sack...

the grief Kirby would get for delivering a line like that...plus I bet he's been waiting all Giro to use it too

 

[BR2]

It makes me fear for what he had planned in the case of Healy or Frigo winning: "In the land of the risotto, the best is Uncle Ben's", or "They eat their vegetables frito around here, but the break has been cooked by Frigo."

You're ready to go I'd say...

 

[RedheadDane]

It makes me fear for what he had planned in the case of Healy or Frigo winning: "In the land of the risotto, the best is Uncle Ben's", or "They eat their vegetables frito around here, but the break has been cooked by Frigo."

Are you even allowed to be a cycling commentator if you don't make terrible puns?

 

[Sciatic]

You're ready to go I'd say...

The risotto one isn’t half bad.

 

[Salvarani]

"In the land of fine Italian dining, it is a big mac that wins it"

If ever there were a line that deserves the sack...

He could have said "In the land of fine Italian dining, it is McNulty who take(s) away the stage"

It would have been a little more clever and subtle.

His line is just "lol" but still comedy in a hilariously bad way.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

I don't mind Rob Hatch at all. Much much much better than Carlton Kirby. If anything Sean Kelly going on endless talks is annoying, you could have Almeida dropping Roglic and Thomas and he wouldn't care if he's in one of his 2 minute explanation speeches.

The Big Mac actually was funny today.

 

[kingjr]

the grief Kirby would get for delivering a line like that...plus I bet he's been waiting all Giro to use it too

What are the odds that Kirby sent him that line via WhatsApp?

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

I complained about Hatch on this thread last week. Later, I realized I was too harsh. I've given a fresh listen to his Giro commentary over the past few days. He does do a fine job most of the time and the excessive volume and hyper-drama during attacks, crashes, finishes, etc. is surely because he loves the sport and gets possessed by his excitement in those moments.

Does he? He's a failed football commentator and has done other odd jobs for the BBC during the Olympics. So he's probably just slipped down the rungs to what must be one of the worst paying sports to commentate on.
He shows no passion. Just shouting, whispering or whelping and his historical knowledge is poor beyond Coppi.
Also it might be nice for him to have some knowledge of the country's culture that he hasn't lifted from guidebooks. And that annoying banter about no cappuccino after 11am and no pineapple on pizza can f right off.

 

[RedheadDane]

He shows no passion. Just shouting, whispering or whelping and his historical knowledge is poor beyond Coppi.

Do you really need historical knowledge to be a commentator? A nice bonus, sure, but not really necessary.

 

[PapaD]

He's perfectly fine, no idea why everyone here doesn't like him. Try listening to the Australian SBS commentary and you'll soon realise Hatch is decent.

 

[tobydawq]

Do you really need historical knowledge to be a commentator? A nice bonus, sure, but not really necessary.

Yes, you do.

 

[RedheadDane]

Yes, you do.

I'm pretty sure you can commentate on what's happening right now, without knowing what happened 50 years ago.

 

[tobydawq]

I'm pretty sure you can commentate on what's happening right now, without knowing what happened 50 years ago.

Not nearly as well.

Hatch does have historical knowledge, though, so I'm not criticising him.

 

[RedheadDane]

Not nearly as well.

Why not? You don't need to know that 50 years ago [X-rider] did so-and-so in order to commentate on what's happening right in front of your eyes.

 

[Salvarani]

I'm pretty sure you can commentate on what's happening right now, without knowing what happened 50 years ago.

Sure... but during a 4-5 hour broadcast there are probably gonna be moments where not much is happening in the race.

You kinda need to be able to talk about other stuff than just commentating on the race. Like the scenery, historical buildings, castles and so one that the race goes by. Maybe history about the race or when the Giro last passed through here. When the last finish was at this city and so on.

I believe most of these commentators have or should have done their homework. It adds more to me as a viewer if they can talk about more than the racing... because I can see what is going in the race with my own eyes as well.

 

[tobydawq]

Why not? You don't need to know that 50 years ago [X-rider] did so-and-so in order to commentate on what's happening right in front of your eyes.

Yes yo do.

 

[tobydawq]

Sure... but during a 4-5 hour broadcast there are probably gonna be moments where not much is happening in the race.

You kinda need to be able to talk about other stuff than just commentating on the race. Like the scenery, historical buildings, castles and so one that the race goes by. Maybe history about the race or when the Giro last passed through here. When the last finish was at this city and so on.

I believe most of these commentators have or should have done their homework. It adds more to me as a viewer if they can talk about more than the racing... because I can see what is going in the race with my own eyes as well.

Exactly.

 

[RedheadDane]

You kinda need to be able to talk about other stuff than just commentating on the race. Like the scenery, historical buildings, castles and so one that the race goes by. Maybe history about the race or when the Giro last passed through here. When the last finish was at this city and so on.

And that's all great when nothing is happening. However, sometimes commentators get so wrapped up in telling the great story of 50 years ago, they forget to notice what's happening right in front of their eyes.

Yes yo do.

No. What guys did 50 years ago has no relevance to the racing now.

 

[gunara]

Do you really need historical knowledge to be a commentator? A nice bonus, sure, but not really necessary.

Is it so difficult to accept that historical knowledge provides commentator more contexts to...well...everything? For example so they know they don't need to react hysterically to everything that happen because they can tell special stuffs from the common ones, for a start. Basically, it's extremely easy to sound stupid when you have to keep talking for a long time about something you historically know very little.

 

[RedheadDane]

Is it so difficult to accept that historical knowledge provides commentator more contexts to...well...everything? For example so they know they don't need to react hysterically to everything that happen because they can tell special stuffs from the common ones, for a start. Basically, it's extremely easy to sound stupid when you have to keep talking for a long time about something you historically know very little.

If the choice is between a commentator who comments on what's happening right now, and a commentator who gets so focused on the history he feels to need to finish the story, even though stuff is happening in the actual race, I know what I prefer.

Of course, the ideal would be a commentator who can tell a story about some random rider's 100 K raid 50 years ago, but then the moment stuff is happening in the race, interrupt himself and start talking about the things that really matter.

 

[tobydawq]

And that's all great when nothing is happening. However, sometimes commentators get so wrapped up in telling the great story of 50 years ago, they forget to notice what's happening right in front of their eyes.

Yes, but that was not what we talked about. Being able to tell old stories does not equal being incapable of not doing it.

 

[Netserk]

It sounds like RhD has no appreciation for Bastian-Emil.

 

[RedheadDane]

It sounds like RhD has no appreciation for Bastian-Emil.

He's great for when there's isn't much stuff happening. However, as soon as stuff starts happen, his stories can wait.
And if they make a "unequal sized split-screen", then the race needs to be on the bigger screen. (Same goes for when they show pre-race interviews)

Yes, but that was not what we talked about. Being able to tell old stories does not equal being incapable of not doing it.

Yes, it's a nice bonus, but someone can still be a great commentator without being able to tell old stories.

Dunno why, but this reminds me of Axelgaard's race previews. They're great, but... I just wish he'd put the "role and history of the race" segment near the end.

 

[tobydawq]

He's great for when there's isn't much stuff happening. However, as soon as stuff starts happen, his stories can wait.
And if they make a "unequal sized split-screen", then the race needs to be on the bigger screen. (Same goes for when they show pre-race interviews)



1) Yes, it's a nice bonus, but someone can still be a great commentator without being able to tell old stories.

2) Dunno why, but this reminds me of Axelgaard's race previews. They're great, but... I just wish he'd put the "role and history of the race" segment near the end.

1) I find that extremely unlikely to be the case.

2) You probably have a scroll bar...