is it just me or is Jimmy Conners and Martina painful?

[Cindysphinx]

^The things Jimmy says are dumb. They are typical platitudes, just stating the obvious.

Jimmy actually said during the Roddick match: "Andy needs to decide whether he wants to stay and play the US Open or go home."

I beg your pardon?

How about some analysis on exactly what Roddick could do differently to turn things around?

[jimbo333]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

^The things Jimmy says are dumb. They are typical platitudes, just stating the obvious.

Jimmy actually said during the Roddick match: "Andy needs to decide whether he wants to stay and play the US Open or go home."

I beg your pardon?

How about some analysis on exactly what Roddick could do differently to turn things around?

Andy clearly decided to go home. Jimmy was right!

[iscottius]

jimmy sucks........

[mrmo1115]

So sad that ESPN isn't covering the Open anymore... so sad...

[JavierLW]

Originally Posted by iscottius

I have been working out of the house today and have listened to the better part of the broadcast today. I must say I have enjoyed Jimmy calling the matches and his insight, but he and Martina are like a broken record longing for the style of play when they were champions. It has gotten a bit tedious.

The womens game is one dimensional, get over it. Pure serve and volley doesn't work anymore, deal with it.

Thank you! I felt the same way as Ive been watching a LOT of the US Open.

I feel like we're evaluating players from the late 70's / early 80's.

Martina drove me nuts the other night because she was claiming that players spend way too much time in the gym these days and doing core exercises, and they would be better off playing other sports and cross training.

I think that's just ignorant, core exercises are something that is big in almost any sport, not just tennis, and I think it's part of the reason why some of these players are performing at levels that did not exist in the past.

Beating yourself down playing basketball or some other sport really doesnt hold water to having the time to strengthen your body so you are prepared to play.

I also hate when the commentary is biased toward certain players either because they are Americans or because they happen to be the media darling or the big story.

I watch a lot of football, and I feel the same way there, that sort of commentary is really driven at the novice fan who is only there for emotional involvement versus a respect and admiration for the sport.

I feel that the McEnroe's do a much better job of being objective in that area. The general sports announcers (like Enberg), and Martina and Connors are not like that.

I also hate that Martina keeps criticizing the players when they are losing with her no stop chatter about how they should do "this" or how they should do "that".....

That reminds me of a lot of successful players that I know in my personal life. They are talented and they can be very successful, but when they start running their mouth, they really are not someone you want to listen too, as well as they dont really care or understand their audence.

(but in Martina's defense, she's on some gig as a match anaylst so she's somewhat in a position to be forced to keep coming up with something to say, that can be very hard....)

[Cfidave]

It is hard not to listen when Connors talks. You wonder what goes on in the mind of someone who was so hugely successful at their sport. Having said that, he does get a little to instructional at times, don't do this, or don't do that. Overall, he does tend to be right more often then wrong, and some of his observations are pretty slick.

[lordmanji]

i love hearing martina's commentary actually. she can and does break down technique, strategy, the state of the match, psychology -- everything. and she has an opinion which makes her more interesting.

jimmy just states the obvious when he's not deferring to martina. its embarassing how little he seems to know about the current state of the game and asking martina her opinion. he's basically another play by play commentator when bill macatee is already there.

[AllDownTheLine]

Originally Posted by iscottius

I have been working out of the house today and have listened to the better part of the broadcast today. I must say I have enjoyed Jimmy calling the matches and his insight, but he and Martina are like a broken record longing for the style of play when they were champions. It has gotten a bit tedious.

The womens game is one dimensional, get over it. Pure serve and volley doesn't work anymore, deal with it.

Is this you on Referencetown.com? Sounds familiar:
http://referencetown.com/comment.asp...f-11cf14f2b464

[West Coast Ace]

Originally Posted by 35ft6

Connors is really awkward on camera and isn't very insightful.

Agree. Connors needs to do this more often and get better - or have a smaller role - or not bother.

Originally Posted by Pancho G

Martina is terrible, but it's mostly because of her annoying accent. And she's very negative.

Very, very negative. I'm still waiting for her to tell us why let serves should be in play and what that would fix in the game.

Originally Posted by bruce38

Robbie Koenig is the best

Most of the Tennis Channel play by play people are good. Doug Adler and The Fiery One Fred Stolle doing Fed - Robredo was awesome. Like hanging out with very knowledgeable tennis buddies and BS'ing while watching a match.

[Andre's Mom]

One of the commentators of the tennis channel kept calling Gonzo,
Francisco, I though his partner was going to correct him, but no.
Will see next match.
I like them a lot.

[Shaolin]

Navratilova/Connors are not PAINFUL the way Mary Gorilla, Barry MacKay and Jimmy Arias are, but they do nothing but criticize and complain, they sound like a couple of old codgers that should be sitting out on their rocking chairs, eating licorice and reminiscing about the old days.

[ShooterMcMarco]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

^The things Jimmy says are dumb. They are typical platitudes, just stating the obvious.

Jimmy actually said during the Roddick match: "Andy needs to decide whether he wants to stay and play the US Open or go home."

I beg your pardon?

How about some analysis on exactly what Roddick could do differently to turn things around?

Hilarious, kinda reminds me of John Madden. "Listen, this team needs to get to the other end of the field." Thanks John, for your fantastic insight into the game of football.

[quest01]

I don't mind Jimmy Connors but Martina on the other hand sometimes gets too excited. I like it when killer Cahill mentioned that Stepaneks girlfriend is smoking hot.

[jimbo333]

Originally Posted by Cfidave

It is hard not to listen when Connors talks. You wonder what goes on in the mind of someone who was so hugely successful at their sport. Having said that, he does get a little to instructional at times, don't do this, or don't do that. Overall, he does tend to be right more often then wrong, and some of his observations are pretty slick.

Exactly cfidave, I agree completely, and he knows when to shut up, unlike say McEnroe!

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by quest01

I don't mind Jimmy Connors but Martina on the other hand sometimes gets too excited. I like it when killer Cahill mentioned that Stepaneks girlfriend is smoking hot.

And then they cut to a shot of her and it's Vaidesova. What a disappointment after that build-up.

[IvanYentl]

Connors is a bit too monotone and after he makes an observation he tends to punctuate it with "what do you think Martina?" which is highly annoying. Like, c'mon Jimmy, don't you think your observations can stand alone? OTOH he is not afraid of dead air, which is nice.

Connors' physical appearance is also a bit troubling. He's starting to look like a grandmother.

Martina is always excellent. The rhythms of her voice will never change, which is fine by me. I find her observations really useful and love when she points out mistakes players are making and how to correct them.

[35ft6]

But overall, I've been really loving the commentating at this US Open. Even though there seems to be about 20 people in rotation. Out of the women, I like Mary Joe Fernandez the best. She's not reactive like Connors and Martina, who will say "that was good" when a player wins the point, and "that was dumb" when they lose. They don't applaud the correct approach, knowing even if you're using the correct tactic you're bound to lose points occasionally, they just say good or bad depending on whether they won the point. Or so it seems. Mac also tends to do this a lot.

But MJ, Cahill, Brad Gilbert, and Justin have all been solid. Even Pam Shriver is pretty decent. Jimmy Arias is so hit or miss. It's so depressing to think that for the final, the commentators will probably be Enberg, Carillo, and Mac. I wish it was Cahill, Gilbert, and Mac.

[JankovicFan]

Connors comments like he is coaching. It seems out of place and gets annoying after awhile. I would like to hear how a millionaire player is successful as well as how they lost some point. These are not tots on the playground. Martina is condescending too. They are like 800 pound gorillas in the room. I don't see anyone at a high level paying them to coach with any regularity.

[Cindysphinx]

What we need is a volunteer. Someone to write down some of the real pearls and then report back to the group. . . .

[Rhinosaur]

I like to turn down the sound when I watch, same for football...I can't stand the stating of the obvious. For those who aren't familiar with the game I can understand listening to every word, but for me it's just noise.

Martina was arrogant, cold and moody during her playing days. Connors chose big-purse exhibitions over Davis Cup and hated Arthur Ashe...so I really don't give to s**ts what either one of them has to say.

Oh, and players don't serve and volley anymore...live in the now. Kinda hard to get up to the net when you're serving 125 mph.