Worst commentators
- Thread starter Luminaire
- Start date
Ginger ninja
Semi-Pro
What? I love Boris. He always sounds drunk and doesn't play politically correct.
The James hunt of tennis.
The James hunt of tennis.
FrontHeadlock
Hall of Fame
Mary Carillo.
End thread.
End thread.
Ginger ninja
Semi-Pro
I, for one, don't want all commentators from the same mould. Boris is high entertainment value. Buffoonery of the first order.
Luminaire
Semi-Pro
You've got a point. When he starts joking he can be pretty funny. But just the straight commentary is painful.
Jimmy Connors & Chris Evert are pretty weak as well (although Chris has slightly improved of late).
J
JRAJ1988
Guest
Mark Petchy's commentary is very biased towards the "paper favorite" constantly.
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
Andrew Castle by a country mile. He is everything a commentator shouldn't be - biased to the bone, irritating, thinks he knows everything.
ninman
Hall of Fame
He achieved the impossible, being a worse commentator than a player. Seriously, his career W-L record is 22-57.
Agreed. He and Tim "Very much so" Henman are maddening together.
Listen out for "Very much so" on Sunday.
Mr Federer
Rookie
todd woodbridge and john newcombe thats all that needs to be said.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Justin. Wow. Is English his first language?
underground
G.O.A.T.
Also his tone annoys me a lot, Andrew Castle is by far the worse biased but at least his voice doesn't annoy me.
Chico
Banned
This. Mary Carillo is worst by far.
Hood_Man
G.O.A.T.
There's this Australian woman? Who always sounds like she's ending every sentence with a question? And it's really annoying?
I don't think she commentates Wimbledon but she commentates WTA tournaments every once in a while?
All she ever does is say "Big point?" And "That's not good enough to win the point?" "Will she pull it off? No she won't?"
My GOD!
I don't think she commentates Wimbledon but she commentates WTA tournaments every once in a while?
All she ever does is say "Big point?" And "That's not good enough to win the point?" "Will she pull it off? No she won't?"
My GOD!
Mainad
Bionic Poster
If she's quoting God it's probably Margaret Court! :wink:
No, the worst by far, are Pam Shriver, Chris Evert and Mary Joe - the 3 witches of US broadcasting. You will not find a more biased, stupid and just plain annoying team. They know nothing, constantly miss facts, insult every foreign player, and think their job consists of kissing Serena's ***.
Tennisguy777
Professional
I am glad somebody started this thread. Yesterday I nearly died of an ovedose of bafoonery from Boris and then Jmac. " Modern strings keep the ball in the court, largest racket allowed on tour is 105" etc.
Al Czervik
Hall of Fame
Crazy aunt Pam! Boris is pretty bad, too.
Pam Shriver was highly entertaining a couple of years ago when she was acting drunk and incoherent in some of her commentaries.
Like when she rolled her eyes with derision when saying "Wickmayer" was in the USO semifinals. Or when she annoyed Blake because she was talking too loud in the booth during one of his matches and he told her to shut up.
She did another crazy thing around that time period but I can't quite remember.
Like when she rolled her eyes with derision when saying "Wickmayer" was in the USO semifinals. Or when she annoyed Blake because she was talking too loud in the booth during one of his matches and he told her to shut up.
She did another crazy thing around that time period but I can't quite remember.
Ginger ninja
Semi-Pro
Chris Evert is by far the worst - brings everything back to herself. Also, she takes herself too seriously, unlike bonking Boris. I am looking forward to something sage from BB tomorrow ........*thwack, clunk* (125 mph ace) "he does that by hitting the ball very hard and placing it in the corner"
Love Boris.
Love Boris.
Exactly! Tennis has the worse commentators and the worse camera perspectives. They should be lowering the camera angle closer to court level so you can appreciate the speed and heaviness of the torqued ball. It would be so much more a compelling watch. They make it boring. Tennis needs the producers that film NFL.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
I wish Chris would stop talking about herself. Chris, I didn't like watching you back then. Please stop reminding me of it now.
I mean, the hubris! Chris, you weren't half the athlete these current women are, and you probably had to do your push-ups on your knees if you could do them at all. Please stop insulting the current batch of strong, fast female payers by talking about the tennis you played.
SLD76
G.O.A.T.
beast of mallorca
G.O.A.T.
Chris Evert is the most annoying of them all, followed by Mary Carillo and Pam Shriver. The 3 worst commentators from the ESPN roster
Chico
Banned
No I think you got one think wrong here. The three witches of US broadcasting are Mary Carillo, Pam Shriver and Mary Joe, with Carillo being the worst one.
redpurusha
Rookie
What a thread. I got a question, is there ANY commentator that any of you guys like or think might come close to the tennis knowledge and colorful commentary you all would provide?
Cormorant
Professional
Castle took it upon himself today to speculate jokingly about a possible 'domestic' between Henman's parents, who were in the crowd for the men's final. Tim playfully demurred, but then Bouncy Castle insisted on hinting that there would be an argument between the Henmans later on. It's almost enough to make me wish that the BBC would be stripped of their broadcast rights for a year, giving them time to train up some less excruciating comms.
Johnny Mac is really annoying because he rarely offers any insight and will usually just praise players for what they're doing if it's working, and criticize them if it doesn't. Rarely does he say that a player is doing the right thing, but is just not working out for them due to luck or bad execution, or that a player is doing the wrong thing but it's working out due to luck.
Boris Becker is awful, but he's entertaining if you're in the right frame of mind. He's adopted a really dramatic way of talking when he's on air, and he'll throw out tons of ridiculously obvious observations or subjective fluff as if they're really profound insights.
"The key thing with [random big server], can he keep getting in his first serves? Let's find out!" (thanks Boris, want to actually make a prediction based on your 'expertise'?)
"Right now they have it all on the line, it's about HEART!" (summoning Captain Planet, Boris?)
Boris Becker is awful, but he's entertaining if you're in the right frame of mind. He's adopted a really dramatic way of talking when he's on air, and he'll throw out tons of ridiculously obvious observations or subjective fluff as if they're really profound insights.
"The key thing with [random big server], can he keep getting in his first serves? Let's find out!" (thanks Boris, want to actually make a prediction based on your 'expertise'?)
"Right now they have it all on the line, it's about HEART!" (summoning Captain Planet, Boris?)
Gut4Tennis
Hall of Fame
Gut4Tennis
Hall of Fame
Nativenewyorker
New User
I am in complete agreement with you!
I find myself gritting my teeth whenever any of these three are on the air.
I think the problems with commentators are that 1) the relive glory days too much; 2) there's too much time to talk, and they ***** come out of their mouths;3) they panhandle to the current top players; it's too small of a world in tennis to worry about offending folks;and fear of upsetting the apple cart.
diadorakuerten
Rookie
+1
Can't stand these three idiots. Chris Fowler probably never played tennis in his life.
High street sw19
Rookie
Tracey Austin and Sam Smith on the BBC...show them both the door.
McLovin
Legend
Agreed, except Carillo hasn't been w/ ESPN for over a year now.
Anonameous
New User
I guess none of you have listened to this guy caled Alan Wilkins. After a 20 something shot rally by Del Potro to save break point, he paused for 5 seconds and then said "Deuce".
widmerpool
Rookie
Mary Carillo. Has to be the worst of all-time. And she plagues the Olympics 
I've only heard Becker a few times. I literally can't understand what he's saying. I used to think he was smart but I think he's actually not very bright.
I've only heard Becker a few times. I literally can't understand what he's saying. I used to think he was smart but I think he's actually not very bright.
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