Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Lets have Dr. J in the booth with his daughter. That'll shut her up
ESPN Announcers will not shut up
- Thread starter Bill Lobsalot
- Start date
tennis4me
Hall of Fame
I learned something new (and useless) yesterday from Mouth Carillo's blabbering (yes, during points) ...
After the camera zoomed in to Stan Smith and his wife, Mouth said that she attended Stan Smith's wedding and caught the bouquet. Then she and her co-commentator were laughing so hard and continued that line of conversation that it looks like they're not commentating the match.
Mouth Carrillo is part of ESPN team, the same network that created the dubious ESPY award. What do I expect?
After the camera zoomed in to Stan Smith and his wife, Mouth said that she attended Stan Smith's wedding and caught the bouquet. Then she and her co-commentator were laughing so hard and continued that line of conversation that it looks like they're not commentating the match.
Mouth Carrillo is part of ESPN team, the same network that created the dubious ESPY award. What do I expect?
The only way to watch tennis any more (or any commentated sport for that matter) is to find a non-commentated channel that just gives you the plain-Jane experience, with ZERO blabbering idiots whatsoever -- ie. Tennis Channel covering a non-major in earlier rounds. It's literally gotten that bad, regardless of the media conglomerate or country it's coming from. I have to basically mute anything on a major network; subliminal garbage messaging at its finest.
Tennis Fan States63
Hall of Fame
Agree with the comments on Jim Courier - the most professional to me of the recent former players. I do like when Martina Navratilova gives some analysis - she really gets into the details at times, which give another good perspective.
I loved Chris Evert as a player and saw a lot of her playing days. She is knowledgeable, obviously, and just like John McEnroe, can give some unique perspective. I can usually tolerate it, but they have become, IMO, way too comfortable and conversational in their approach lately. One thing that did set me off recently was when Ms. Evert was discussing Bianca Andreescu and a possible match-up - her response "I like Bianca - don't ask me why." What do you mean, don't ask me why - that's your job to tell us why......you can be wrong, but for goodness sake, give us a little bit more than that - anyone can just go on a hunch.
Maybe I'm just getting too old. Looking forward to some good matches on both the men's and ladies' side......hopefully we get that as the tournaments progress.
I loved Chris Evert as a player and saw a lot of her playing days. She is knowledgeable, obviously, and just like John McEnroe, can give some unique perspective. I can usually tolerate it, but they have become, IMO, way too comfortable and conversational in their approach lately. One thing that did set me off recently was when Ms. Evert was discussing Bianca Andreescu and a possible match-up - her response "I like Bianca - don't ask me why." What do you mean, don't ask me why - that's your job to tell us why......you can be wrong, but for goodness sake, give us a little bit more than that - anyone can just go on a hunch.
Maybe I'm just getting too old. Looking forward to some good matches on both the men's and ladies' side......hopefully we get that as the tournaments progress.
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
Would have been great to actually see the match on ESPN instead of watching Cliff Drysdale stammer through interviews and a total disaster Alexandra Stevenson yammer endlessly. Stop showing Andy Murray…it’s painful to watch him be a step and a half slower than his opponents.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
And Andy is on Ashe.........................................
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Well, ok.
But the casual fan does not get much out of Evert talking about how people played in the 1970s, either.
I am on the fence about Woz. She is current and knowledgeable, but she has a very weak voice. I’m not sure Alexandra Stevens is adding much. But I love Bethany Maddock Sands.
speedysteve
Legend
I don't like it at all when they talk over the play.
Seems like an American thing and recent players turned commentators are the worst!
I tweet and @them and their channel until they mend their ways
Fortunately I'm not an ESPN customer and never will be.
Seems BBC, Prime Video and Eurosport 'programme' their commentators to refrain.
Now to work on Tim Henman's use of "anythink"!!!
Seems like an American thing and recent players turned commentators are the worst!
I tweet and @them and their channel until they mend their ways
Fortunately I'm not an ESPN customer and never will be.
Seems BBC, Prime Video and Eurosport 'programme' their commentators to refrain.
Now to work on Tim Henman's use of "anythink"!!!
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tennis4me
Hall of Fame
Embarrassing moment in commentating by Mouth Carillo (and Chanda Rubin)
www.cnn.com
Dionne Warwick pokes fun at being mistaken for Gladys Knight at the US Open | CNN
The internet had a field day after former tennis pro and analyst Mary Carillo identified Dionne Warwick, who was sitting in the stands, as Gladys Knight.
www.cnn.com
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Recall that moment with a smile,Embarrassing moment in commentating by Mouth Carillo (and Chanda Rubin)
Dionne Warwick pokes fun at being mistaken for Gladys Knight at the US Open | CNN
The internet had a field day after former tennis pro and analyst Mary Carillo identified Dionne Warwick, who was sitting in the stands, as Gladys Knight.
brinkeguthrie
Hall of Fame
Why does Mattek-Sands dress like one of the Go-Gos on ESPN? Can she tone down the 80s vibe?
Tennis Fan States63
Hall of Fame
Ha ha......she got the beat.
She is scary looking.
bluetrain4
G.O.A.T.
Carillo and Arias are on the ESPN3 feed calling Med-Kyrgios.
I've always liked Arias as a commentator. Carillo - what can you say. I've been listening to her for 30 years and her style is so entrenched it's just part of the tennis landscape and doesn't bother me, even if she defaults too much to her "this is the deepest observation ever" delivered in whispering, low NPR voice and often applied to the most mundane observations.
I've always liked Arias as a commentator. Carillo - what can you say. I've been listening to her for 30 years and her style is so entrenched it's just part of the tennis landscape and doesn't bother me, even if she defaults too much to her "this is the deepest observation ever" delivered in whispering, low NPR voice and often applied to the most mundane observations.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Her bell-bottoms were a hit with the 60 yr olds in this household.
sovertennis
Professional
Brilliant Carillo analysis. For me, Arias is always excellent--he's got a good voice, which he doesn't use like it's his special instrument (like Carillo), makes really insightful comments and has a low-key, droll sense of humor. As an aside, I always thought Lindsay D was a bit too plain-vanilla, then I heard her call a match on ESPN 3 this week and it was like her personality bloomed. She was still restrained, but showed some real humor and made cogent and timely observations.
Down_the_line
Legend
It screams "Look at me everyone!"
Connor35
Semi-Pro
Secret: If you have ESPN+ go there and click on Ashe. instead of watching the main feed with John McEnroe, you'll get Mary Carillio who's much better.
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
Well “better” is debatable, but anything to alleviate the pain of listening to a sycophant.
LOL
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
But I wouldn’t know as the idiot desk is bootlicking Big Cat for the umpteenth time. He won. Great job. Move on.
I don't mind US TV building up US players. This is the US Open.
PhxRacket
Hall of Fame
Well, that’s your opinion. I want to watch matches no matter who is playing.
fundrazer
G.O.A.T.
Wozi and Chris Fowler are on the ESPN 2 broadcast.
ESPN3 alt feed is Ted Robinson (sucks) and some woman whose voice I don't recognize.
Yeah... Fowler/Woz/Stubbs... awful.
sovertennis
Professional
Good point. This also works for ESPN 3. I'll go to any channel to avoid listening to J Mac's uninformed blather.
sovertennis
Professional
So true. About 20 years ago, when Bethany still new on the scene, I was at the Open and, as I walked toward the court where she was scheduled to play, two guys came bustling past me, one saying to the other "Cmon, hurry up. I want to see what Bethany is wearing".
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Next time when she played all three wore the same outfit........................................
boredone3456
G.O.A.T.
J Mac has truly gotten worse over the years. It used to be when he was paired with Carillo I liked him and couldn't stand her. Now it has flipped. Granted I still don't love her, I find her very cloying depending on the player she's talking about and it turns me off. That Said...I'll take either one of them over Woz and Fowler. Blake....my opinion is still reserved on...haven't heard enough to make a judgement.
I wish Davenport would commentate more. Her I like.
Berasategui94
Semi-Pro
I don't like it at all when they talk over the play.
Seems like an American thing and recent players turned commentators are the worst!
I tweet and @them and their channel until they mend their ways
Fortunately I'm not an ESPN customer and never will be.
Seems BBC, Prime Video and Eurosport 'programme' their commentators to refrain.
Now to work on Tim Henman's use of "anythink"!!!
Is it really that bad in America? I guess I’ve taken Eurosport’s coverage and commentators almost for granted, because they’ve always been very professional since the early days in the 90s. They know when to shut up while also being engaged in the matches.
I don’t think they even have to tell them to do that, it’s just how it’s done in Britain. The Finnish Eurosport tennis commentators are good, too, very little ego, a lot of love for the game.
boredone3456
G.O.A.T.
It really is. They all seem to have this problem with silence. Its like they think they need to be talking non stop to the point they will talk about things/players that have nothing to do with whats happening. J Mac and Carillo for YEARS have been like this during their Wimbledon Coverage for NBC. It could be a mens match and somehow Carillo will be talking about the Williams sisters while player A on court has just hit an amazing winner...which won't get mentioned at all. The only American commentator regularly seems to be able to keep quiet in recent memory is Davenport. Others try and get roped into the inane banter started by whomever they are paired with.
My beef is with Chris Fowler, he never shuts up - seems like he likes hearing himself talk. Talks during points, references things from days earlier that are not relevant, tries to pcycho-analyze players too much. I tune in to tennis matches to watch the match not to hear these people talk. I used to like McEnroe but he's chattering now too. D. Cahill, Jim Courrier, James Blake all good at this - otherwise i can't wait until the tennis channel gets back with live matches
The worst thing about Fowler is that it seems the conversation he's having is more important than the next point. When the play interrupts his talking it's almost like an annoyance to him!
bigjimbofan
Rookie
This former player overtalk/ over analysis isn't exclusive only for tennis nowadays. It's all sports now. Give me someone like Pat Summerall who talks about what happened and I can figure out the rest myself. Information overload these days.
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boredone3456
G.O.A.T.
Yup. There are some ways I appreciate when a player like Davenport or Evert gives perspective on something like playing in windy conditions and making adjustments to things like your serve toss. That I can appreciate because its critical to the match and is something that many who don't actually play tennis may not think about. But I don't need to hear some of these commentators being a backseat "this is what X needs to do play by play" commentary. They are playing...not you. Shut up for a minute LOL.
Omega_7000
Legend
Jim Courier and Darren Cahill are the best!
Mark Anderson
Semi-Pro
I gave up watching tennis for years after watching a Sampras Courier serve contest.
sovertennis
Professional
May I please add Pam S to the list of insufferably obnoxious announcers? As an example, in her on court interview with Caroline G (who speaks excellent English) last night, Pam ended by recalling her four years of grammar school French lessons, then said "bon chance". Truly impressive.
Tennis Fan States63
Hall of Fame
Summerall was the pinnacle to me....he was top-notch for football, tennis, golf, and also did some basketball as well in the 70's for CBS.
Tennis Fan States63
Hall of Fame
That was awkward and embarrassing....but par for the course nowadays.
sportsfan1
Legend
McEnroe and Gilbert require muting the audio. P mc too perhaps. Most others I can listen to.
Thread needs a poll, or someone should create one with multiple vote like and dislike options so we can figure out.
Thread needs a poll, or someone should create one with multiple vote like and dislike options so we can figure out.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
Send her to Guantanamo where she could be useful. If you don’t talk you get commentary 12 hours a day. Though it would likely be a gross violation of the Geneva Convention.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
I still have nightmares about W ‘94 Pete-Goran.
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