Doug Adler, the absolute worst...
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Gonzalito17
Banned
This week a site did a feature about players discussing their favorite TV commentators. Adler was not mentioned :/
http://www.tennis-prose.com/articles/players-talk-about-their-favorite-tv-tennis-commentators/
Players Talk About Their Favorite TV Tennis Commentators.43 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop · Edit
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Vince Spadea: “I like Patrick McEnroe and Luke Jensen. I like the former players. The guys who are young and hungry and excited about doing it. And they know the information and they know the players. And they get the inside scoop much easier than someone from a computer. I’m not trying to knock anyone who is doing that. I like to listen to people putting enthusiasm and personality into talking about tennis, not just about the exact match. Patrick is a very intelligent guy, been around a lot of years, obviously had a great career himself. He has a brother who is a legend. There’s so many aspects from tennis that he can kind of dig from. Luke is high energy. He’s inspiring. He comes up with little phrases, little nicknames, little inside stories about each player or certain individuals. He’s always been into participating and trying to inspire tennis fans and trying to grow the game. I like Chris Evert too. Articulate and smart and obviously a legend in her own right.”
James Blake: “Cliff Drysdale is my favorite. He’s the most underrated. Because he’s so good at kind of playing the straight man and like he doesn’t know what he’s talking about [smiles]. And if you really listen to him, you know he knows exactly what he’s talking about. And was one of the great players. And he has one of the great voices that can do anything with that voice. So he’s my favorite to listen to. He does a great job whether he’s teamed with Patrick McEnroe or whoever, he’s my favorite.”
Justin Gimelstob: “Patrick McEnroe. I think he does a great job with the combination of combining inside experience yet still being supportive of the players. And yet honest enough to give an honest critique. I think some of the commentators are too hard on the players. And some are too soft. But I think Patrick does a great combination.”
Scott Lipsky: “I like to listen to John McEnroe. I like both McEnroes, Patrick and John. I loved Bud Collins. They’re both kind of the same, kinda tell it like it is. Those two guys I really think are the best two.”
Ivan Ljubicic: “Patrick McEnroe and Cliff Drysdale, they’re pretty cool, I like them. And I like the guys from Eurosport as well, David Mercer and Frew McMillan. You can see they play tennis and know a lot about tennis. And it’s a really relaxed feeling. They talk like they only commentate techniques or tactics. I have to say I don’t like Pam Shriver. She’s always so technique that it’s, I mean, it’s really boring. But the other guys, they know how to laugh, they know how to entertain people I think.”
Bob Bryan: “I like to listen to Jim Courier. He’s been there. He knows what he’s talking about. I think Pat Mac’s good. I like Cliff Drysdale. I think all the guys are pretty good. As long as they’re positive about tennis.”
Brian Baker: “I like John McEnroe a lot. And I think Patrick’s very good. Overall I think tennis is good right now, commentating. I really like Cliff and Patrick, they are always an excellent team and they compliment each other pretty good.”
Jonas Bjorkman: “John and Patrick McEnroe. They know the game very well and they know the players very well. They sort of know the weaknesses and strengths of the game. And the players. That’s important. Some guys who commentate are not down in the locker room and checking out things. Both of them are down here. They know a lot of the players still, even if they are not playing. So I think that’s a strength as a commentator. There’s a few out there who are very good. But those are the guys who I find are doing a good job.”
John Newcombe: “John McEnroe’s good when he doesn’t talk about everything besides the tennis match. When he sticks to the tennis match it’s pretty good. When he starts talking about everything else that’s important to him, I kind of lose it then. But when he’s talking about the match I think he has something good to say. I think Cliff Drysdale does a good job. And I like Jim Courier, I think he does a good job. I think his analysis of what’s happening out there is quite good. Tony Trabert I’ve always thought was great. I worked with him on CBS for ten years. And I’ve worked with him on Australian television for 12 years. I really enjoyed working with Tony.”
Greg Rusedski: “Whether you like him or whether you don’t, John McEnroe’s always interesting. He’s got a great knowledge of the game. Sometimes he’s fair with the players sometimes he’s not [smiles] but he’s always interesting. I think Patrick McEnroe does quite a good job as well. Patrick is quite interesting to listen to because he was never a top player like his brother John but he was quite astute and he did the best he could with the game he had and got to #30 in the world. He had to find different ways to win rather than pure talent and ability. So he’s got a different perspective on what it takes to succeed in tennis. He’s seen the top side of tennis but he’s also seen the side where the guys are struggling a little bit out there. So it’s nice to have the double perspective out there. Cliff Drysdale – his history of the game, his knowledge of the game. He’s been out there since when the players had their first union in 1973. He’s seen what tennis has become nowadays. So his knowledge of the game and his insights are quite good to have.”
http://www.tennis-prose.com/articles/players-talk-about-their-favorite-tv-tennis-commentators/
Players Talk About Their Favorite TV Tennis Commentators.43 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop · Edit
.
Vince Spadea: “I like Patrick McEnroe and Luke Jensen. I like the former players. The guys who are young and hungry and excited about doing it. And they know the information and they know the players. And they get the inside scoop much easier than someone from a computer. I’m not trying to knock anyone who is doing that. I like to listen to people putting enthusiasm and personality into talking about tennis, not just about the exact match. Patrick is a very intelligent guy, been around a lot of years, obviously had a great career himself. He has a brother who is a legend. There’s so many aspects from tennis that he can kind of dig from. Luke is high energy. He’s inspiring. He comes up with little phrases, little nicknames, little inside stories about each player or certain individuals. He’s always been into participating and trying to inspire tennis fans and trying to grow the game. I like Chris Evert too. Articulate and smart and obviously a legend in her own right.”
James Blake: “Cliff Drysdale is my favorite. He’s the most underrated. Because he’s so good at kind of playing the straight man and like he doesn’t know what he’s talking about [smiles]. And if you really listen to him, you know he knows exactly what he’s talking about. And was one of the great players. And he has one of the great voices that can do anything with that voice. So he’s my favorite to listen to. He does a great job whether he’s teamed with Patrick McEnroe or whoever, he’s my favorite.”
Justin Gimelstob: “Patrick McEnroe. I think he does a great job with the combination of combining inside experience yet still being supportive of the players. And yet honest enough to give an honest critique. I think some of the commentators are too hard on the players. And some are too soft. But I think Patrick does a great combination.”
Scott Lipsky: “I like to listen to John McEnroe. I like both McEnroes, Patrick and John. I loved Bud Collins. They’re both kind of the same, kinda tell it like it is. Those two guys I really think are the best two.”
Ivan Ljubicic: “Patrick McEnroe and Cliff Drysdale, they’re pretty cool, I like them. And I like the guys from Eurosport as well, David Mercer and Frew McMillan. You can see they play tennis and know a lot about tennis. And it’s a really relaxed feeling. They talk like they only commentate techniques or tactics. I have to say I don’t like Pam Shriver. She’s always so technique that it’s, I mean, it’s really boring. But the other guys, they know how to laugh, they know how to entertain people I think.”
Bob Bryan: “I like to listen to Jim Courier. He’s been there. He knows what he’s talking about. I think Pat Mac’s good. I like Cliff Drysdale. I think all the guys are pretty good. As long as they’re positive about tennis.”
Brian Baker: “I like John McEnroe a lot. And I think Patrick’s very good. Overall I think tennis is good right now, commentating. I really like Cliff and Patrick, they are always an excellent team and they compliment each other pretty good.”
Jonas Bjorkman: “John and Patrick McEnroe. They know the game very well and they know the players very well. They sort of know the weaknesses and strengths of the game. And the players. That’s important. Some guys who commentate are not down in the locker room and checking out things. Both of them are down here. They know a lot of the players still, even if they are not playing. So I think that’s a strength as a commentator. There’s a few out there who are very good. But those are the guys who I find are doing a good job.”
John Newcombe: “John McEnroe’s good when he doesn’t talk about everything besides the tennis match. When he sticks to the tennis match it’s pretty good. When he starts talking about everything else that’s important to him, I kind of lose it then. But when he’s talking about the match I think he has something good to say. I think Cliff Drysdale does a good job. And I like Jim Courier, I think he does a good job. I think his analysis of what’s happening out there is quite good. Tony Trabert I’ve always thought was great. I worked with him on CBS for ten years. And I’ve worked with him on Australian television for 12 years. I really enjoyed working with Tony.”
Greg Rusedski: “Whether you like him or whether you don’t, John McEnroe’s always interesting. He’s got a great knowledge of the game. Sometimes he’s fair with the players sometimes he’s not [smiles] but he’s always interesting. I think Patrick McEnroe does quite a good job as well. Patrick is quite interesting to listen to because he was never a top player like his brother John but he was quite astute and he did the best he could with the game he had and got to #30 in the world. He had to find different ways to win rather than pure talent and ability. So he’s got a different perspective on what it takes to succeed in tennis. He’s seen the top side of tennis but he’s also seen the side where the guys are struggling a little bit out there. So it’s nice to have the double perspective out there. Cliff Drysdale – his history of the game, his knowledge of the game. He’s been out there since when the players had their first union in 1973. He’s seen what tennis has become nowadays. So his knowledge of the game and his insights are quite good to have.”
Big_Dangerous
Talk Tennis Guru
Yeah I don't care too much for Doug Adler, but he's tolerable when you combine him with the GOAT commentators in Robbie Koenig and Jason Goodall.
I don't understand why those two guys can't call the matches for every major tournament.
I don't understand why those two guys can't call the matches for every major tournament.
Gonzalito17
Banned
Agree, Koenig and Goodall are the best, bar none.
THey need to be on major networks Right Now. I saw Koenig did some kind of ESPN work at the China tourney last week he was the guy calling the Djok dance during the trophy ceremony, on some kind of ESPN feed so hopefully he'll be on ESPN soon and bring in Goodall too.
THey need to be on major networks Right Now. I saw Koenig did some kind of ESPN work at the China tourney last week he was the guy calling the Djok dance during the trophy ceremony, on some kind of ESPN feed so hopefully he'll be on ESPN soon and bring in Goodall too.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Need to add Donald Young and bring some youth to the mic. He is available most weeks.
Cup8489
G.O.A.T.
I miss TTC. Koenig and Goodall were just delights..
much better than Pmacs 'HELLO' every decent winner. And his talking about the most obvious crap (like claiming that Nadal electing to receive during the Fedal AO semifinal this year was mind games... when it's a well established fact that Federer ALWAYS serves first in Fedal matches since like 2005) is horrendous.
much better than Pmacs 'HELLO' every decent winner. And his talking about the most obvious crap (like claiming that Nadal electing to receive during the Fedal AO semifinal this year was mind games... when it's a well established fact that Federer ALWAYS serves first in Fedal matches since like 2005) is horrendous.
DRII
G.O.A.T.
He just makes the most asinine comments and completely believes he's the most 'right' person in the world!
Gimelstob (sic) is similar but he's not nearly as dopey as Adler.
DRII
G.O.A.T.
Yes Koenig and Goodall are good, and their silence when Adler is talking speaks volumes!
I just know they are thinking, 'what an idiot'...
Lovely_Bone
Rookie
I like the Macs, but they're only around during the slams 
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Must listen tomorrow during the semis if Adler is broadcasting.
kishnabe
Talk Tennis Guru
Suprised no one thinks Darren Cahill is a good commentator.
I agree Adler is annoying and his voice is pitch higher than the other two. He interupts and ruins the majesticity of Federer shots.
When Wawrinka got that superb point in the tiebreak....Damm Adler ruined it with his squels.
I agree Adler is annoying and his voice is pitch higher than the other two. He interupts and ruins the majesticity of Federer shots.
When Wawrinka got that superb point in the tiebreak....Damm Adler ruined it with his squels.
Mustard
Bionic Poster
I'd like to mention Fred Stolle. It's always a pleasure to listen to him commentating, especially when he was with Cliff Drysdale and Mary Carillo on ESPN back in the day. It was bonkers to break up that team. Jim Courier and Mats Wilander are excellent commentators. There's Frew McMillan. There's John Barrett too. I miss his commentary since his retirement.
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Mighty Matteo
Semi-Pro
Darren Cahill, Brad Gilbert and Cliff Drysdale are my 3 top choices. I like Johnny mac and jim courier, too but i dont like pat mac that much. he's pretty boring imo.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
John Barrett is the best.
1
15_ounce
Guest
I like Henri Leconte during AO. He is completely mental.
Sentinel
Bionic Poster
I like Vijay Amritraj on Star Sports too. He's always a laugh
LOL, I almost thought I was reading one of my own posts. How on Earth do you get 'Vee-jay' where you are at. I thought only us guys in Asia got him -- during WO and maybe AO.
I've not noticed Adler really, will pay more attention to him next time. Mostly get Doug, Koenig and Goodall here.
cork_screw
Hall of Fame
I absolutely agree with the author of this thread. I hate this guy. The commentating he does is pretty bad. He uses a lot of filler to kill dead time, when he is not doing that he says some really cliche things that are just annoying. "In order to beat the other guys, you just need to fight harder than the rest." Nice cliche that means nothing idiot. Then he says a lot of things that are common knowledge and throws in some false statements here and there. His voice is really bland and sounds so monotonous. You know when Romney was caught saying stuff when he visited michigan like, "i like the trees," "I like the streets," "I like the houses." So on and so on, that's what he does, he just drones on and on. Somebody should just fire this guy. The only time he can ever talk about something interesting is when he's paired up with a good commentator and that person makes a good observation or an anecdotal comment, then he'll just take it and run with it like he said it. He just parrots and drones on and on. Him and Luke/Murphy Jensen are some of the worst commentators out there. For some reason Tennis has some pretty bad commentators and I don't see how they made it through the filtration process as I think some people on these forums could do a better job.
Is sad that they are getting paid for what a lot of people (some here) would kill for and would do an infinitely better job. It to me feels like when you go to a crappy restaurant that only exists because it's situated on a busy street full of tourists. They keep it alive because they don't know any better, but that place should go extinct if left to the locals and their dinning habits. He just blathers on because execs who know nothing of tennis hired him because he did the reps and is commentator ready as opposed to someone new and fresh, someone with good ideas and good insight.
BTW, worst NBA commentator. Bill Walton. Great player, but he sounds like a over eccentric cliche machine. His cliches are so trite and never ending, that's why ABC ended their contract with him. At least tennis doesn't have that guy, but the Jensen brothers come very close.
Is sad that they are getting paid for what a lot of people (some here) would kill for and would do an infinitely better job. It to me feels like when you go to a crappy restaurant that only exists because it's situated on a busy street full of tourists. They keep it alive because they don't know any better, but that place should go extinct if left to the locals and their dinning habits. He just blathers on because execs who know nothing of tennis hired him because he did the reps and is commentator ready as opposed to someone new and fresh, someone with good ideas and good insight.
BTW, worst NBA commentator. Bill Walton. Great player, but he sounds like a over eccentric cliche machine. His cliches are so trite and never ending, that's why ABC ended their contract with him. At least tennis doesn't have that guy, but the Jensen brothers come very close.
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:lol:
I think Frew McMillan is actually a little overrated. Guy actually remained silent during that one point as Djokovic was serving for the match in USO 2011. You know, the one where he hurt his back. How in the hell do you not explode in excitement? I mean, i don't care how old he is, if you remain quiet in SUCH a moment, you kill off all of the energy of that point.
Goodall and Koenig are great, as is Courier.
Gonzalito17
Banned
Stolle was fantastic, still is too, he does Hopman Cup on Tennis Channel each Jan.
Agree, Frew McMillan is wonderful. SO many good commentators now. Koenig and Goodall are just about ready to take over #1 in the commentator ratings.
Agree, Frew McMillan is wonderful. SO many good commentators now. Koenig and Goodall are just about ready to take over #1 in the commentator ratings.
BorisBeckerFan
Professional
Boris Becker is not as good as some of the people mentioned in this thread but one thing I think he does better than the rest is he knows when shut up and give you some peace and quiet and enjoy the tennis. Silence can be pretty good to you know. Again not saying he's the best or anything but it's just one aspect that he really gets right.
Mustard
Bionic Poster
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Next time Romney is in Dearborn, let him try some nice Kebbie, eh?
RF20Lennon
Legend
Koenig Goodall Mcenroe's (both) and Cahill is my DREAM TEAM!!
marc45
G.O.A.T.
i joined the site just to comment on this article...got into a debate with one of their writers about jmac...i'm always amazed and disgusted about how often any discussion about a match ends up coming back to his playing days or his life..the other guy didn't see it...i'm amazed at that
Gonzalito17
Banned
Marc, Mac was kind of self centered and arrogant years ago but i think he's mellowed and changed in recent years about that. Agree with you though, he was pretty it's all about me back in the day.
How is the tennis in Youngstown? My buddy went out there not long ago for a Kelly Pavlik fight, said that town was struggling.
How is the tennis in Youngstown? My buddy went out there not long ago for a Kelly Pavlik fight, said that town was struggling.
Gonzalito17
Banned
Vijay is absolutely vivacious and bubbling with glee! Heard him a few times during the Chennai event in January on tennis Channel, love his work as a commentator, he's fantastic.
Gonzalito17
Banned
Cmon dude, Luke is fantastic. SO is Arias, they don't get a lot of work though but they deserve it.
I like the Macs, but they're only around during the slams
John only does the slams but Patrick is almost always around when ESPN has tennis coverage.
I would agree that Adler is one of the worst although I really only know the guys who commentate on US channels. Really Adler and Pam Shriver are the only two that really stand out as being annoying to me....although Mary Carillo can be at times as well. A bit of a jock-sniffer at times, her. I like pretty much all of those involved with ESPN's coverage with Fowler (whose level of recall is amazing for a guy who only covers tennis part time), Cahill, Gilbert, Drysdale, and the Macs. Tennis Channel is also pretty good save for Adler. I enjoy listening to Gimelstob, Lindsay Davenport-although I don't watch much women's tennis, Navratilova, Bill Macatee (when he's there hosting for the slams), Goodall, Koenig, Nick Lester, Ashley Fisher, Jimmy Arias (who also works for ESPN some dates) and Ted Robinson who is only a part-timer...although you can say that for a lot of Tennis Channel employees I suppose. And of course in the US, we had Dick Enberg for the slams on the major networks. He's lost his fastball at his advanced age, but he's still classic when paired with a McEnroe brother.
Regardless we should all be pretty thankful because as a whole, I don't think any sport, with perhaps the exception of soccer, has a better collective of commentators. Have you watched baseball lately? As a whole they are awful. Everyone associated with a NY Yankees broadcast is an embarrassment except for David Cone. American football - why does Tony Saragusa have a live mic? He says nothing. All football sideline reporters add nothing unless they have injury info. Joe Buck - insufferable. Tim McCarver - incompetent. Dick Stockton - way past his expiration date. That the playoffs are underway and baseball can't figure out a way to have Vin Scully or Bob Uecker or Bob Costas calling games is an embarrassment.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
I would tend to agree. Adler is bad. I think Goodall and Koenig are the best commentators. I also like Cahill and PMac. Enberg is absent minded. It was good for him to stop. Chris Fowler is half decent, but he gets on my nerves at times because he constantly questions player injuries, even though he is technically right, he just says it a lot. JMac is good when he sticks to tennis and doesn't change his mind about who the GOAT is every two minutes.
Dedans Penthouse
Legend
^^^
Amen x 10
Enberg is nearly 80 so obviously that's a factor. But he gave a match that 'main event' feel just with his voice and credibility alone. He's tennis' Vin Scully. He didn't really stop, he does play by play for SD Padres games now which means we get Bill Macatee and Ian Eagle for the CBS televised slams...which is fine. I like Macatee a lot. Eagle has no personality and I'm fairly certain he's a robot, but he's technically sound. I can understand why some wouldn't like Brad Gilbert. I prefer him in the actual commentating on match role or the side-court whisperer role as opposed to the studio or outside of the stadium at the desk - role where he turns into a carnival barker.
I also forgot to mention Jim Courier who sparingly commentates now. I'd like to see him more as well. I know he has Davis Cup commitments and I know international broadcasting companies use him for majors as well, but if he could takeover the slams for the gigs that Mary Carillo lands here in the US I'd be pleased with that.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Suspect many would be happy with no announcers, just a feed.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
I know Enberg still commentates SD Padres games. I meant it was good for him to stop commentating on tennis. I never found Enberg to be all that exciting personally, but I guess you'd have to be older than me to get the nostalgic main event feeling. I'm the same way about Bob Cole. A bit off topic here, but he's a hockey commentator, and he's been around a while so he makes more mistakes than he used to, but he's Bob Cole, and when he commentates, if you don't get excited, IMO you don't have a heartbeat.
I totally get the Adler dislike but can you explain a little what makes Arias subpar? Just curious. I find him to be pretty solid. Having never played one organized tennis match in my life I probably don't know as much about the technical or fundamental aspects of the game as some of you guys so I'm just curious if it's game-technical aspects, or just the tenor of their voice, or constantly interrupting or talking over their partners, or "goofiness" that I see some dislike Gimelstob for or so on. I probably put more emphasis on those that can smoothly craft a narrative and have a natural broadcasters voice than others. I'm also a stats nerd so I probably lean to those that implement them more as well. That's probably why I like Gimelstob and Fowler quite a bit more than others seem to.
rainingaces
Legend
Worst thing about addler other then his voice, picky negative comments and sence of superiority is he is faking it, he knows very little about the finer details of pro tennis.
yeah I'm a hockey guy so I know Bob Cole and totally get that. I'm 32 so it's not an age thing, but it could probably be considered a bit of a nostalgic thing with Enberg. It's just when I think of the major network commentators and slam tennis I think of the Enberg and John McEnroe team. So it probably feels like a bigger deal than it actually is. If that team did ATP250 level events it would probably seem much less so. Though that could also come from my relative noob-ness to becoming more of a dedicated tennis watcher over the last five years where before my college years I didn't pay much attention to who was or wasn't calling matches since I was more of a casual watcher then.
is there no volume controls or mute buttons on the TVs where you/they live?
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Worn out from use, eh?
single_handed_champion
Professional
I like a couple of commentators on Eurosport, like David Mercer and Frew Mcmillan. They usually show a lot of enthusiasm when discussing points and know when to shut up, although the ladies sometimes don't do the same (still better than Carillo, Evert et al.). Koenig+Goodall is a great team, though they are tending to analyze too many points now; am tired of hearing Koenig exclaim 'That is ridiculous/unbelievable/out of this world etc.' after what are now routine gets for the top guys.
I have enjoyed Tim Henman's commentary during Wimbledon and quite like John Mcenroe when he is paired with the less talkative souls on the other side of the ocean.
Find-different-ways-to-summarize-matches-and-careers Dick Enberg, Carillo, Drysdale are bores. Gilbert is amusing, Cahill analyzes WAY too much. I kinda like Navratilova, Davenport too. There was a guy for the USO website who was commentating with Chanda Rubin that had to be the most ignorant commentator for a women's match ever. The pairing of Luke Jensen with another guy was pretty good too. It was zany in that they would talk about their rec matches and Luke would make up all kinds of loony expressions.
I have enjoyed Tim Henman's commentary during Wimbledon and quite like John Mcenroe when he is paired with the less talkative souls on the other side of the ocean.
Find-different-ways-to-summarize-matches-and-careers Dick Enberg, Carillo, Drysdale are bores. Gilbert is amusing, Cahill analyzes WAY too much. I kinda like Navratilova, Davenport too. There was a guy for the USO website who was commentating with Chanda Rubin that had to be the most ignorant commentator for a women's match ever. The pairing of Luke Jensen with another guy was pretty good too. It was zany in that they would talk about their rec matches and Luke would make up all kinds of loony expressions.
DRII
G.O.A.T.
Exactly!!!
DRII
G.O.A.T.
Enberg's voice alone makes him a grand commentator regardless of the sport!
And he obviously greatly appreciates tennis; kind of like Chris Fowler who has grown to like the sport (I don't think he really cared about tennis when he first started commentating for ESPN).
