Jason Goodall-ESPN, temporary or permanent? Drysdale leaving soon?

MasturB

Legend
Color me shocked the other night when I turned onto ESPN and heard Goodall (who normally does the ATP broadcasts with Robbie Koenig) announcing a match on ESPN. I thought maybe ESPN was just using the ATP feed for a certain court (similar to what tennis channel does notoriously).

Then I heard Cahill talking with him and I was like ok is Cahill with the other channel now, but then they were interacting with the McEnroe brothers and Fowler on other courts switching back and forth. Now I see he and Cahill are in the booth now doing the non-priority matches (the ones ESPN only cuts to if it's close in a set or in a tie break only to resume back to a Serena thrashing).

I'm very pleased to hear Goodall's voice on the American broadcast.

He and Cahill have been excellent, much like the way Drysdale-Cahill-Gilbert team was always great even though they were usually relegated to the second team under Fowler-McEnroes.

Is this just a temporary thing or permanent? Also does this mean Drysdale will be retiring soon? Drysdale has been one of ESPN's tennis voices since the 80's... he's in his 70's now so I'd imagine he's going to do the Enberg and maybe travel less, although ESPN was already relegating him from big men's matches to women's matches.
 

tennisaddict

Bionic Poster
Just have Cahill, BG, Martina , Koening , Fowler , Patrick and chuck the rest.

First to go - Cliffy, Johny Mc.

Chris Evert and Mary Joe should be told not to kiss Serena's rear so much.
 

Gonzalito17

Banned
Goodall is excellent. Not sure if he was hired or they just used him as a sub for late night tennis because the main team were tired. Did not see ESPN introduce him, may have missed that.

The addition of Goodall is a fantastic one. Koenig should be hired too. Keep Cliff and the whole team intact, they all do a wonderful job together, Goodall and Koenig will make the coverage even better.
 

tennisaddict

Bionic Poster
Cliff Drysdale is like 3 generations before and is really boring. He keeps asking the camera to do the slow-mo serves and shots and analyzes the arm movement. Have not heard anything insightful in the recent past.
 

Tshooter

G.O.A.T.
Just have Cahill, BG, Martina , Koening , Fowler , Patrick and chuck the rest.

First to go - Cliffy, Johny Mc.

Chris Evert and Mary Joe should be told not to kiss Serena's rear so much.

First to go. Anyone using a toddler's nickname like Cliffy. So that would include just about the entire staff. Seriously, just after your "first to go," which are two excellent choices, please kick to the curb Cahill, Martina and JMac's Brother too.
 

Beacon Hill

Hall of Fame
Cliff Drysdale is like 3 generations before and is really boring. He keeps asking the camera to do the slow-mo serves and shots and analyzes the arm movement. Have not heard anything insightful in the recent past.
You're right! Please get rid of the guy who played in a different era and knows the history of the game. Also get rid of anyone who breaks down tennis strokes instead of offering banal hyperbole? Slow motion? Who can wait for that to end? Get rid of him. Also, who wants to listen to someone who played against Laver? He also uses proper English. Boring!

On another note, the other day Nishikori hit a ball close to the baseline. Just after his opponent mishit the ensuing shot, the line umpire made an out call. The call had no affect on Kei's opponent's shot. Kei challenged the call, and his shot was shown to be in, but the chair umpire decided to replay the point. Nishikori complained. The commentator explained that Nishikori was complaining because a late challenge was allowed. That is the commentator that should be taken out to pasture.
 

encylopedia

Professional
Cliff Drysdale is like 3 generations before and is really boring. He keeps asking the camera to do the slow-mo serves and shots and analyzes the arm movement. Have not heard anything insightful in the recent past.

I like Cliff's voice, and will miss it's presence on broadcasts, but in terms of mechanics and game-play he's always been totally clueless - almost shockingly so for a former player.

Way back in the day, it was actually Fred Stolle who did the color commentary and sometimes, very subtly would have to correct Cliff.....it was painful listening to him try to "analyze" a young Agassi, something like:

"Agassi hits it SO FLAT, look at that, completely flat, that's why he gets so much pace, he just hits right through the ball, he doesn't hit with topspin like so many players..."

Stolle: "well he's actually got a fair amount of topspin on that forehand...he can flatten it out, but he definitely hits it with some topspin..."

Drysdale while watching young Agassi in slo-mo use a large, high loop to wallop a short ball: "see his strokes are so compact, he doesn't use a big backswing at all...like a Connors or Mcenroe...he doesn't use a big loop"

Stolle: "well he CAN shorten that swing right up, like on his return of serve, but there you can see, if he has time, he'll bring his racquet back pretty high, with a bit of a loop..."

Drysale: "you might be interested in this Roscoe, somebody hit with Agassi and they told me 'it's kind of like playing against Roscoe Tanner's serve...but against Agassi it's every time he hits the ball, you have to guess where he's going with it"

Tanner: "(slight pause as Roscoe thinks about the fact that it was HE (TANNER) who hit against Agassi and said that...to Cliff, on air, in the match the day before).......well yeah...it is!"
 
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