"Shut up, Al!": Announcing Voices We Love and Hate

[selkie]

I actually like Rowdy Gaines. He's by all accounts a nice guy and puts a lot of energy into trying to grow swimming in the USA. During the prelims of the American Trials this morning, he spent a good ten minutes using inside voice while talking with the online announcing crew about USA Swimming's minority outreach and drowning prevention initiatives. 

But NBC wants him to be energetic and accessible (ie dumb it down) when he's doing a mass market broadcast, and I am so very sick of his "HE CAN SEE DWYER BECAUSE HE'S BREATHING ON THE LEFT SIDE!!" and wish that just once NBC would let him dial it down and have it seem more natural and a little more educational for newcomers to the sport.

Edited June 28, 2016 by selkie

[Arynm]

Is it wrong to hope that Bob Costas gets pink eye again this Olympics? I laughed and laughed last time just watching him get progressively worse with his sad eyes. I am on the bus to hell, I realize that.

[MyAimIsTrue]

It's not officially the Olympics to me until Bob Costas makes his first snarky comment during the opening ceremonies and then Mary Carillo does another off the wall piece.  Then I'm happy.

Because it cannot be viewed enough, and because it's always Christopher Burr...

[madhacker]

I always wonder this before the Games start: Why doesn't NBC hire former Olympians as commentators for the events? We have seen some (like last Winter Games when Tara Lipinski and Jonny Weir did the figure skating in the live coverage and they were simply awesome; hardly talked at all during the routines except short ones at mistakes and at the end, unlike a certain other commenter who feels the need to yell during the whole damn thing (yeah I'm looking at you, Hamilton)).

Every Summer Games I keep praying that NBC will finally hire Greg Louganis to help cover the diving competitons. He's a living legend to all the competitors and you know his insights would be great.

Am I the only one who thinks this?

[dcalley]

On 6/27/2016 at 9:52 PM, selkie said:

I actually like Rowdy Gaines. He's by all accounts a nice guy and puts a lot of energy into trying to grow swimming in the USA. During the prelims of the American Trials this morning, he spent a good ten minutes using inside voice while talking with the online announcing crew about USA Swimming's minority outreach and drowning prevention initiatives. 

But NBC wants him to be energetic and accessible (ie dumb it down) when he's doing a mass market broadcast, and I am so very sick of his "HE CAN SEE DWYER BECAUSE HE'S BREATHING ON THE LEFT SIDE!!" and wish that just once NBC would let him dial it down and have it seem more natural and a little more educational for newcomers to the sport.

Thanks for the good reminder that there can be behind-the-scenes people to blame instead of the announcer. That said, I still love the traditional title thread.

On 6/28/2016 at 7:22 PM, MyAimIsTrue said:

It's not officially the Olympics to me until Bob Costas makes his first snarky comment during the opening ceremonies and then Mary Carillo does another off the wall piece.  Then I'm happy.

Because it cannot be viewed enough, and because it's always Christopher Burr...

 

She's so good.

[MyAimIsTrue]

Ato Boldon is covering the US track and field trials.  Love.  It's been a long four years without him.

[selkie]

Yeah. Sadly, BeIn has most of the Diamond League meets this year, and while their crew generally does a good job, I like Ato better.

[legaleagle53]

On 6/28/2016 at 8:08 AM, Arynm said:

Is it wrong to hope that Bob Costas gets pink eye again this Olympics? I laughed and laughed last time just watching him get progressively worse with his sad eyes. I am on the bus to hell, I realize that.

Bob Costas will be too busy fapping to his renewed fantasies involving Michael Phelps to worry about his eyes.

Edited July 4, 2016 by legaleagle53

[AuntieDiane6]

Quote

always wonder this before the Games start: Why doesn't NBC hire former Olympians as commentators for the events?

I always figure that some NBC executive is sleeping with the "who-the-heck-is-this" announcers.  There was absolutely no reason for Sandra Bezic, a CANADIAN skating choreographer, to be NBC's main skating announcer for decades when we had women gold medalists all tripping over each other.  At least NBC now has Nastia Liukin doing gymnastics.  

[Quof]

Quote

Why doesn't NBC hire former Olympians as commentators for the events?

For the most part, they tend not to be terribly articulate.

[selkie]

There are a lot of former Olympians that get hired for the more niche market sports that are only shown at 3:00am on CNBC. It's the bigger audience network stuff that tends to inflict the Als and Andreas of the sports bureau on us in the name of being 'more accessible'.

[SnideAsides]

Pretty much. Australia basically splits the sports into four groups - mainstream commentators for athletics and swimming, a mix of mainstream commentators and niche experts for things like gymnastics and equestrian that they cover extensively, a mix of commentators and ex-athletes for schedule filler sports like hockey and rowing (although the usual hockey commentator Gordon Bray will presumably be busy with rugby sevens this year, so who knows what'll happen there), and then whatever the BBC or the online feeds are offering for the "we're only showing this for five minutes because there's literally nothing else on" sports like weightlifting and judo.

Also I'm sad Bruce McAvaney is covering the opening ceremony, because I just know he will manage to mention Oscar Pistorius within five minutes of starting (and certainly again when South Africa appears in the Parade of Nations), probably in a tone that subconsciously blames his girlfriend for being murdered.

[MyAimIsTrue]

Speaking of Olympians covering events I'm watching the women's track trials and Sanya Richards Ross is in the booth along with Tom Hammond and the beloved Ato Boldon.  She's insightful and quite good.

[selkie]

I wonder if the good response to Johnny & Tara doing figure skating commentary has encouraged NBC to explore some fresh voices for other sports instead of just going to the same old-sane old they've used ever since they took over American broadcast rights.

[greendog78]

As someone who doesn't like Johnny & Tara's ice skating commentary, since they talk all over the routines and do really poorly at non-single skating coverage, I hope NBC isn't just looking to stick younger people in the box. I wish more of their announcers were like Todd and Todd who do the snowboarding at the Winter Olympics.

Sadly, the BBC announcers are staring to get NBCish. At lest in gymnastics.

[SophiaD]

Count me another fan of Sanya Richards-Ross as a commentator.  She and the others really complement each other well.

I don't think Johnny and Tara do very well at ice dance, but I vastly prefer them to Scott Hamilton, Sandra Bezic, or even Brian Boitano.  I also find their Derby coverage entertaining, if somewhat over the top.

Really enjoy Nastia as a gymnastics commentator, too.

[scarynikki12]

My dream gymnastics commentating team is Nastia, Shannon Miller, and the guy Shannon partnered with in 2012.

[Ohwell]

Another Sanya Richards-Ross fan here.  

Also, I love Johnny and Tara and I can't wait to see what kind of over-the-top getups Johnny will be wearing in Rio.

[Rick Kitchen]

So long as Johnny doesn't wear a thong.

[Ohwell]

I wouldn't put it past him.  Seriously.

[MyAimIsTrue]

Does anyone know what happened to Carol Lewis?  I always enjoyed her track analysis but haven't seen (or heard) her in a long time.

Also, when is NBC going to realize Lewis Johnson is gold and give him a better position than track sideline reporting?

[Rick Kitchen]

I was just looking at Carol Lewis's Twitter account, and it seems that she was announcing for Fox Sports at the Big 12 track and field championships.

https://twitter.com/carollewis704

[sereion]

Sanya Richards-Ross mentioned that she wanted to get in to broadcasting after retirement, and I am so glad NBC gave her a shot. She is doing a excellent job, and she has great chemistry with Ato (LOVE) and Tom. I'm also impressed with Trey Harder

Edited July 10, 2016 by sereion

[Quilt Fairy]

On ‎7‎/‎8‎/‎2016 at 10:58 PM, SophiaD said:

I don't think Johnny and Tara do very well at ice dance, but I vastly prefer them to Scott Hamilton, Sandra Bezic, or even Brian Boitano.  I also find their Derby coverage entertaining, if somewhat over the top.

Still, nobody does it like Dick Button did.

[SophiaD]

1 hour ago, Quilt Fairy said:

Still, nobody does it like Dick Button did.

Oh, Dick was in a class of his own!  I'm still sad he provide commentary anymore.

Edited July 11, 2016 by SophiaD

[Quilt Fairy]

Can we add "Shut up, Andrea!" to the title? Seriously, just finished watching the women's gymnastics team selection and she's asking Gabby Douglas' mother such illuminating questions as "How important is it for Gabby to make it back to the Olympics?" and "How did you feel when she fell off the balance beam?" I know there's someone behind the scenes telling her to ask these questions, but my God they are inane!

[blueray]

I would add one of the announcers from the gymnastics try-outs. He had such an annoying voice and was clearly stalling when they were taking a while to reveal who made it. 

[Indy]

The title of this thread amuses me.  Al is the worst.  He ruins all sports.  All of them. 

[Quilt Fairy]

On ‎7‎/‎12‎/‎2016 at 5:40 PM, blueray said:

I would add one of the announcers from the gymnastics try-outs. He had such an annoying voice and was clearly stalling when they were taking a while to reveal who made it. 

That would be Al Trautwig,  who I assume is the "Al' of the title. Or did someone mean Al Michaels?

[Elsydeon]

11 minutes ago, Quilt Fairy said:

That would be Al Trautwig,  who I assume is the "Al' of the title. Or did someone mean Al Michaels?

Nope, it's definitely Al Trautwig. What I wouldn't give to throw him to the swimming and get Dan Hicks for gymnastics.

I am forever grateful that Brandi Chastain is not going to be doing commentary for soccer this year. She is the reason I can't re-watch the London matches with the US commentary.

[selkie]

Can we pre-emptively dunk Andrea Joyce in a Rio sewage lagoon? It seems like her main function is to try to make athletes cry unless they just happened to have won gold with a new global standard in their sport or discipline.

Al of the thread title is the Trout, who has been loathed by the USA gymnastics fans for many an Olympiad.

[Ohwell]

Initially, I thought "Al" was Al Michaels (who along with Chris Collinsworth combine to ruin NFL football for me).

[legaleagle53]

17 hours ago, Ohwell said:

Initially, I thought "Al" was Al Michaels (who along with Chris Collinsworth combine to ruin NFL football for me).

Oh, Al Michaels also gets his share of "Shut up, Al," but not in connection with Gymnastics.  I think Michaels' connection is more with the Winter Olympics.

[emma675]

Both Als can shut up, but I'm still not over Josh Tesh calling the '96 US women's gynmastic's team "little girls dancing for gold". That makes my blood boil to this day.

[SnideAsides]

Whichever Australian commentator it was who explained the cauldron lighter as though he would have been Brazil's first ever medallist if not for being attacked during the marathon in Athens can march straight into the polluted bay. Not only would it have been their seventy-seventh medal overall, it would have been their sixth gold in Athens alone. Come on, people. This kind of shit can be factchecked. Preferably before you put it on television.

[Elsydeon]

On 8/3/2016 at 0:58 PM, emma675 said:

Both Als can shut up, but I'm still not over Josh Tesh calling the '96 US women's gynmastic's team "little girls dancing for gold". That makes my blood boil to this day.

John Tesh was bad, but even with stupid shit like that, I'd still take him over Troutpig.

[Daisy]

On 7/7/2016 at 6:01 PM, AuntieDiane6 said:

I always figure that some NBC executive is sleeping with the "who-the-heck-is-this" announcers.  There was absolutely no reason for Sandra Bezic, a CANADIAN skating choreographer, to be NBC's main skating announcer for decades when we had women gold medalists all tripping over each other.  At least NBC now has Nastia Liukin doing gymnastics.  

to be fair to Bezic. she's Canadian, but she choreographs a lot of international people's routines.... and i just realised that's not exactly what you meant. Eflie Schelgel or however you spell her name was Canadian too. I think though they are both married to Americans and live down there, so that's probably why.

I also have to wonder if it's because a lot of athletes don't go into media afterwards. I know sometimes CBC calls people up, and they're like sure, why not, but some just like to be former athletes and watch like everyone else. 

Tim Daggett can shut up just as much as Al. I don't understand how he's had this job for twenty. years. and he still can't identify for the people at home what the moves are the gymnasts are doing, so when he gasps and goes "yes that was so difficult!" we can understand why it is. 

[MyAimIsTrue]

NBC, if you're reading this, please don't EVER have Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, and Hoda Kotb announcing the opening ceremony/parade of nations.  The three of them together had no chemistry, no presence, and no personality.  They were boring. 

[CaffeinatedAunt79]

Never been a big fan of Mike Tirico, but he is doing a good job so far hosting the coverage. 

[chitowngirl]

Tracy Wilson announcing at the women's rugby!

[Mittengirl]

Why the hell are they inflicting Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski on me?  The both come across to me as vapid and immature, Johnny being the worse of the two.  They aren't bad at covering actual skating competitions, but horse racing and the Summer Games?  Just say no.

[Dots And Stripes]

Not really an announcing complaint but an NBC complaint. They are not providing a live stream of men's gymnastics... but the are live tweeting it! That's pretty obnoxious. 

[Arynm]

Are you sure? I am watching mens gymnastics on a stream right now. In fact, I can watch each apparatus by itself if I wanted. Maybe I misunderstood what you are trying to watch?

[Dots And Stripes]

Thanks. Apparently it won't play on the NBC Olympics app but it will play for me on the NBC sports app. Not sure if it's a glitch or what.

[Brattinella]

On 6/28/2016 at 10:08 AM, Arynm said:

Is it wrong to hope that Bob Costas gets pink eye again this Olympics? I laughed and laughed last time just watching him get progressively worse with his sad eyes. I am on the bus to hell, I realize that.

Post of the Year!  Bravo!

[selkie]

You need to be a cable-satellite subscriber to unlock the men's gymnastics live feeds on NBC's app. They had a camera on each apparatus for the qualifying round today.

 

We still use the phrase 'dangerous face water' in regular conversation with credit to the otherwise forgotten journalist who came up with it in Sochi.

[legaleagle53]

18 minutes ago, selkie said:

You need to be a cable-satellite subscriber to unlock the men's gymnastics live feeds on NBC's app. They had a camera on each apparatus for the qualifying round today.

Indeed, so if you have the internet but not cable (as I don't because I can't afford to have both), you're screwed and it totally sucks to be you.

[kittykat]

Welcome to my world.  Went to friends place to watch stuff.  I'm in the no cable/streaming only camp.  

I hope Netflix/hulu/Prime can barter with NBC to get streaming rights for 2018 for us non cables bit I know it's a tall order despite being in the 21st century.  NBC likes money.

[Sew Sumi]

8 hours ago, chitowngirl said:

Tracy Wilson announcing at the women's rugby!

OMG! Hilarious! 

[Lilac2000]

So sad that Steve Armitage won't be commentating the swimming on CBC. Apparently it's doctors orders due to heart problems. So all good thoughts to him but he will be so missed. He and Byron were such an amazing team. Byron getting incoherent in the medal swims and Steve getting louder and louder..."he/she is driiiivvvving to the wallllll." Good times.