87 replies to this topic

[Phil.J]

Wasn't sure where to put this , but as he's a Racing Commentator and this is a forum for racing comments...
Murray Walker voted best sports commentator of all time:
http://www.telegraph...f-all-time.html

[jonpollak]

100% agreement with this poll

Jp

[robracer]

Should be James Allen at number 1 ;)

[Orin]

Fully deserved. Nice to see Brundle so high up too.

[Sophie]

Wheres the Legard?

[depailler on tyrrell p34]

yes!

[Alexis*27]

You need the top ten WORST commentators of all time for that. How can the BBC have gone from hero to zero?

Well done to Murray though - he's definitely number 1! Good to see Martin at 6 as well!

[223]

Walker was definitely a great voice in sports and a personal favorite of mine, but for my money Phil Liggett is definitely better than ol' Murray ever was. Why he wasn't mentioned in the top twenty is a mystery to me. (Does he not get to commentate in his home country?) After all, while Murray only had to sound interesting while commenting on a short two hour F1 race every other week or so, poor Phil has to make four to six hours of often mind-numbing cycling look and sound exciting day after day after day during the Tour de France and other races. And yet somehow he DOES IT, with seemingly no apparent effort whatsoever. Now THAT is a pro. I have never heard better in any sport in any country.

Edited by 223, 02 December 2009 - 11:05.

[RoutariEnjinu]

Murrays voice is unmistakable, and for all his mistakes I didn't feel insulted because I could tell he's a huge rabid fan of motorsport, and not some media studies guy doing a stint on the way to a TV show.

Brundle come out well as well, and rightly so. There's been a few times where Live cams have caught the end of a crash, or the car after the crash, only for Brundle to call what caused it before the replay is shown.

[Risil]

No sign of Jonathan Pearce (Robot Wars), which makes me a little sad.

[Sophie]

or the one off xfactor ( i know not sport but still his voice ;) )

Edited by Sophie, 02 December 2009 - 11:25.

[Henrytheeigth]

I'll never forget Murray calling Louise Goodman Louise Alen!

[pRy]

Wheres the Legard?

Still trying to make his way home from Abba Dabby.

[craftverk]

I didn't like his commentary.

[MegaManson]

Ridiculous, he was enthusiastic but thats it, a bald headed Carlton Kirby

[undersquare]

Can't believe Toby Moody isn't in that list.

[Hypnotise]

Brundle only 6th ?

to me he is after Walker

[Risil]

Can't believe Toby Moody isn't in that list.

You'll never get motorcycle racing into a national newspaper in Britain. Two wheels are for the proles.

Naturally the irony of putting Murray, who never really cared much for car racing, in first place is immense.

Edited by Risil, 02 December 2009 - 13:24.

[Rob]

You'll never get motorcycle racing into a national newspaper in Britain. Two wheels are for the proles.

I bet the nationals think that the only motorcycle commentators are Steve Parrish and Charlie Cox.

[Nobody]

[CoolFiltered]

I would have thought Brundle might have figured higher than 6th, but he's beaten some hard hitters on that list, Carpenter, Vine etc, if it were limited to F1 I suspect he may well have gotten 2nd, but I bet he's quietly pleased with that result.
The surprise for me is McEnroe, but then I'm no tennis fan, and thinking back, when I have heard him commentate he's been pretty informative.

No surprise is no James Allen

[undersquare]

Should be called 'most famous commentator'. Like those Best Guitarist polls, always won by Rory Gallagher

[Andy35]

Walker was definitely a great voice in sports and a personal favorite of mine, but for my money Phil Liggett is definitely better than ol' Murray ever was. Why he wasn't mentioned in the top twenty is a mystery to me. (Does he not get to commentate in his home country?) After all, while Murray only had to sound interesting while commenting on a short two hour F1 race every other week or so, poor Phil has to make four to six hours of often mind-numbing cycling look and sound exciting day after day after day during the Tour de France and other races. And yet somehow he DOES IT, with seemingly no apparent effort whatsoever. Now THAT is a pro. I have never heard better in any sport in any country.

I do agree about Phil being very good for all the reasons you mention above. He makes it sound very easy to do, that's th touch of a good professional commentator.

Andy

[MegaManson]

Ridiculous that James Hunt is not on the list, way better than Brundle and he practically carried senile old Murray through his career correcting his countless gaffes

Michael Johnson should have been in the list too

[MegaManson]

or the one off xfactor ( i know not sport but still his voice ;) )

Dermot O Leary ? would hardly say he has an amazing voice

[MegaManson]

No Brian Johnston, no Henry Blofeld, weird list

[Risil]

Ridiculous that James Hunt is not on the list, way better than Brundle and he practically carried senile old Murray through his career correcting his countless gaffes

I don't understand this view of sports commentary. As if it's simply a matter of reading the car numbers and reflexively giving off the name of the team and driver.

Michael Johnson should have been in the list too

Paul Page, Sam Posey and Bobby Unser, though. They have my imaginary vote.

[robracer]

Ridiculous that James Hunt is not on the list, way better than Brundle and he practically carried senile old Murray through his career correcting his countless gaffes

Michael Johnson should have been in the list too

James Hunt?

[lukyluke]

For sure this should be titled 'Best' UK (or english) commentator.

[Garagiste]

Muddly is a legend, and thoroughly deserves the win, IMO. No surprise to see Motty in 2nd either.
I think Peter (Whoops, mind you hat madam!) Allis should be higher up, and it's good to see that Stuart Hall made the list and wasn't overlooked, he's brilliant.

[Ali_G]

Exactly. This is greatest commentators in the British realm.

I have no doubt that Brian Moore should be no 1. John Motson deserves to be nowhere on the list. A terrible commentator.

[Bouncing Pink Ball]

Walker was definitely a great voice in sports and a personal favorite of mine, but for my money Phil Liggett is definitely better than ol' Murray ever was. Why he wasn't mentioned in the top twenty is a mystery to me. (Does he not get to commentate in his home country?) After all, while Murray only had to sound interesting while commenting on a short two hour F1 race every other week or so, poor Phil has to make four to six hours of often mind-numbing cycling look and sound exciting day after day after day during the Tour de France and other races. And yet somehow he DOES IT, with seemingly no apparent effort whatsoever. Now THAT is a pro. I have never heard better in any sport in any country.

+1. Much as I miss Murray during F1 races, Phil Liggett is a brilliant commentator, IMO.

Edited by Bouncing Pink Ball, 02 December 2009 - 14:23.

[Sausage]

Stupid poll, Ben Edwards kicks Murray's ass so hard that if he would actually do it Murray would be the first man to acomplish interstellar travel

[MegaManson]

James Hunt?

James Hunt had the Martin Brundle role till he died and did it brilliantly bar his anti Patrese crusade

[ex Rhodie racer 2]

I really think the title of this award should be a bit more defining. Do they mean the greatest British commentator, or what? If so, how come John Wotshisname is listed in third place. He´s American. It can´t mean the greatest commentator of all time anywhere in the world, because I fail to see how the jury would be able to measure Murray Talker against Itchi Takahashi who commentates on the annual world sushi eating championship, and is almost a God in his native country, not to mention Who Flung Dung, that irrepressible character who commentates on marathon races along the great wall of China. I mean, how would you compare them. It´s simply not possible.
And it can´t mean the greatest English speaking commentator, because you would have to know a bit about the colonies then as well.
I can recall a few characters who would have made old Murray cough and splutter, I can tell you.
Charles Fortune anyone?
Anyway, the true worth of a commentator can only really be judged on radio, not TV.
No, sorry, this whole thing is simply preposterous.

Edited by ex Rhodie racer 2, 02 December 2009 - 16:45.

[Alexis*27]

Sounded a bit too posh for my liking.

[Kop Alonso]

& his Rene Arnoux tirade as well...

[robracer]

I really think the title of this award should be a bit more defining. Do they mean the greatest British commentator, or what? If so, how come John Wotshisname is listed in third place. He´s American. It can´t mean the greatest commentator of all time anywhere in the world, because I fail to see how the jury would be able to measure Murray Talker against Itchi Takahashi who commentates on the annual world sushi eating championship, and is almost a God in his native country, not to mention Who Flung Dung, that irrepressible character who commentates on marathon races along the great wall of China. I mean, how would you compare them. It´s simply not possible.
And it can´t mean the greatest English speaking commentator, because you would have to know a bit about the colonies then as well.
I can recall a few characters who would have made old Murray cough and splutter, I can tell you.
Charles Fortune anyone?
Anyway, the true worth of a commentator can only really be judged on radio, not TV.
No, sorry, this whole thing is simply preposterous.

It's a newspaper poll, what do you expect.

[Joe Bosworth]

No such list can be considered either complete or accurate without a mention of:

Howard Cosell

http://en.wikipedia....i/Howard_Cosell

Over about a 40 year career did more for multi sports reporting than anybody I can remember. For insightfulness and willingness to tempt controversy he left John McEnroe for dead.

It is also a pity that Alan McGilvray hasn´t rated a mention based on his over 50 years of cricket reporting for A(ustralian)BC.

Regards

[MegaManson]

John Arlott and Jim Laker were way better commentators than most in that Telegraph list too

[Vitesse2]

... it's good to see that Stuart Hall made the list and wasn't overlooked, he's brilliant.

Interesting that he (and perhaps Boycott, who IMO is more pundit than commentator) are the only ones whose main medium has been radio rather than television. That also maybe explains the absence of such greats as Johnners, Blowers, Arlott and even Aggers. Richie Benaud is without doubt the greatest living TV cricket commentator, but where are Tony Cozier and David Gower?

Much as I admire Ben Edwards, his name would be as unfamiliar as Toby Moody's to most Telegraph readers.

[Vitesse2]

It is also a pity that Alan McGilvray hasn´t rated a mention based on his over 50 years of cricket reporting for A(ustralian)BC.

Regards

Indeed - I've always enjoyed his work on TMS during Ashes series.

But - again - radio only here and limited exposure too.

[Victor_RO]

Where's John Hindaugh?

[mikeC]

And nobody has yet mentioned Raymond Baxter - the first and most professional commentator.... ever

[ex Rhodie racer 2]

Who´s the fella who said, "Lester Piggott will be getting a leg over Pretty Miss Polly this afternoon"? I vote for him.

[britishtrident]

Ridiculous that James Hunt is not on the list, way better than Brundle and he practically carried senile old Murray through his career correcting his countless gaffes

Michael Johnson should have been in the list too

Hunt displayed a truly amazing lack of knowledge of the sport, he had no understanding of anything remotely technical, lets be honest Hunt the Shunt may have been an exceptionally gifted natural driver but he wasn't the sharpest tool in the box.

[britishtrident]

And nobody has yet mentioned Raymond Baxter - the first and most professional commentator.... ever

I was about to --- I particularly remember his commentary on the 67 Dutch and Italian races.

[Sakae]

I have experienced Murray's broadcasts, and despite that (I thought) he liked Hill, I think at the end he has bow to Schumacher's race craft. On occasions I have lost it, finding myself yelling at him while standing in the front of TV, but at the end I have returned to his broadcast next race. Once ITV has taken over, there were far too many races I have watched in mute, while being plugged to other audio sources. That has never happened in MW's time. I also think that some commentators have practiced MW's mannerism at home in the front of a big mirror, rather than finding their own style.

Miss him, sort off.

[MegaManson]

Hunt displayed a truly amazing lack of knowledge of the sport, he had no understanding of anything remotely technical, lets be honest Hunt the Shunt may have been an exceptionally gifted natural driver but he wasn't the sharpest tool in the box.

Hunt was old school though, drivers were meant to just get pissed the night before, turn up, drive, go get pissed and shag a page 3 girl etc, there was not the requirements those days in spending hours at a factory every day, spending hours discussing telemetry with engineering team etc and Hunt reflected that

[craftverk]

Hunt displayed a truly amazing lack of knowledge of the sport, he had no understanding of anything remotely technical, lets be honest Hunt the Shunt may have been an exceptionally gifted natural driver but he wasn't the sharpest tool in the box.

He also never seemed to stop laying it into Patrese for an accident he himself is more to blame for than Patrese. Never liked him or his commentary but I was sad when he passed away, but then again that was down to his dodgy lifestyle.