41 replies to this topic

[aportinga]

I've been watching F1 since 1985 and have seen a few commentators in my days (jeez I sound like I'm in my 70's ). Some of them have been pretty bad while some have been exceptionally good for an array of reasons. Here in the States I'd probably have to assume that we've had our share of bumbling morons behind the microphone...well I guess that's pretty harsh but it sounds good. In any case here are a list of my best and worst commentators....

Best...
1. Bob Varsha (ESPN/SpeedVision) Great knowledge and extremely professional on every level!
2. Mike Joy (FoxSportsNet) Did a fabulous job for those of us who were not able to get SpeedVision and had to settle for FoxSportsNet delayed broadcasts - very much a near equal to Varsha.
3. Steve Machett (SpeedVision) Outstanding knowledge on the technical side - a perspective that F1 broadcasting lacked until he came along.
4. Derek Bell (SpeedVision) He's kind of a goof but IMO has alot in the enthusiasm relm.
5. Murray Walker...I cannot stand this mans high pitched voice - it's like finger nails down a chalkboard. However he adds a ton of enthusiasm and knowledge to the show and that's what its all about.

Worst...
1. Bob Jenkins (ABC) "And there is David Coulthard in the McLaren being followed by...by...that...that car behind him" - 2001 USGP.
2. Jason Preistly (ABC) Why was this clown in the pits at the USGP??? My dogs deserved that right more so.
3. Chris Economacki (Everything) Chris was great in the day but he held on a bit too long into the late 1980's. He began to forget drivers names like AYRTON SENNA! His presence was more humorous then anything else and it sounded as though his partner David Hobbs (ESPN) really got a kick out of him in the same way.
4. Derek Daly (ESPN) so incredibly biased...this guy would take every opportunity to build up IndyCar/CART at the expense of F1. Every moment he had during an F1 race he would make comments..."Well you won't see that in IndyCar" or "F1 could learn alot from IndyCar". He was actually removed from F1 broadcasts after fans complained about the matter.
5. Paul Page (ESPN) the world could be crumbling under this mans feet and he still would be elated. "Holy Cow! Michael Andretti is warming up his tires!" "Look at that folks isn't it wonderful to see him move the Newman-Hass, KMart, Ford Lola Machine from left to right!" "Wow what a great day indeed folks!"

[SlateGray]

Originally posted by aportinga

5. Paul Page (ESPN) the world could be crumbling under this mans feet and he still would be elated. "Holy Cow! Michael Andretti is warming up his tires!" "Look at that folks isn't it wonderful to see him move the Newman-Hass, KMart, Ford Lola Machine from left to right!" "Wow what a great day indeed folks!"

Totally agree re. Paul Page

He calls Jacques "Jack Vill-nuff" for crying out loud. I had to listen to this for Jacques entire time in CART.

My #1 is Murray & Martin They made a good team. Murray was there to get it wrong and Martin was there to correct him. Well we don't have Murray to kick around any more.

[DEVO]

I'm not a big fan of Bob Varsha but the rest I agree with... especially Page.

[fifi]

only ever heard Murray with James Hunt and Martin Brundle

[Sir Frank]

John Watson is the man!

I had lived in the USA (97Sept/98June) so I dont know much about the US coverage.

In 97 ESPN2 was covering F1. They had John Watson commentating. It was a bit Americanized coverage so I donno how you guys liked it. When John was at Eurosport he was just absolutely brilliant. That guy knows everything about F1. Knowledge combined with the pure passion he has for the sport.

[MLC]

aportinga,

I too have been watching the American broadcasts of F1 since 1985 (I'm not old either). I agree almost completely with your analysis. Bob Varsha is my favorite. He is a true professional. It is very intersting to hear him commentate about skiing, gymnastics, etc. He does a very good job with these and has a good sense of humour.

My favorite ESPN team was Varsha/Hobbs/Bisigano from 89-91. They were wonderful together and John Bisigano was the best pit reporter. He would get in there and uncover the important information the viewer needed. All broadcasts began with a rundown of each driver/team and their performance in the warm-up, tyre choice, engine swaps, set-ups, etc. I remember a few times teams kicking him out of the garage during a broadcast because he was trying to get pictures of the engine or whatever. I miss him.

My other favorites are Mike Joy and Steve Matchett.

Other notables:

Jackie Stewart - Very good

Sam Posey - Used to be horrible. Remember his tribute to Foyt in 92? I think he has improved and I can now listen to him without screaming.

John Watson - good

[GerhardP]

I believe none of your worst commentators can top the two german television RTL's men:
ab-so-lute-ly incompetent (one of them interviewing the drivers on the grid and in the pitlane, the other one the race commentator)!!!
The whole thing is made a bit more bearable by the fact that Christian Danner is the second race commentator - he's really good!

As to Murray Walker: I always read a lot about him in F1 Racing magazine and saw one F1 race on English TV and he seems to be really good, a legend (although he seems to have retired now).

For a good analyse of all the ex-drivers who became commentators (for example apart from those you already mentioned also Andrea Montermini and Ivan Capelli in Italy, Aguri Suzuki in Japan, Andrea Chiesa in Switzerland or Tambay in France), you should read a brilliant feature about them in F1 Racing magazine March/99 - really good!

[Sir Frank]

I believe none of your worst commentators can top the two german television RTL's men:

Well at least Danner is very analitical and has some good thoughts. He is very boring though. Like we were watching snail racing.

I used to watch ORF1 (Austrian TV) Heinz Pruller has some inside stories and he is very emotional about F1.

You guys should listen to Hungarian commentators. They are just CRAP. One of them thinks he is the MWalker of Hunagry. Well he is surely not more than an old man who cant tell 2 cars apart.

The other Laszlo Palik is the CEO of the Hungaroring. He is really passionate but a real jerk. You simply just cant listen to them they are so ridicilous. Geez. None of the real fans watch Hungarian F1 coverage anymore coz of these two. RTL or ORF well some watch Hungarian TV but turn down the sound.

[GerhardP]

Originally posted by Sir Frank


Well at least Danner is very analitical and has some good thoughts. He is very boring though. Like we were watching snail racing.

I used to watch ORF1 (Austrian TV) Heinz Pruller has some inside stories and he is very emotional about F1.

You guys should listen to Hungarian commentators. They are just CRAP. One of them thinks he is the MWalker of Hunagry. Well he is surely not more than an old man who cant tell 2 cars apart.

The other Laszlo Palik is the CEO of the Hungaroring. He is really passionate but a real jerk. You simply just cant listen to them they are so ridicilous. Geez. None of the real fans watch Hungarian F1 coverage anymore coz of these two. RTL or ORF well some watch Hungarian TV but turn down the sound.

PRÜLLER is really great, yes! He's around since more than 500 Grand Prix and his year book series with all its statistics and stories is great as well. The Walker of austrian TV, one could say (and he REALLY is, not just thinks so himself).

The hungarians I don't know, but they must be funny...

Danner: the snail racing description is simply great

[SeanValen]

Only heard Murry Walker and Martin Brundle, excellent team. I'm sure the other top ones were great.

[Sir Frank]

Also ORF covers Friday practice (lot better than DSF that chap on DSF I donno his name and I dont even want to he is so miserable) and there are no commercials. I think those brakes just take away the exitement so much. Great coverage (Gott sei Dank dass Wurz nicht mehr fahrt!)

Do you know something about the Premiere World stuff GerhardP? Is it any good? That Marc Surer guy has the same style as Danner as far as I am able to judge.

[peru-f1]

In Peru, since 1978 and until a couple of years ago, Enrique "Kike" Perez used to be the man.
Great commentator and good knowledge.

[Mila]

Originally posted by peru-f1
In Peru, since 1978 and until a couple of years ago, Enrique "Kike" Perez used to be the man.
Great commentator and good knowledge.

it's interesting that the time frame is very similar to Murray Walker's GP work--1976 to 2001.

[Ricardo F1]

I'd slice Varsha straight off the top of that list, he's alright but Steve Matchett is far better as he actually knows what he's talking about. Either way Murray, Martin and James would go straight to the top. As for the ABC debacle last year - let's just hope it doesn't repeat itself again this!!!

[FrankB]

I realise that what follows may be thought by many to be heresy:

Let us consider if Murray Walker was a good commentator.

As far as knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment to the sport are concerned I am sure that no one could fault him. I have no doubt that many of the contributors to this forum could match MW in these areas, but those qualities alone do not necessarily make a good commentator. The principle skill that is required is the abilty to communicate your knowledge etc in a clear and concise manner to your audience. IMO MW was failing to do this, certainly over the last four or five seasons.

Too often, he would start to recite a confusing list - combining such diverse factors as a driver's current race position, his championship standing last year, the potential points to be won if he maintains his position... He would then interupt such a list to identify a different car that has appeared on the screen. This could be confusing to "a fan" - I hate to think how this would strike a newcomer to TV coverage of motor racing.

But perhaps his biggest failing would be his inabilty to correctly identify cars / drivers. A football (soccer) commentator is faced with at least 2 different teams each week - 22 new players in 2 strips - and he can name each one. MW is faced with a similar number of drivers every race, but generally they are the same men throughout a season, and yet he struggles to name them.

I don't claim that I could do better job in the commentary box - I know that I couldn't. I only hope that Murray is replaced by someone with a similar level of knowledge and enthusiasm, but in whom that enthusiasm is tempered by some self discipline.

[indycarjunkie]

I never followed F1 until 3 years ago when I heard they were coming to Indy. I watch it on Speedvision so the Bob Varsha team is all I know. They kicked the sh!t out of the ABC team though. I taped the ABC broadcast then taped the Speedvision re-broadcast over it. I don't even think Jason Priestly should be doing IRL races!

Wish I'd seen that Murray guy though. I saw the tributes to him on the Speedvision broadcast. I got the impression he was the Harry Carrey of F1. Was my impression correct?

ICJ

[kouks]

Murray Walker is irreplaceable, of this you can be sure!

[indycarjunkie]

No more Jason Priestly! I just saw that ABC/ESPN will not have him return for the IRL races next year. I'm a happy camper!

[Pirelli1]

I like Bob Varsha. I first got into F1 when he was handling races on ESPN in the early '90s. Varsha is first rate and he says enough but never too much. I also have to agree with you on Mike Joy. Whether its Winston Cup or F1 Joy does a great job. I also loved Sam Posey's sarcasm on Speedvision he has a way of spicing up a really boring race. Eddie Cheever the announcer is also very good, but I abhor Eddie Cheever the driver.

[Peter]

Originally posted by Mila


it's interesting that the time frame is very similar to Murray Walker's GP work--1976 to 2001.

I believe Murray commentated on the very first F1 GP from Silverstone (1951?) and has being doing so for 50 years!

FrankB - you are entitled to your opinion! I believe most of us enjoyed Murrays enthusiastic commentary and respected the research and detail he put into it. It was fun to be able to see that he had made a mistake - but then all we had to do was sit and watch, he had to watch, commentate, read his notes, look out the window, etc. Perhaps we should demand that all drivers sit on top of their cars with a big number on back and front (with their name across the back too) just like they do in football so that the commentators can be more accurate (and boring!)

OK, so Murrayisms are what he is famous for, but I for one will miss him (and them!).

I think he was best in the years that he co-commentated with James Hunt - the perfect balance of ex-driver experience and professional commentator with an enthusiasm for the sport. This year's ITV F1 commetary team will have a hard task doing it as well.

[aportinga]

My favorite ESPN team was Varsha/Hobbs/Bisigano from 89-91. They were wonderful together and John Bisigano was the best pit reporter.

Ahhh yes...those were the years! ESPN did a great job broadcasting. Excellent shows and a clear dedication! As far as Bisigano is concerned - very well dedicated and his yearly wrap up's were great...in fact I have them from 1989 & 90.

Hey remember those old Acura Integra commercials during those years...it was the very first time the car appeared on US shores and they provided for a good deal of advertisement.

[Breadmaster]

when i lived in germany i used to hate watching F1 (ok so it was 1995 and schumi was beating hill and people at work used to rub my nose in it all the time) but...german commentary was awful! 99% was saying how great schumi was and the rest was a dull grey description of "there is a racecar on the track...he passes..." B L A H!

[padovani]

Originally posted by Peter

(...)
OK, so Murrayisms are what he is famous for, but I for one will miss him (and them!).
(...)

Interesting. In Brazil we have this guy, Galvão Bueno, who's been broadcasting F1 since the late seventies... He's very prone to these Murray-style blunders, but brazilian F1 fans generally dislike him, while you british guys seem to love Murray and take the 'Murrayisms' on a very light note...

Probably a matter of charisma...

[jonpollak]

FIFI...you got it right straight away...

I used to LOVE hearing Hunt rant on for no good reason other than a too much plonk(wine)
also...JYS was great back in the 80's on ESPN...

INDYCARJUNKIE...Murray Walker as Harry Carey....a perfect translation well done

I offer you the F1 fans broadcast booth Purgatory...
Economaki..("Hey Jackie..do these guys run Stagger")
Jenkins
Posey...
With... "Hey Dude..Hows it goin" Priestly.. in the pits

Jp

[coyoteBR]

Nah, the best race comentator is Nelson Piquet. Called to debut on this position during a race of his son, Nelson said - TWICE - something like:
"Yes, Nelsinho is doing well, but the race is boring."
Guess Globo TV will never call him again.

[CONOSUR]

I've never seen or heard a commentator who could recognize drivers properly on a regular basis. It seems they always screw up because they're just not paying attention, though several have been memorable and decent.

I've always liked Bob Varsha, but he seems to be one of those who's beginning to pay less attention than more.

David Hobbs used to be pretty decent, and he and Varsha have always been a good team, but he's definitely getting worse. It seems that it's more to do with age than anything else. As an aside, I'd like to share a memory you may well be interested in. Prior to the race in Phoenix in '89, I had a chance to chat with him a bit and convinced him that those of us at home who couldn't always make it to the races always had the sound patched through our stereos with the volume cranked up so we could listen to the wonderful sounds of the engines (the 12s were wild)(try Italy '89, lap 1 under the bridge:10,10,12,12,8,8), but always had to turn it down in a hurry when the commentators got overly excited with their yapping. So he agreed to pass it along to Bob Varsha and try to give us at least the start or first lap without commentary and keep quiet when they director takes us in-car. To this day they still do this to some degree and even expanded it to a post race highlight of the sounds. I love it.

Derek Bell is actually quite a character and somewhat fun to listen to.

Steve Matchett is great, if they'd just let him talk.

Sam (S'Posey could shut up?) Posey has always sucked, though he has acquitted himself somewhat this last year.

Bob Jenkins doesn't know jack (same with steady-Eddie Cheever).

Jackie Stewart was pretty good. His voice more humorous than annoying; his thoughts generally on the money; his insight worthwhile.

Derek Daly, on the other hand, is just truly annoying.

Chris Economaki was long-in-the-tooth for longer than one should be allowed and knew absolutely diddly about F1.

Murrray Walker was annoying... in a very hyper-verbally-blundering-idiotic kind of way. His blunders were the only reason to listen to him.

But, the absolute, bar none, worst commentator of all time is Paul (Mr Potato Head) Page. With his constant barrage of mispronunciations and idiocy, he is the worst thing to ever happen to car racing and television.


As for pit guys, there haven't ever really been real good ones, but there have always been some real losers. The most notable of which had to be John Bisagnano and his fuelish comments. He and Page should work together... on Pluto.


All in all, I think they should hire me. It's what I was destined for (well that and painting). Hey, SPEEDVISION/CHANNEL/ABC/ESPN/2/WHOEVER!! CALL ME!! I'M READY!!








Oh yeah, if I may quote Dennis Miller (my old sig), "That's just my opinion. I could be wrong."

[Mila]

Originally posted by Peter


I believe Murray commentated on the very first F1 GP from Silverstone (1951?) and has being doing so for 50 years!

Peter, unless I'm very much mistaken. . .

I have to admit that I don't know the full story. indeed, Walker had been a motor sport commentator for over fifty years, and he did do F1 early on, but whether he did TV or radio, I'm not sure.

that said, I'm not sure how frequently he commented on F1 prior to 1976. in a “F1 Racing” article on the 76 battle between Hunt and Lauda, I recall Walker stating that he thought of himself more as a motorcycle guy at the time, and that he was surprised that the BBC would go to the trouble of televising the last round of the season at Fuji, and that they would ask him to talk the audience through it.

[Lateralus42]

Ive actually met Paul Page at Long beach a couple of times, he is a really nice guy. I think he is a good commentator, all this Page bashing is absurd.

[Option1]

Originally posted by Lateralus42
Ive actually met Paul Page at Long beach a couple of times, he is a really nice guy. I think he is a good commentator, all this Page bashing is absurd.

He probably is a nice guy and I actually like his commentating on CART, but he really and truly does make an absolute dog's breakfast of commentating on F1. So in that respect the Page-bashing is absolutely justified.

As for the rest, I tend to agree, although I'd probably put Murray Walker ahead of Bob Varsha simply because Murray's enthusiasm is (was) infectious. I also think Sam Posey improved tremondously this year in that his philosophical raves were much shorter than in the past and hence fitted better into the flow of the race. I also enjoy David Hobbs' insights and he has a wonderfully dry sense of humour. Certainly they really should let Steve Matchett talk more, but I think he just has to learn that being a part of that team means establishing yourself and verbally elbowing the others out of the way.

Neil

[Lateralus42]

When did Paul Page do F1? I guess I missed that.

[Option1]

I could have sworn he was tied up with the ABC's abortion of a coverage of last year's USGP. If I'm mistaken then apologies.

Neil

[Lateralus42]

Last year's ABC coverage was Jenkins, Cheever, and Priestley. I think Page might do this years USGP, but I have never seen him do a F1 race before, maybe he did many years ago, I have no clue.

[Option1]

Originally posted by Lateralus42
Last year's ABC coverage was Jenkins, Cheever, and Priestley. I think Page might do this years USGP, but I have never seen him do a F1 race before, maybe he did many years ago, I have no clue.

Fair enuff - and, clearly, I'm clueless at the best of times.

Neil

[Robbie]

Apart from Aportinga's post no one has said what exactly is so annoying about Derek Daly . I'd be interested to learn. I remember him as a driver (who doesn't remember his famous efforts to take flight). So, more pelase!!

[SennasCat]

F1 - James Hunt. He made Murray Walker tolerable
CART - Don't have a problem with Parker Johnstone and Paul Page

Worst ever - Chris Economaki (sp?) and the roaring idiot who used to do the Australian Touring cars - Mike Raymond. If it was possible he dragged down Touring Cars to the level of sideshow stunts.

[jonpollak]

Originally posted by Robbie
Apart from Aportinga's post no one has said what exactly is so annoying about Derek Daly . I'd be interested to learn. I remember him as a driver (who doesn't remember his famous efforts to take flight). So, more pelase!!

Hi Robbie;
Derek made a a real dogs dinner of his one and only "Grid Walk" at the USGP last year.
Knowing full well that JPM will NOT talk to the media on the grid, Derek sleazed up to him and begged in a snide and condescending way...'Juan, C'mon its fer America..American TV'...

Reprehensible....

Jp

[Tazio Nuvolari]

I am surprised no one has mentioned he excellent Ben Edwards who commentates on CART and formerly F1 for Eurosport, great enthusiasm almost Murray style excitement but without the gaffes.

Another good one is Jonathan Legard, lead commentator for BBC Radio 5

Worst has to be Murray's replacement at ITV James Allen, highly knowledgeable but boring enough to send you to sleep in a race


best ever though James Hunt

[jonpollak]

Originally posted by Tazio Nuvolari
I am surprised no one has mentioned he excellent Ben Edwards who commentates on CART and formerly F1 for Eurosport, great enthusiasm almost Murray style excitement but without the gaffes.
Another good one is Jonathan Legard, lead commentator for BBC Radio 5
Worst has to be Murray's replacement at ITV James Allen, highly knowledgeable but boring enough to send you to sleep in a race

RIGHT ON TAZIO!!!
Ben was Great on Eurosport for the CART broadcasts....
He was also on the 2002 Dakar....and then at the end of the race Carlton Kirby said something REALLY derogatory about him....something like 'what a prima donna' or something....
Well Carlton..If you had an inch of his talent perhaps you would care more than most about quality coverage like our Ben does!!!....

James Allan has BIG shoes to fill...and Im an afraid your right....He is not the guy we needed...
Perhaps we should name him the 'SANDMAN'..zzzzz :

Jp

[MattC]

Originally posted by Tazio Nuvolari
I am surprised no one has mentioned he excellent Ben Edwards who commentates on CART and formerly F1 for Eurosport, great enthusiasm almost Murray style excitement but without the gaffes.

Another good one is Jonathan Legard, lead commentator for BBC Radio 5

Worst has to be Murray's replacement at ITV James Allen, highly knowledgeable but boring enough to send you to sleep in a race


best ever though James Hunt

You've pretty much said it all...

Why the F did ITV have to use a 2nd rate guy from within their own team (Allen) when there are so many other BETTER people around. ****, the BBC have a dozen better commentators who seem able to turn their hand to various sports - surely ONE of them has some interest in F1 and could be lured away with the big bucks?!?

I guess we should be happy that they didn't get Jim "Demonic Grin" Rosenthal to step in...

[aportinga]

Apart from Aportinga's post no one has said what exactly is so annoying about Derek Daly . I'd be interested to learn. I remember him as a driver (who doesn't remember his famous efforts to take flight). So, more pelase!!

Well despite Daly's tasteless attempt to promote CART by adding negative remarks about F1 during GP broadcasts, he DID work his ass off enormously hard to get into autosport - perhaps more so then any other driver before! I do admire that very much!

[CONOSUR]

Originally posted by Robbie
Apart from Aportinga's post no one has said what exactly is so annoying about Derek Daly . I'd be interested to learn. I remember him as a driver (who doesn't remember his famous efforts to take flight). So, more pelase!!

Personally, I just find everything about his voice annoying. It just grates on my ears as chalk on a blackboard. In addition, I feel he often adds commentary that, at times, seems totally irrelevant to what is actually happening on screen. I try to pay attention to the race only to be mentally drawn away by something having no bearing on what is really unfolding in front of me. And then he'll continue on...trying to make his point long after the millisecond that caused his thought-train to start, which further diminishes the enjoyment of the next on-track happening, so he has to interrupt himself to start over on yet another unfinishable, irrelevant point.

Other than that...

[Lateralus42]

There is nothing wrong with Derek Daly, some people are just chronic complainers they cant help it.