Royal Blue Jersey
Player Valuation: £35m
This article sums it up better than I ever could (and hilariously):
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/football-cliches/2013/sep/27/how-to-be-a-co-commentator
The return of Andy Gray (BT now, obviously) has for me highlighted the fact we're seriously lacking (m)any(?) good ones. I found the fact some women's group for 'equality in football' criticised BT for hiring him pretty reprehensible. Trying to take away a man's livelihood over something no worse than what the Loose Women get away with in of an early afternoon, and not public. Anyway, that's another topic.
What I want a commentary to go with my game. The memory of some of my favourite goals can be conjured from the commentary. Who doesn't remember, e.g. "Oh I say! It's Graeme Sharp - and the Evertonians have gone beserk! I can't quite remember a Derby like this in years" (just from memory, so don't know if it's spot on) or Martin Tyler's wonderful "Free kick here. There's a wonderful atmosphere, just imagine what it'd be if Everton scored... Ferguson! You don't have to imagine the atmosphere now; just take it in!". Great stuff. For me, the commentator's job is to translate the atmosphere of the crowd to the people at home. So much of the power of football is lost taking yourself out the environment, that it's just not enjoyable to watch in silence. What Andy Gray does well is bring a bit of bombast, emotion, dynamism. He has theatrical voices and so on but they do add to the sense that you're witnessing something meaningful.
It's hard to translate the emotion of a last minute winner if you're bland and disinterested. The co-commentators are a joke at times. I mean, we shouldn't expect miracles. Broadcasting requires you to be quick witted, sharp-minded, perceptive, articulate; not qualities engaged too often by professional footballers, but you'd think they could find better than Michael Owen, Martin Keown, Andy Townsend, Chris Waddle, Jim Beglin, and the rest. Even Kilbane, nice chap though he is, just grates with his tediousness. And Gary Neville should be good in theory, he has been really excellent for analysis just by finally giving some, and in one month had completely upped the standard. He just doesn't have the necessary 'theatrics', clearly not the type to be bombastic and emotive. Maybe he'll get better. I'd have him over most because he usually had good things to say, but you can tell he feels uncomfortable (and that's fine, he's more suited to the studio).
I looked it up and the Americans call them 'colour commentators', showing as usual they're far more at home with being frank about pure entertainment. They're there to add detail beyond simple relaying whats happening. Their job is to enliven the viewer, not bore him to death. We really don't need to be guided through the 'action replay' in football. Set pieces are the biggest excuse to roll out the clichés and it's just irritating. And because they're the 'experts' the main guys can't provide their opinion, which is just madness.
Well, I've typed enough. Anyone else thinking we could do with alot better? There's probably some amateur gems doing live weblog/podcast efforts. Would like to see some non-footballers given a go, their ex-professionalism might as well be in a different sport because it doesn't improve anything
