There is so much bashing of USA's coverage of the Open that you wouldn't know actual -- and AMAZING -- tennis is being played by browsing this board. Maybe you are offended by Courier. Perhaps Tracy Austin drives you crazy. John and Ted may disrespect the matches they call. Am I forgetting some golden era of tennis coverage when commentators were all brilliant and politically correct? If so, tell me when that was, please.
Let's all settle down and be happy that the matches (DAY and NIGHT!) are actually being shown on TV at all.
Full Version: Quit Being Babies!
Hi Bubba here, I'm tried of reading of the complaints. If you don't like watching what you are looking at, turn the channel and move on.
QUOTE (OpenFan @ Aug 31 2007, 07:35 PM) 
There is so much bashing of USA's coverage of the Open that you wouldn't know actual -- and AMAZING -- tennis is being played by browsing this board. Maybe you are offended by Courier. Perhaps Tracy Austin drives you crazy. John and Ted may disrespect the matches they call. Am I forgetting some golden era of tennis coverage when commentators were all brilliant and politically correct? If so, tell me when that was, please.
Let's all settle down and be happy that the matches (DAY and NIGHT!) are actually being shown on TV at all.
Let's all settle down and be happy that the matches (DAY and NIGHT!) are actually being shown on TV at all.
AMEN to that!
QUOTE (Bubba_Bridges @ Aug 31 2007, 07:44 PM)
Hi Bubba here, I'm tried of reading of the complaints. If you don't like watching what you are looking at, turn the channel and move on.
Well said--we all can't like everyone! But it would be great if we did
Yep, you missed it and I've already mentioned it. Tony Trabert era. Those guys were great. They NEVER talked through a point and it was about the tennis being played when they did. They most certainly never came back to "visit" a match after a 3 or 4 game rant on darn near anything under the sun (except for the tennis of course).
Sorry you missed it.
I don't think anyone here is complaining about the coverage on TV, we're complaining about the quality of those presenting it. USA certainly does better than ESPN. Coverage is not the issue.
Regardless of who likes who (and it's apparent that we all have likes and dislikes), the common theme here is that those presenters are sub par at best. No other sport will you find this kind of straying away from the game by commentators. They know they're not the show, the sport is, and they respect that. Clearly it bothers a bunch of us enough that we're letting it be known that we love the game and we're only letting USA know that they need to step up and get some professionals in there.
Babies? I don't think so.
Sorry you missed it.
I don't think anyone here is complaining about the coverage on TV, we're complaining about the quality of those presenting it. USA certainly does better than ESPN. Coverage is not the issue.
Regardless of who likes who (and it's apparent that we all have likes and dislikes), the common theme here is that those presenters are sub par at best. No other sport will you find this kind of straying away from the game by commentators. They know they're not the show, the sport is, and they respect that. Clearly it bothers a bunch of us enough that we're letting it be known that we love the game and we're only letting USA know that they need to step up and get some professionals in there.
Babies? I don't think so.
Hello Open, It seems someone here may want to talk about the matches. It has been such a great first week so far on the mens side. I'm still watching Mardy match on tape so I hope he won. But I just finished watching the stinky shoe match so I started a thread so maybe we could start talking about tennis. That 5th set with Novak and Radek today was amazing. I don't think I can remember seeing a more entertaining set. I love Novak though and predict him to win. I call him Brillo Head. My husband is very confused but he knows I will always root for him. He is so funny. I saw him do some Roddick and Maria impersonations and he was spot on. Makes me laugh so I like him. Even Radek has a place in my heart now after that 4 hour and 44 minute match. He was a blast to watch.
Anyway, got the Fish match back from commercial (on tape) hehe.. talk more later. ~Deb
Anyway, got the Fish match back from commercial (on tape) hehe.. talk more later. ~Deb
oneleft,
Thank you for the thoughtful response; some do not make the effort.
Of course no one is complaining about the coverage on TV -- it's being aired. My point is that you, who seem to be a fan of the game, should be happy that a relatively marginal sport like tennis gets such ample coverage.
And I do not mind lamenting the quality of on-air talent, but let's not make it seem limited to only USA's US Open coverage. Every sport has some of what you may call "sub-par" presenters. I imagine tennis would have more, higher quality talent if they were available/ could be afforded.
I'm also not sold on the argument that USA's coverage and talent is generally sub-par. None of these personalities are new, and neither are these criticisms of them. We can always find an individual we enjoy, and then just as easily find someone willing to criticize them. I'm sure someone out there even got tired of Trabert from time to time.
Thank you for the thoughtful response; some do not make the effort.
Of course no one is complaining about the coverage on TV -- it's being aired. My point is that you, who seem to be a fan of the game, should be happy that a relatively marginal sport like tennis gets such ample coverage.
And I do not mind lamenting the quality of on-air talent, but let's not make it seem limited to only USA's US Open coverage. Every sport has some of what you may call "sub-par" presenters. I imagine tennis would have more, higher quality talent if they were available/ could be afforded.
I'm also not sold on the argument that USA's coverage and talent is generally sub-par. None of these personalities are new, and neither are these criticisms of them. We can always find an individual we enjoy, and then just as easily find someone willing to criticize them. I'm sure someone out there even got tired of Trabert from time to time.
I'll agree that other sports have sub par announcers, but the difference is they don't last. It's rare that tennis switches announcers. Bad announcers come and go in other sports, especially the "talent" commentators. Dennis Miller anyone?
I know McEnroe is one of those love him/hate him personalities but, love him or hate him, I maintain that the man would never have lasted in another sport. He's just all over the place and does not know when to zip it up. And again, this is the big part, it's the total lack of respect for the game at hand that is the deal breaker. You just can't go on and on and on over play and occassionaly throw in a "that was a good backhand" as though it's a sideshow. It IS the show and these guys and gals don't get it. 50% match, 50% rubbish just don't get it.
Imagine you're in England and you've never seen a cricket match and there's one on the telly and you're trying to watch but the announcers are so very distracting, talking about fashion, the famous, an announcers bad manners 30 years ago, on and on and on, and you're so distracted by it that you conclude "this is boring as all hell". It's tough to follow when the announcers themselves don't seem to care about it.
Still, I watch. Why? Because there's great tennis being played and I love the game and I want it to be more enjoyable. And that is why I rant.
I know McEnroe is one of those love him/hate him personalities but, love him or hate him, I maintain that the man would never have lasted in another sport. He's just all over the place and does not know when to zip it up. And again, this is the big part, it's the total lack of respect for the game at hand that is the deal breaker. You just can't go on and on and on over play and occassionaly throw in a "that was a good backhand" as though it's a sideshow. It IS the show and these guys and gals don't get it. 50% match, 50% rubbish just don't get it.
Imagine you're in England and you've never seen a cricket match and there's one on the telly and you're trying to watch but the announcers are so very distracting, talking about fashion, the famous, an announcers bad manners 30 years ago, on and on and on, and you're so distracted by it that you conclude "this is boring as all hell". It's tough to follow when the announcers themselves don't seem to care about it.
Still, I watch. Why? Because there's great tennis being played and I love the game and I want it to be more enjoyable. And that is why I rant.
Hi Bubba here, ...
I think this warrants repeating again. If you don't like it, move on and turn the channel.
QUOTE (Bubba_Bridges @ Aug 31 2007, 07:44 PM)
I'm tried of reading of the complaints. If you don't like watching what you are looking at, turn the channel and move on.
I think this warrants repeating again. If you don't like it, move on and turn the channel.
No. It only warrants ignoring.
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