tozovr

Bob Roll should have his hands tied behind his back when on camera.

That is all.

Guest

I wouldn't mind a hankerchief in his mouth and a bag over his head either.

Koffee

timhines

oh come on, he isn't that bad.

But then again, I am finding it easier to tolerate Al Trautwig this year as well. What has gotten in to me?

alpe d'issaquah

Bobke has his moments..Trautwig. I'm not getting into that Vietnam. Just don't watch the primetime coverage and you can avoid Al and get a healthy dose of Bob without overdoing it

GTcommuter

I like Bob, he offers some good insight at times. Al is stupidly entertaining, but he does do some good transitions. His color commentary leaves a bit to be desired.

Is OLN grooming Robbie Ventura for a booth position in the future?

merlinextraligh

No, He's the Chris Carmichael de jour. Just pumping his coaching business, ala CTS.

bobke

Roll once made a list of 51 things to do before you die. A few suggestions were to ride across the U.S. and stop in every podunk town and never, ever race across America; pick a year and ride a bike more miles than your car; go to a bike camp, preferably one run by a bloated, alcoholic ex-pro; own a pair of titanium salt and pepper shakers; do RAGBRAI towing a keg of beer in a Burley trailer; ride over the Golden Gate Bridge; ride your one true love on your handlebars as you whisper sweet nothings into your love's ear; ride the Natchez Trace and Blue Ridge Parkway; and ride naked at 3 a.m. past your local police station with a Walkman duct-tapped to your left butt cheek, listening to "The Sound of Music."

Bobke 's Ten Commandments should be a required memory exercise for all you two- wheelers out there. Close your eyes and visualize God appearing in front of Roll one night during the Giro d'Italia holding two Bloody Marys, asking him to jot down a cyclist's Ten Commandments:

X Thou shalt not take the name of Eddie Merckx in vain
IX Thou shalt be screamed at by one Grewal or another
VIII Thou shalt be screwed by one cycling federation or another
VII Thou shalt have your bike destroyed and luggage lost by airlines
VI Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's bike swag
V Thou shalt pee in cup eventually
IV Thou shalt be thrashed, trashed, crashed and smashed by someone younger and stronger than you
III Thou shalt wear your helmet on every ride
II Thou shalt not touch thy front brake while negotiating off-camber switchback turns
I Thou shalt crash and look like a fool sooner or later

Q: What's with the hands? Can you talk with gloves on?
A: I can talk with gloves on without any trouble at all.

Q: Who is the gassiest in the Tour booth: you, Paul or Phil?
A: (Laughs) Oddly enough, there is no gas allowed in the booth, but there is plenty of hot air.



bobke

squeakywheel

Funniest thing on OLN is their invitation to log-on to their site and register to win a yellow jersey signed by the 3 commentator clowns. Huh? Who wants that?

Oooh yeah baby...I got Trautwig's autograph on a jersey!

Don't you think one of the American riders would sign a few shirts for them to give away?

tozovr

Dude...that actually makes me like him a lil more LOL

Shemp

I like Bob's enthusiasm and insight. He's a character, and I like that.

RockyMtnMerlin

A linen napkin and a piece of cake! Man I just rolled on the floor reading that one! I kinda like him.

Ostuni

yes he is. he's a slow-witted stumble-mouth...

and i wish he would lose both arms in a combine accident just so we would not have to see any more of the hand spasticity...

bikingshearer 

Roll's hands should be tied to the arms of the chair, not behind his back - the scrunched position he would be in with them behind his back would be too distracting. I do sometimes wish he would dial it back a bit, but mostly he's okay.

I can even put up with Trautwig - either the guy has come to truly enjoy the Tour or he's pretty good at acting like he has, which is a damn sight better than some previous guys. (Anyone remember Sam Posey or Adrian Karstens?) Trautwig is also a little more accessable for newcomers to the sport - he isn't afraid to ask questions that a newbie might also be thinking, and he's pretty decent at making comparisons between cycling and other sports that the newcomer may be more familar with. As good as Phil and Paul are - and I enjoy them very much - they tend to address themselves to the more knowledgable fan, not the newcomer. So there is a place for Al.

But I agree that the autographed shirt is a little over the top.

maalea

I tend not to watch when they are sitting at the desk. During the pre-race breakdown, I am busy making coffee, etc. I listen but don't really watch. So Bobke's hand gestures are a non issue to me. I like his insites and his passion for the sport.

sidhayes

I can not believe many of you guys. Have you made it your job to trash the comentators on OLN? What makes you so great? It sometimes sounds like they are so bad that you can not stand to watch them. Do not you have anything good to say without cutting them down? I would love to see YOU do better. Trashtalkers! I am just happy that it is even on Television at all!

Shemp

They won't be happy until Bret Musburger or Stuart Scott is doing the call. Maybe they want Bob Costas or Al Michaels in the booth, I don't know. I'm hoping Bobke pulls out John Maddens sketch pen and starts drawing all over the monitor just to piss people off more.

baj32161

Good post. I like the fact that Al is asking alot of, what seem to us to be, stupid questions. Getting more newcomers to the sport and watching the TdF is going to benefit all of us who ride and enjoy watching cycling on TV. I also think Bobke's anecdotes are usually entertaining and informative, and delivered in his own sort of down home manner. With so many ex-athletes doing commentary these days, and sounding like pompous jerk know-it-alls (not unlike many in BF), or uneducated neanderthals, guys like Al and Bobke are a much needed breath of fresh air to me. I did post a thread in this sub-forum wondering if Al rides. He sure does sound enthusiastic about it.

Cheers,

Brian

baj32161

That would SO rock!!!

Ray Miller

I think I could put up the almost any commentator to get my daily fix of the Tour.

lotek 

+10

baj32161

Well said!!!

jjmolyet

I can't believe how insensitive you BF members are!!!!! It is obvious Bobke is signing for the hearing impaired, shame on all of you, Bobke is the man.

CyLowe97

HA!

What's that sign he always does where his hands suddenly fly up in the air? I'm guessing that's ASL for "The Peloton has absolutely EXPLODED on the climb!"

The Micah

I like watching him make gangsta signs.