cafzali

Interestingly, of the P&P team, I actually find Phil Liggett to provide more "value" than Sherwin, even though he never actually raced. Sherwin reuses "I have to say" and lots of other lines way too much and doesn't really add that much in my view.

Remember, though, that they're sports personalities and different people will prefer different styles. In the U.S., if you buy the coverage packages from NBC and get full races, you get exposure to different personalities from around the world. Of the broadcasting teams who cover cycling, my favorite this year was Carlton Kirby and Daniel Lloyd at the Giro. Kirby has to say "yes" as a juxtaposition every five seconds, but Lloyd's commentary was actually quite good.

The trouble with finding the right sports TV commentators comes in properly mixing the charisma required for TV and the knowledge of the sport. One that has the knowledge often has no charisma and vice versa.

slcbob

Could you or someone explain a bit of how that works, please? Do you get options for different commentators, etc.? What features do you get?

I'm on the edge of the empire at the moment and probably won't buy anything since I don't have much in the way of bandwidth to enjoy the fluff, but I may look at a package in 2013 when I am back in the land of plenty.

fly:yes/land:no

paul sherwen shilled motobecane a few minutes ago.


different motobecane from the bikesdirect motobecane, though.

rousseau

I don't understand all the vitriol and irrelevant discussion: David Harmon at Eurosport is the best and most listenable commentator out there. While I feel fondly for Phil and Paul, there's just no contest.

cthenn

Beating the dead horse today, but I was especially annoyed with PhilnPaul today. They kept whining about Cav and the "lack of respect" for the final 10 K's. In fact, they would not shut up about it. Dudes...they are in this for Wiggins, sorry. If they can assist Cav when they can, they will, but for Sky to blow out their guys in the first week so that Cav can maybe get a few stages is a dumb tactic, if they have the overall race favorite.

And I really hate their insipid commentary based on nothing. At one point (with like 70K or more to go...) Philippe Gilbert made an appearance near the front, and these guys immediately proclaim "GILBERT MUST BE BACK! HE MUST HAVE FOUND HIS FORM!" Right...because he's riding near the front when the pace is something *I* can keep up with...and they say dumb things like this ALL. THE. TIME.

Oh, and once again they blow the finale, saying about the Euskaltel guy from the break "this is the win of a lifetime!" right as the sprinters go flying by with 100m to go. Maybe NBC will get wise, and hire a different crew next season, though I highly doubt it.

OH AND DID YOU KNOW, TEEJAY VANGARDEREN THE AMERICAN WITH A DUTCH NAME!!!!!!

Keith99

Where is Cavevdish from?

They are jsut as irrational as american Lance worshipers.

fishymamba

I like them, but these are probably the best:

zonatandem

If you don't like the commentary: Hit the MUTE button!
I've been following coverage of the TdeF since the late 1930's when I was a kid in Belgium.
Advice to you American Johnny-come-latelies to the sport:
Kwitcherbellyachin'!

kleinboogie

Ok, that was awesome for 3-1/2 minutes. Jeez, I thought I was going to have a heart attack then the "What the hell" brought me back from the brink.

XTR

I've often wondered if they (P&P) were watching the same race I was; however, the last two yrs coverage of the Philadelphia race has made me thankful to have Phil, Paul and Bob. The collection of clowns that have covered Philadelphia got the last two yrs are the worst sports announcing I've ever watched/heard.

dstrong 

I had to gulp down my whole cup of coffee when Paul whipped out the "They'll have to dig deep into their suitcase of courage" comment! Classic!

fishymamba

I loled at "They are like a carrot being waved in front of a donkey"

dstrong 

The Isle of Mann, man. Apparently, if you're from there, you are a Manx.

Caretaker

A small British tax-haven island half way between England and Ireland.

Famous for its tail-less cats and a giant waterwheel. Home for axis internees in WW2.

kdub212

I realized after watching Scott a few times that he bears a striking resemblance to Droopy the Dog.

hodadmike

I heard Phil call Tyler Farrah Tyler Hamilton this morning. Made it through the edit too; just heard it on the prime time show.

wabbit

speaking of bob roll, he really has slimmed down in recent years, was he sick? or did he just go on a diet? he looks pretty good.
For a while, we were getting coverage from Universal, on Rogers cable and the commentators were competent, but total ****ers.

Six jours

So apparently neither one of you know his name.

wabbit

I actually did know someone who was Manx, or his family was....it's such a tiny place what are the odds you'll ever meet someone from that part of the world!

dagna

Family friend's husband is from the Isle of Man. It's a small world (I can say that without getting sued by Disney, right? ).

I believe from watching Top Gear that the Isle of Man is also famous for having no speed limits.

gapowermike

While we're complaining about commentary did anyone hear the piece that knucklehead Craig Hummer dropped on the viewers at the start on Sunday? About Cadel's calm coming from Hincapie and Wiggo being the Buddha of calm? Geez...

Tony N.

Just thought I would cast my vote for P&P&Scott & Bob. Paul knows his racin from expereince and Phil from being around it for so long. They all seem to me to love cycling. I even look out for Bob's Road ID commercials like I do the Super Bowl commercials. He is so funny. Love the way they add a little history of the region and archetecture mix as well. Lot of WW I & II history over there. Sure they may bobble a name here or there but nobody's perfect. IMO they do a great job especially explaining some ot the race stratergises and the internal drama that is taking place during the stage.

Cat4Lifer

I think the helmets throw off their getting the names correct.
I don't remember them fluffing up names as badly before the helmet rule.

kenyan_boy

Yesterday I was watching Stage 8 live on NBC and simultaneously Eurosport on a web feed at home. Web feed was 15-20 seconds delayed, understandable.

However, NBC's P & P & Bobke were not as interesting as the Eurosport chaps. They were more interested with promoting non-cycling, non-sport related upcoming NBC shows. Also too many commercials compared to the Euros. Also, while watching on Eurosport the big crash that took out Sanchez, NBC was airing commercials. Every freakin' few minutes. Very annoying. P&P have got a little boring and repetitive over the years; maybe it's just that it is the first time I'm watching Eurosport and find the change refreshing. Bobke is still a laugh though.

Today, not much commercials on Stage 9 on Eurosport. Don't know about NBC-whatchamacallit as don't have TV at work. Maybe someone can chime in on that?

Six jours

Between the helmets, the glasses, and the all-consonant Eastern European names, my hat is off to anyone who can name more than a handful of guys in the pack.