tsohg

This has everything to do with what lines ESPN's pockets, not what people want to see. (though you're probably right about Americans and cycling)

For chrissakes, ESPN shows womens' basketball over stanley cup playoffs- because they don't have a deal with the NHL. They give hockey the minimal coverage they can get away with.

mmmdonuts

Vs is the most convenient way for me to watch the TDF but every year Bob Roll gets closer to sounding as stupid as he looks.

Flatballer

I had to look that one up.

And no.

erader

john madden is retiring this year and frankly i'll miss him. for me, the great announcers don't have to get the names right .

ed rader

erader

i agree with everything you said. it's not like we in the u.s.a. on the 4th of july want the kazahki perspective .

ed rader

mollusk

I like Phil, but only because when my wife is watching with me I can seem really smart by telling her what is really going on instead of what Phil says is going on.

wfrogge

Not because he makes mistakes... because he sucks.

El Diablo Rojo

I thought that it was only recently that Phil had lost the plot...then I watched the LA retrospective that was on last weekend and as far back as 2001 he was getting it wrong. I love Phil's voice and I love his passion and enthusiasm for the sport but for half the time I think he's commenting on a different race!

Flatballer

I was watching that too. Did you see 2004 Stage 17? Phil gives the win to a guy as soon as he makes a break with about 2k to go and gets 10 seconds of gap. He starts talking about time bonuses and everything. Then Floyd gets on the front, drills it, Lance sprints, and nips the guy at the line for the win.

Instead of just saying "that might be the winning move", he says it like it's over and we can all just stop watching because he's decided who is gonna win.

Az B

Try running your mouth for 3 hours straight and see if some dumb ***** doesn't come out sometimes too.

Jeez, you guys are really critical.

Az

border reiver

Much as I too like to take a dig at Phil, Paul, versus et al, I do remember before versus (or OLN) came along when we were lucky to get a 1-2 hour wrap for the entire tour, or maybe for each week--all set to the background of the worst music imaginable. John Tesh anyone?

ericm979

Oh god. I'd buried that memory.

Or how about David Duffield... he only talks about the British riders, even if they are on the back, and goes into long-winded meandering stories about Barry Hoban in '64 while completely ignoring the action in the race he's supposed to be announcing. Arrgh.

Phil and Paul are not the best, and Phil sometimes gets riders names wrong, but they aren't too bad. Bob is fine when he's not trying to be cool or hip or whatever it is.

erader

[QUOTE=border reiver;9219216]Much as I too like to take a dig at Phil, Paul, versus et al, I do remember before versus (or OLN) came along when we were lucky to get a 1-2 hour wrap for the entire tour, or maybe for each week--all set to the background of the worst music imaginable. John Tesh anyone?[/QUOTE]



or how about adrian karsten, who later hanged himself ?

it just goes to show that the fellas are going to complain no matter what even tho some of us know we've never had it so good .

ed rader

botto 

no. because he sucks. duh.

wfrogge

1995 tour going up one of the bigger climbs somebody drew a big penis on the road and wrote "Liggett" above it.

Quite fitting

wfrogge

https://fatcyclist.spaces.live.com/Bl...UOQA!288.entry

News Flash: OLN Fires Phil Liggett

Failed to Meet Contractual Obligation to Mention Lance Armstrong Three Times Per Minute, Sources Say

Paris, July 5 (Fat Cyclist News Service) - Outdoor Life Network today severed its contract with Phil Liggett, a perennial favorite cycling announcer both in England and in the United States. A spokesperson for Outdoor Life Network said, "We regret having to let Phil go, but he knew the terms of our agreement when he signed on. Namely, he is required to allude to Lance Armstrong three times per minute, with at least one of those mentions being by name. Most importantly, at no point in time shall forty seconds ever elapse without a mention of Lance Armstrong."

"Today, sadly, Mr. Liggett broke the terms of that agreement. When David Zabriskie had his unfortunate accident today, Phil failed for 40 seconds to put it in the context of whether this would impact Lance Armstrong or whether Lance Armstrong would would have fallen, or asking what Lance Armstrong must be thinking about this accident right that moment."

When reached for comment, co-commentator Paul Sherwin said, "I had my 'Lance Stopwatch' going -- it's what we use to help remind us when it's time to mention Lance again.” Continued Sherwin, “When Zabriskie fell, Liggett started actually talking about how disastrous it was for the rider, instead of -- as is proper -- talking about this would affect Lance and how he would no doubt have words of advice on the proper way to ride a bicycle for young Zabriskie. When twenty seconds elapsed, I signaled to the timer. Then thirty seconds elapsed -- still no mention, so I made the sign of the Texas Longhorn, the code we use to signal that we need to immediately divert the conversation toward Armstrong. Still nothing.”

Visibly shaken, Sherwin finished, “After forty-five seconds, Phil managed to bring the conversation back round to Armstrong, but by then it was too late. OLN Security was knocking at the door, ready to escort Phil from the premises.”

Interviewed in his hotel room in Paris, Liggett looked like a man who has lost his best friend. “I’m a huge fan of Armstrong,” said Liggett. “I haven’t pretended to be impartial for years. But between Bob Roll and that marionette Al Trautwig, our Armstrong-centricism seemed pretty well covered, and I suppose I briefly let my guard down. I wonder what Lance Armstrong thinks about that?” Then, realizing the habit of mentioning Armstrong even when completely irrelevant was still with him, Liggett briefly looked melancholy -- which is the British equivalent of an American having a complete nervous breakdown.

OLN has moved swiftly to replace Liggett, putting former color-commentator Al Trautwig in his spot. Said Trautwig regarding his promotion, “Lance Armstrong. Lance Lance Lance Armstrong. Armstrong Armstrong Lance Lance Lance Lance. Six-time Tour de France winner. Lance Armstrong Lance Armstrong, Lance Armstrong.”

“This is going to work out just fine,” said the OLN spokesperson.

Dubbayoo

lol, classic.

Racer Ex 

Ed...you're back!

Glad you could work off the Giro gambling debts in time to join us I hadn't seen that many bad predictions since Heaven's Gate in '97.

No, we're not. You just believe sawdust is oatmeal.

erader

i guess i underestimated menchov but today he seems like he's back to his usual form....or else it was his sister denise who rolled out on the start house in monaco today .

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/menc...to-main-rivals

ed rader

bostongarden

precious and few are the moments that we can share...wfrogge, you cracked me up!!!

diphthong

time for phil to hang it up. would still like to get his historical analysis/perspective/color
on the pre/post-stage commentary though. during the races, especially "busy" mountain
stages, he suffers and paul carries him all too frequently.

diphthong

just waiting for paul to reminisce about his old teammate-sean yates-descending the tourmalet
at 70 mph again but i guess i'll have to wait until stage 9 for that.

patentcad

1 out of 2 ain't bad.

Eljimberino

Phil and Paul are watching what we're watching, arent they?

gsteinb

I recall a race many years ago where he went berserk that 'Ron Kiefel is going on the ATTACK!!11' Only Ron was actually off the back, trying to regain contact.