Olympic Commentators

I'd be interested to know what people think of the current crop of TV commentators.  Richard Simmonds is starting to really annoy me. I don't care for his style and he makes some real clangers. eg. He is surprisingly unimforned about how they race lasers offwind, as one sailor perfomed a neat transition from bye the lee to broad reach he said " that was a bit of a hand break turn that will slow him down".  He also seemed oblivious to the fact that the brit boat had slipped from first to 6th on the first beat and then dropped down to ~ 15th during the race. This hardly seemed worthy of comment, (when the NZ boat climbed from last to ~6th  in the same race). If that was not a shocker of a race for the brit what was? He was wondering what his coach was telling him after the race!! ( 4/10)

Richard Simmonds is in my view truly awful. I have found it better to watch with the sound off. He doesn't know the rules or seem to understand much about racing in any of the fleets. When you watch tennis or cricket the commentators are armed with loads of facts and anecdotes to fill in. Richard doesn't even seem to have read the sailing instructions, evidenced by him saying that the wining Chinese sailor should have done two turns when called for pumping.

Simmons - dumbing it down way too far (Joker????) and misses too much. 4/10

Leigh McMillan - started really well but as the regatta has gone on its as if hes been told to stop being so well informed about what's happening, and has started following the banal platitudes of Simmonds. 6.5/10

Shirley - not too bad on observations, but even my kids are taking the pish out of the apparent contractual obligation to to mention her medals every time she comes on; ".... and now over to double gold medal winner Shirley...", "... When I won my medals in......".... etc. look out for this - it'll drive you nuts in very short order. 5/10

Rob Walker - please! Is this guy a real journalist, or a comedy reporter from "The Day Today"? I saw him interview BA after the medal race on the water and it was totally crIngy - he was literally hanging off Ben (who was obviously in lots of pain) and the body language was screaming "get the f**k off me!". Horrible to watch, as are the knobish over- enthusiastic interviews with people on the Nothe. 1/10

Simon Bornhoft - breath of fresh air and has provided intelligent, educational and interesting comentary on the RSXs. Pitched his level just right for all levels of knowledge and very eloquent. 9/10

So who should we have instead? Not heard her myself, but my brother saw something recently with Sarah Ayton commentating - apparently she was excellent, and very funny.

Originally posted by alstorer Simmonds neads loaded into a cannon at the fort and fired in the general direction of France.

He's sat next to me and might have just caught a little glimpse of this thread... oops!


Edited by tgruitt - 07 Aug 12 at 10:39am

Is he (Richard Simmons) the one that really embarrassed Ainsley, putting his arm round him, hugging him telling him how wonderful he was?

Edited by G.R.F. - 07 Aug 12 at 10:54am