Increasingly when we watch football on television we find ourselves reaching for the mute button, given the noise pollution that seems to come out of most football commentators mouths. However there are still some masters in that lost craft of describing action without taking away from it. With that in mind, and continuing with our recent focus on the way football is presented on TV and in the media in 2010, for this week’s Famous 5ive, CollinsBeans takes a look at the top commentators out there.
1. Martin Tyler
I guess this is like including Real Madrid in your list of favourite teams. Sure he’s the big name out there, and sure he may be accused of being somewhat overblown at times and taking his money from the devil, but just like the men from the Bernabeu, he’s the big man on the gantry for a reason.
Tyler is one half of Sky’s lead double act, along with the redoubtable Andy Gray and while both may sometime fall into a world of self parody and caricature status (“and it’s live!”) you can’t actually beat them. When I hear Tyler commenting on an incident I trust him. Whereas with most commentators these days (Jonathan Pearce. Anyone on ITV) I find myself disagreeing with their views even before they’ve opened their mouth, with Tyler I believe what he is telling me, I buy into the way he has seen and called an incident.
And then there’s the scream. Sure, shouting, getting overexcited is a somewhat cheap and lazy way of making a name for yourself, but you can’t beat that guttural, primeval yelp that seems to come from Tyler’s mouth, particularly when a long ranger has just left the boot of a player hurtling like a projectile for the top corner. Commentary can make goals, and the fact remains that whenever I imagine a goal, or I see a goal, Kingstonian’s finest coach is the man I’d want calling it. (Matt Snelling)
2. John Murray
One of the notable trends in modern broadcasting is the increased use of regional accents. Once upon a time in television studio, hints of provincial tones were actively discouraged. There was a television voice, and it certainly didn’t contain any Brummie. Times have changed though, and accents are now all the rage. On occasions, this can actually infuriate. Marcus Bentley, the infamous Big Brother voiceover man, takes it all a step too far, producing exaggerated pronunciation that goes way beyond Geordie or anything within 100 miles of the North East.
Yet the BBC’s John Murray has the kind of soothing Geordie accent that is actually rather pleasant to listen to. Plus Murray, usually found on Radio Five Live on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, is also a fine commentator. He strikes the perfect balance between his Five Live colleagues – Alan Green’s brash, shouty, overstated, desperately confrontational style, and Mike Ingham’s slow, dull, inane, uninformed and utterly tedious drivel.
Murray crisply describes the action, gets excited at the right times but is still prepared to criticise, and generally talks through the game in an informative and interesting manner. Personally, I enjoy the little snippets of detail Murray provides too, which are vital for radio commentary. “Marouane Chamakh, spiked mullet, pink and orange boots, strides forward with the ball…”
It’s that kind of extra information, quickly and effortlessly blended into the basic narrative, which brings it all to life. (James Platt)
3. Peter Brackley
We know that this is meant to be the five commentators that CollinsBeans holds up there as being doyens of the microphone RIGHT NOW (thus excluding the likes of messr’s Davies and Sinstadt...) but this pick is chosen with a somewhat wistful and nostalgic nod to the past. As a youngster, Saturday mornings meant a religious viewing of the legendary Football Italia and in doing so was treated to the dulcet tones of Peter Brackley on commentary.
Brackley had the sort of voice that reminded you of one of those pre-war PATHE News broadcasters, someone as much at home talking about Preston North End’s 7-4 victory in an FA Cup tie over the Royal Engineers as they would the Belgian invasion of the Congo. He wasn’t one for clichés, ridiculously overblown statements or cringe worthy ‘prepared ad libs’, nor was he a man to bombard you under a stat attack. Brackley is a commentator who accompanies the action rather detracts from it, a soothing presence providing a comforting backdrop to the pictures unfolding before you.
He also achieved brownie points for the fact that unlike a number of his rather more ‘Anglo-centric’ commentators he embraced Italian football, providing you with expert input that didn’t sound like it had just come out of the Lonely Planet guide to Rome. He still sporadically commentates on Championship and FA Cup games meaning he is active AND therefore eligible to be included here. Indeed hearing him commentate on the ‘highlights’ from Crystal Palace’s recent game against QPR was *almost* enough to help get this particular fan over the daylight robbery that had just taken place. (MS)
4. Tony Gubba
Match of the Day, Grandstand, Dancing on Ice – whatever the event, Tony Gubba won’t let you down. He’s commentated on hockey, ski jumping, rowing, judo and perhaps most obscurely, the Football League Show, and yet Gubba has continually delivered a professional and at times rather bizarre style of commentary.
Gubba is something of a cult hero in the television world, certainly in my eyes anyway. Many hours on Saturday evenings have been spent debating which game towards the fag end of Match of the Day Gubba would be assigned to. For Gubba has never been given the luxury of the top sides. No Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford for Tony. The Reebok and JJB are his stomping grounds. And his unique approach has always livened up the dullest of encounters.
The best way to describe Gubba’s modus operandi is that the Blackpool-born reporter favours a two-groan system. And these groans are cunningly distinct. When Manchester United score the inevitable opener against a lower league side, Gubba adopts a hushed, weary tone. “Oooooaaaahh, and there’s the opener. Manchester United are in front.” Gubba, through the use of sound rather than word, perfectly encapsulates the sinking feeling the neutral has when United cruise towards a predictable victory.
However, if Blackburn Rovers take the lead at Stamford Bridge, the difference in tone is marked. “WHHOOOOOOOOAAAAHHH!!! Blackburn, tiny little Blackburn Rovers, have scored! At Stamford Bridge!! WHOOOOOOAAHH! What a story unfolding here!”.
The difference is subtle, but brilliant. And that’s what makes Tony so special. (JP)
5. Jon Champion
In all walks of life there seem to be those that are underappreciated, who’s talents go unrecognised to the wider audience. Always stuck in the back, carrying out the hard work whilst far less able bodies seem to get all the credit; what’s the expression? Always the bridesmaid never the bride... Mr. Champion (a great name if ever there was one) always seemed to be one of those guys; providing a damn fine job whilst others got the credit.
Working on MOTD in the late 90’s, Champion always seemed relegated to Sheffield Wednesday vs. Coventry City whilst Motson et al got to swan off to place like Old Trafford. Again, working at ITV he had to play as somewhat of a third wheel to the ever terrible, ever awful gruesome twosome of Clive Tyldsley and Peter Drury, something that no man should have to put up with. When he finally got the big call up, after years of misuse and secured himself lead role on Setanta what should happen? Bloody company goes bust.
Still, he finally seems to be getting that recognition as the frontman at ESPN and he performed very well at the recent World Cup, even if he was again thrust somewhat into the background as the likes of Drury and Tyldsley patronised the African continent as if they were a 3 week old puppy. The good thing about Champion (although maybe the thing that has held him back) is that he is prepared to criticise, prepared to call things how he sees it. If a player is performing badly, then he comes right out and says it. In a cracking line which I’m liberally going to steal, very much a man that calls a spade a “tool wot’s used for digging”. (MS)
No comments:
Post a Comment