Latest news with #commentary
Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Every sport fan thinks they could be a commentator, so I gave it a go
'Okay commentators… one minute until commentary… 'Commentators - 30 seconds until start of commentary - stand by… 'Cue count into the start of commentary in…10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 until the cue…4, 3, 2, 1…cue commentary.' And with those words ringing in my ears at Ashton Gate – and after a brief moment where I thought I might have been in too deep – I pressed the microphone to my mouth, and my first experience of live commentary began. It is worth clarifying two points at this juncture. Although I was commentating live on Bristol's victory over Harlequins last Saturday, in conjunction with TNT Sports, the audio was not available to the public; so everyone was spared my mumblings and mutterings during the instances when getting words out might have been easier said than done (more on that to come). Nor am I set to appear on TNT Sports's broadcasts any time soon – you're stuck with me at Telegraph Sport for the foreseeable! Every fan across every sport has always questioned the difficulty of matchday commentary; a dream job for so many. So, the aim of this project was to find out just how tricky and demanding the art of commentary truly is by having an authentic experience in the role at a live fixture. This all began earlier in the season when a senior executive at TNT Sports was explaining just how hard commentary and punditry really is. He was singing the praises of the likes of Austin Healey, Ben Kay and – more recently – Chris Ashton and Sam Warburton for how smoothly that troupe had turned their hands to punditry after hanging up their playing boots. There was only one way to verify this. And, over a two-hour period commentating at Ashton Gate, I can confirm it really is incredibly difficult. The timing is militaristic, the language is incomprehensible to the untrained ear (me), and the assault on the senses is ferocious. While commentating last Saturday, with the match unfolding in front of me, I had nine voices in my ears, through the same pair of headphones: the television director, the producer, the PA (production assistant), the referee, TNT's actual pundits, my own voice, and the sounds of the crowd around the stadium. It was like listening to a nine-part vocal harmony, all out of sync and, crucially, not in harmony, while also trying to offer clean and crisp commentary of my own. Thankfully, I had been well prepped and briefed by the avuncular Ali Eykyn and the wider TNT team. I had done my pre-match prep, had been sent all of the broadcaster's preview material – detailing every stat under the sun, from the amount of caps a certain player has won almost to what car they drive and what they ate for breakfast – and I was ready to masquerade as a commentator for the day. My notes were ready, but sadly I was unable to mirror the colour-coded fastidiousness of Eykyn's colleague, Nick Mullins.'I hope it goes well, mate,' Eykyn said just before the match kicked off. 'Just not too well!,' he added, jokingly. The last-minute advice from both him and the BBC's rugby correspondent, Chris Jones, was invaluable. How it went, Telegraph Sport readers can be the judge. But one final plea, given it was my first ever live broadcast, with no dress rehearsal: please, go easy on me. Charles's introduction After all the build-up, being talked through my own miniature sound system to adjust the levels of all the different voices as well as making sure that my set-up was in order, the PA's countdown began. I had a television screen with live footage to my right, my notes in front of me, my iPad giving me live stats as well as the scores from elsewhere on the Premiership's final day – an added, unique complication – as well as some notes from my chat with Eykyn. On that notepad read bits of advice like 'talk to the pictures' and 'the voices in your head will be complicated'. I had listened to the director and the PA exchange phrases like 'is that 45 you're changing?', 'same again please but the bat cam' and 'cameras Mata and Randall we will back up' and now it was time for me to speak. After a nervy start, with voice wobbling, I got into a sort of rhythm, but you can see in the below clip that I forgot one of Eykyn's golden rules: talk to the pictures. When the Bristol starting XV flashes up, I am still banging on blindly about Bristanbul. For full disclosure, I do still manage to fit in a run-through of the Bears' line-up, but it is horribly rushed, with me giving my best impression of an auctioneer. Bristol open scoring This try came at the end of a set of Bristol phases where, until George Kloska had barged over, Harlequins did well to stifle the Bears' momentum and slow them down. All of my energy and flow for the Bristol attack had been used up earlier in the move, with one of those dashing first-phase plays which the Bears love so much. Thankfully, by the time Kloska drives over, I remember I need to sound excited again. There is a real ebb and flow to commentary; it can go from a high to a low very swiftly. Murley scores wonder try This was the clip I was most concerned about re-watching. That is because I realised that, when you are commentating on something of this ilk – a wonder score – in the moment, you never think or realise that the conclusion of the play might end up being a try of the season contender, with the footage replayed over and over again. And there is no chance of re-recording it. You only get one shot. So, before re-watching and listening, I just hoped I had done Cadan Murley justice. I think I just about did, even if there was a little bit of hesitation in my voice as I tripped over a word when Murley rounded the last Bristol defender. And the delivery of 'out of nothing' sounds like an Alan Partridge impersonation, which was not too encouraging. For reference, here is how the real thing sounded... Scorch marks, EVERYWHERE 💨 Harlequins aren't done yet as Cadan Murley produces one of the finishes of the season 🃏 #GallagherPrem | #BRIvHAR — Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) May 31, 2025 Bristol score again If my voice went higher than this in the whole game, then I'd like to hear it. One contender might have been when Quins broke from the restart in the second half to continue a spirited if temporary fightback, when it looked as though the visitors might blow the play-off race wide open, but this was certainly up there in terms of drama, after a sweeping Bristol attack had taken the Bears to within metres of the Quins line. Then, inexplicably, when Bristol actually score, I decide that that is the time for nonchalance. Admittedly, it was a walk-in for Gabriel Ibitoye, but come on, Charles, where is the excitement? This was also the try that launched Ibitoye back into the reckoning for the Premiership's top try-scorer, too, which I simply just... forgot to mention at any point. Sorry, Gabriel. Mixing up 'minutes' and 'metres' is a real blot on the copybook, too. Schoolboy. Bristol kill the game Well, I am pleased that I managed to correctly identify James Williams in this score but unfortunately that came after spending most of the first half getting mixed up between him and Noah Heward (of course, I know the difference between the two, but from a distance, with just one crack at it, with no replays, there was sometimes guesswork at play). I also apologise to Harlequins fans for totally writing them off at this stage – that was just sporting instinct. That try felt as though it was the end of a Bristanbul part-two dream, but if the visitors had come back there would have been a significant amount of egg on my face. Play-off line-up confirmed Eykyn's advice is prescient once again. Max Lahiff looks delighted, Pat Lam hugged his assistant coaches, Bristol fans clap their side off after semi-final rugby is secured – and I mention none of it. I didn't even mention The Wurzels! I also said 'south west' twice but the second time was supposed to be 'west country' but the phrase just escaped me entirely at that moment. At least I got the Bears' play-off opponents correct, however. What I learnt... Reflecting on my afternoon at Ashton Gate, the experience undoubtedly opened my eyes to the complex and arcane art of commentary, giving me a newfound appreciation of the mental and verbal juggling. While I was commentating on live action, the PA would be informing both myself and Ali that there is a replacement on the way, giving the numbers of the departing and arriving players. Then, seconds later, the director would say that Austin needed to talk through a try at Exeter, who were hosting play-off-hunting Sale that day, before coming back to Ben to talk through a maul intricacy at Ashton Gate. Then the referee will be having an interesting chat with Harry Randall about the cleanliness of the ball he is receiving at the ruck, and you'd have to both identify that and, crucially, shut up. There is an awful lot going on, but the experience was exhilarating (and equally as mentally fatiguing). I might not be the next John Motson or Barry Davies, but my afternoon with the mic will stay with me for many years to come.
Fox News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Memorial Day Special
As seen on Gutfeld!, the best of Greg's commentary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit James Laverty
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
NBA fans slam 'worst commentator' of all-time' Doris Burke after bizarre World War II joke live on ESPN
ESPN commentator Doris Burke felt the wrath of the internet on Monday night after fans were left underwhelmed by her performance in the booth for the NBA playoffs. Burke, 60, was on the mic for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder, which the latter won to secure a 3-1 series lead. While the game itself was a thriller, some fans claimed their enjoyment was tainted by Burke's commentary, with one particular moment leaving a bad taste. Midway through the game, Burke made a bizarre reference to World War II, when she spoke about the German family history of Isaiah Hartenstein, and French native Rudy Gobert. 'I don't know much about history, but I know the French and German don't like one another,' she began. 'And Rudy says, "Bonjour, Mr Hartenstein! Have a little bit of that left-handed dunk!"' Mike Breen, alongside her in the booth, then jumps in to say: 'What are you trying to start here?' On social media, fans were quick to share their thoughts on Burke's on-air performance, with one writing: 'Doris Burke tonight: 100% Crush on Gobert, 1 WW2 Joke, 134 "Cousin" mentions. WORST COMMENTATOR OF ALL TIME.' Another added: 'SGA clearly got fouled by Rudy Gobert on the arm, but unprofessionally Doris Burke calls SGA a "Free Throw Merchant". There is no way she should be saying this on air, shoutout to RJ [Richard Jefferson] for sticking up and understanding.' A third noted: 'Doris Burke should not have a job as an announcer,' while another said: 'Haven't tweeted in over a year but felt I needed to say how much I hate listening to Doris Burke call these games.' 'I don't know much about history but I know the French and German don't like one another.' - Doris Burke 💀💀💀 — NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) May 27, 2025 Some disagreed, though, with one user coming out in support of the female voice, claiming: 'Doris Burke is a great commentator.' Burke has always been a polarizing voice among sports fans, but ESPN have stuck by her and given her a huge role in this season's NBA playoffs.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Massive loss': Voice of Australian football Simon Hill quits commentary role
Legendary football commentator Simon Hill has announced he is leaving Australia, bringing an end to a decorated career behind the microphone on these shores. Hill announced on Tuesday that this weekend's A-League Grand Final between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory will be the final domestic Australian fixture he commentates. Watch every game of The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. He will call the Socceroos' World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia in June before moving home to the UK. 'As some of you may have seen, Saturdays' Grand Final will be my last A-League match,' Hill wrote on X. 'I have made the decision to return to the UK, where I hope to continue my commentary career (I'm not retiring - can't afford to!). 'I've spent 22 brilliant years in Australia, most of them covering this wonderful, crazy (& at times, infuriating!) competition and I'll miss it & my colleagues at 10, but I feel now is the right time. 'I'll still be around for the WCQ's in June - but a big thank you to everyone in the community who (largely!) accepted me as one of their own. I hope I paid that back by working hard & fighting for this beautiful game that we all love!' Hill told 10 News: 'I feel a pull towards home. My parents are elderly. 'It will be sad (leaving Australia). It's been a huge part of my life.' Over the past two decades, Hill has become known as the voice of Australian football through his calls of the A-League and Socceroos matches and World Cups on Fox Sports and Channel 10. His famous calls include John Aloisi's penalty to send the Socceroos to the 2006 World Cup and Tim Cahill's two goals in a shock win over Japan at that World Cup. He also called Andrew Redmayne's penalty shootout heroics against Peru that secured Australia a spot at the 2022 World Cup, as well as countless A-League classics during the late 2000s and 2010s. Just last weekend, Hill led the praise for Ange Postecoglou after the Tottenham boss became the first Australian manager to win a European Cup. Hill was inundated with messages from Australian football fans thanking him for his contribution to the game Down Under. The official A-League account posted: 'Thank you for your service to the A-Leagues and Australian football, Simon. The voice of countless magic moments in our game. 'Wishing you all the best for your return home.' Sports reporter Mark Gottlieb said: 'This is terribly sad news for Australian football Simon. Thank you for being a great colleague to work with and for being one of the voices of football for much of my life. Good luck mate.' Tennis legend Paul McNamee said: 'Well played Simon… top commentator and voice of reason… thank you for your services to Australian football.' Sebastian Hassett said: 'Well, this is very disappointing news... Simon's been the voice of Australian football for more than 20 years now. 'A most robust advocate for the game and the finest caller we've ever had. Let's hope we're hear him call the Premier League and World Cup finals - he deserves it..' One fan wrote on X: 'Jeez this is up there with losing Les Murray - actually for me it's even more considering you've been here most of my life! 'Good luck with the move back home and thank you for all the memories - you've literally been there for every big moment in Australian football since you've been here.' Another said: 'A massive loss to Australian football. Simon has consistently stood up for the game and its' fans in a way that few people have been brave enough to do. 'Hopefully more people in the UK get to experience his brilliance. Those big A-League games won't be quite the same without him.'
ABC News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Brett Sprigg
Brett always wanted to be a big sports star … or own a big sports bar … or something like that. A handy, though rather pedestrian, left-arm bowler, Brett turned his back on his baggy green ambition to join the Grandstand team firstly as a producer in 2012. Since becoming a full-time commentator in Perth in 2016, he has commentated on AFL, cricket, basketball, soccer, tennis and netball, as well as the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Brett is an avid follower of the East Fremantle Football Club in the WAFL competition where his late father, Trevor, played in the 60s and 70s. He is the youngest of five children all with a keen interest in sport.
