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Coffee 7:30 Mon Jul 13
Sports commentary on the radio

There are few things better than football or cricket being described by a skilled commentator.

Growing up when there was very little football on TV - and hardly any lives games - Radio 2 was the go-to place for midweek evenings and Saturday afternoons. Their commentators had what their TV counterparts didn't need - a fantastic ability not just to paint pictures of the action that you could almost see in your mind, and to build tension and excitement.

Cricket commentary is a different beast, a comfortable day of consequential and often inconsequential chat interspersed with wickets and runs.

You can look away from a televised game and usually not miss much. The radio pulls you in and keeps you there like an addict even when there's not much happening.

Long live the wireless.

wanstead_hammer 8:37 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

Yeh, well said Coffee.
I remember listening to midweek games on radio 2 back in the day. (was one commentator Alan Green?). It always seemed to be the Mancs on in midweek, even then!). Was good to use your imagination and picture the action. And you could hear the crowd/songs live and uncensored. Haha.
Still listen to games now and again.

Tomshardware 8:39 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

I've always liked listening to games on the wireless.

blueeyed.handsomeman 9:06 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

i agree with Brother Coffees view of radio

its the cats whiskers.

i bet the poster geffy piko disagrees

Sven Roeder 9:09 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

I find listening to our games on the radio too stressful as I always imagine the other team are right on top of our goal.
Plus there is the real possibility Robbie Savage might appear at some point.

How have Welsh football broadcasters gone from Peter Jones to Robbie Savage?
As a kid in Australia probably mid 70’s my brother & I used to try and tune an old radio into the BBC World Service where they would run through scores in the first half and then do the second half commentary usually with Peter Jones and/or Bryon Butler.
Wonderful commentators with the sound swooping in and out.

wanstead_hammer 9:16 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

They’re the ones Sven. Their dolcet tones describing a game on a cold, clear winters night.
Proper jumpers for goalposts stuff!

Mex Martillo 9:24 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

Yes, was the only way and very enjoyable. I would love and have tried to have both TV and radio, but difficult to have them in sync.

Crassus 9:40 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

Sven
Well said and cap doffed for Jones and Butler, was trying to remember those two
There was a Lorenzo too, Mike or Peter, can't recall which, covered a lot of ours and always appeared to be favourable, bit like the great Brian Moore on itv

Sniper 9:46 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

I think the key phrase is ‘skilled’

Far too many ex pros just walking into commentary and punditry jobs on the radio now, Who seem to have never heard a game commentated on before and have no clue what they are doing (and I don’t just mean the female commentators)

But get some quality and skilled commentators and things like TMS are superb

Sven Roeder 9:47 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

Peter Lorenzo was the other one I was trying to remember
Father of West Ham fan Matt Lorenzo who used to be on ITV
Haven’t seen him on tv for a long time

Coffee 9:51 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

Sven Roeder 9:47 Mon Jul 13

Used to see him at Upton Park from time to time.

Manuel 9:52 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

Use to enjoy it back when, like pretty much everyone else. Use to like listening to that old nonce from it's a knockout at 5pm, with the upbeat theme tune, when you got back in the car after a game.

It's true that Cricket is the best sport to listen to on the wireless, not sure if there is a defining reason for that, probably the breaks between each ball being bowled.

Commentating on the radio and tv are definitely different skills, as in how the listener relates to it, Jonathan Pearce is a good example of being good on the radio and not so much on the box. It's easy to differentiate between the two, as if you have the box on and go for a shit but can still hear the commentator it's just a totally different experience than the radio, it's basically shit (no pun intended) and you can't really make out what is going on, hence the rush to finish your dump and head back to the sofa.

Coffee 9:56 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

Manuel 9:52 Mon Jul 13

Are you saying that if you have the radio on and you go for a shit, you can't hear the commentary?

Manuel 9:58 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

No. I no longer listen to football on the radio.

Takashi Miike 10:41 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

I was a big fan of jonathan pearce when he was on capital gold. his enthusiasm really brought games to life and it was great hearing bobby alongside him

BRANDED 10:49 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

I prefer listening to radio commentary except for certain games. Jonathan Pearce is on the BBC radio 5 some times.

VickyPkVillageIdiot 10:54 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

I listen to a lot of games on 5Live and Talksport and the commentaries are generally far superior to televised broadcasts.

However yesterday I was listening to the Villa game and had to turn it off cos they had some high-pitched bint commentating.

Darlo Debs 10:56 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

Football works well and i can see the appeal of cricket on the radio, but golf ......WHY? What's the point

I actually still listen to football most games unless a mate lends me his login for streaming.

Darlo Debs 11:02 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

Vicky, was it Jackie Oatley?

I Oatleys voice is like finger nails down a blackboard..

VickyPkVillageIdiot 11:11 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

Debs, I think it was Vicki Sparks.

The same bird Moyes threatened to slap.

Huggie 11:46 Mon Jul 13
Re: Sports commentary on the radio

I prefer radio and usually listen to radio commentary and watch the TV with sound down. Radio tends to be less biased towards big teams and has less of an agenda. Also, they don't try to say all games are exciting and call it a stinker if it is and find other ways to entertain the listener.

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