She needs a vocal coach or something. It almost spoilt the women's 800m final for me. She is always crackling or not pronouncing things, skipping over names like she's scared to pronounce or say them. And the nervous laughing. Why does the BBC have her on commentating? I don't know if she's really nervous or that's just how she talks but it just doesn't seem very natural?
I agree, but that's what you get when the system produces non controversial athletes trained never to speak out. She literally checks everything she says do as to sound sufficiently bland and uncontroversial.
Maybe they need some new commentators. I know it's difficult to get right. Just someone a bit more fresh, enthusiastic and exciting.
I don't find what she says so bad, it's more how she says it, i.e. the weird breathy way of saying things.
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Tired of TV wrote:
I agree, but that's what you get when the system produces non controversial athletes trained never to speak out. She literally checks everything she says do as to sound sufficiently bland and uncontroversial.
Although she did defend AlSal saying he shouldn't have been banned (if I recall correctly)
It's the same old story. Retired athletes get hired as commentators. Being a great athlete and a great commentator is an extremely rare combination.
It has always been thus. I recently listened to a recording of Walter "Big Train" Johnson calling a Washington Senators game in 1939. He was one of the greatest pitchers in history. Guess what? He's not a very good announcer.
Hard to pull off the career double wrote:
It's the same old story. Retired athletes get hired as commentators. Being a great athlete and a great commentator is an extremely rare combination.
Indeed. When I was growing up, I didn't even realise most of the commentators I heard were ex-players/athletes.
Another one I cannot stand listening to is Shalane Flanagan - very nasal, high-pitched accent.
She is not a great commentator but as she is the greatest female distance runner of all time I think we should cut her some slack.
God Save the Queen.
Hard not to crackle or mispronounce when your head is bobbing up and down
Greatest female distance runner of all time? What kind of joke is this?
Poor attempt at trolling.
She's the greatest WHITE female distance runner of all time.
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She mentioned losing her voice while providing commentary on BBC day 2 T&F. She has assumed the role of simply filling the blanks when Steve Cram needs to re-load. She’ll come to form for the Olympic finale MARATHON and re-gain control.
Read somewhere Mara Yamauchi will provide commentary for race walk and marathon but perhaps for another network (Eurosport, Sky?)
Hutchings and Yamauchi are an excellent duo and key off each other perfectly. DOHA 2019
Radcliffe is not very smart and has to constantly check herself lest she give away any of the sordid details she knows.
Marauchi is way better / more credible.
Tired of TV wrote:
I agree, but that's what you get when the system produces non controversial athletes trained never to speak out. She literally checks everything she says do as to sound sufficiently bland and uncontroversial.
Steve Cram and analyst Michael Johnson are as good as anyone out there. Radcliffe doesn't even understand the sport outside of her experience in it very well. Plus she sounds really terrible.
drtoneill wrote:
Radcliffe is not very smart and has to constantly check herself lest she give away any of the sordid details she knows.
Marauchi is way better / more credible.
Oh she's certainly smart She has a double first in French and German from university and has been astute enough to buy herself a residence in Monaco.
She genuinely does suffer from asthma so this might explain the commentary.
Personally though I would prefer if the BBC actually permitted commentators a little more freedom to express themselves. They have threatened to report any viewers commenting online about the Laurel Hubbard controversy to the authorities, which is actually quite sinsiter.
Michael Johnson isn't that well informed about some of the women's middle distance runners either!
tiny pony wrote:
She needs a vocal coach or something. It almost spoilt the women's 800m final for me. She is always crackling or not pronouncing things, skipping over names like she's scared to pronounce or say them. And the nervous laughing. Why does the BBC have her on commentating? I don't know if she's really nervous or that's just how she talks but it just doesn't seem very natural?
Try to leave a bit more space at the top of your post next time.
Why?
I believe it could be because she is also quite a bad asthmatic
JAKOB INTERVIEW : He said he felt so good that he misjudged his own opening
Kerr only lost to Hocker because Jakob cut Kerr off in the final 100m...
Kerr congratulated Hocker even though he was devastated. Jakob just sulked off the track.