Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site nvuxb.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!pyuxww!pyuxv!nvuxa!nvuxb!pss From: pss@nvuxb.UUCP (P.Schroeder) Newsgroups: net.sport Subject: Tennis Commentators Message-ID: <195@nvuxb.UUCP> Date: Tue, 12-Nov-85 16:54:21 EST Article-I.D.: nvuxb.195 Posted: Tue Nov 12 16:54:21 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 13-Nov-85 21:04:18 EST Organization: Bell Communications Research, Red Bank, NJ Lines: 122 Aside from a test, this is my first posting to the net. I have read, with considerable interest, the recent articles on tennis commentators and players' rankings, and would like to share some of my ideas on these subjects. I'll start with the commentators, leaving players' rankings for a later article. CBS: Brent Musberger - Musberger's role with CBS's tennis coverage (e.g., the U.S. Open) is to act as "host", a function he performs quite well. A couple of years ago, he treated tennis like "The NFL Today" with his well-known front-runner hype; however, I thought he did a good job at the U.S. Open this year. Pat Summerall - Summerall is much better at football than tennis, but he is a real professional and quietly does a pretty good job. Maybe he just sounds good to me because he usually works with Trabert. Tony Trabert - Trabert is terrible, and I was very disappointed that his contract with CBS was renewed. Aside from his excessive criticism of many of the players, he has been an apologist for McEnroe's abominable behavior. In addition, his overall pro-American bias is quite evident. John Newcombe - Newcombe is even more critical of players than Trabert, but, otherwise, I can tolerate him more. It's clear to me that Newcombe hasn't been doing his homework though, and I don't look for him to last with CBS much longer (maybe they'll hire Connors to replace him). Virginia Wade - Wade doesn't offer much substance but, with her clipped British accent, sounds good saying nothing. NBC: Dick Enberg - Much like Summerall, Enberg is a solid professional. However, while he appreciates and conveys the traditions of the French Open and Wimbledon, his lack of tennis knowledge is evident. Consequently, he panders to Bud Collins. Bud Collins - Collins is certainly the most controversial tennis commentator and for good reason - he is both awful and excellent. Collins covered tennis when nobody else in the U.S. was and for that we owe him a debt of gratitude. Also, his knowledge of the game and its players is formidable. However, his constant blathering and attempts at humor trivialize the matches. In general, I feel that NBC's coverage focuses too much on player personalities instead of strategy and shot-making. Stan Smith - Smith is knowledgeable but colorless. He is best suited to a third-man role in the booth. Joann Russell - Russell speaks well but has even less to say than Virginia Wade. ABC: Howard Cosell - Cosell knows almost nothing about tennis. He's a joke. Arthur Ashe - Clearly, Ashe is knowledgeable and reasonably articulate. However, his role with the U.S. Davis Cup team clouds his judgment, especially with regard to McEnroe. ESPN: Jim Simpson - Simpson hasn't been doing tennis this year and that's fortunate for us; he's a professional but has little knowledge about tennis. Cliff Drysdale - Drysdale is among the best tennis commentators. Not only is he knowledgeable and articulate, he is not afraid to take a stand. Fortunately, Drysdale seems to have taken over from Simpson as ESPN's main play-by-play commentator. Fred Stolle - Stolle isn't a polished commentator, but he knows tennis and the players. Perhaps he is a little too close to the players to be totally objective. USA: Al Trautwig - Trautwig is my personal favorite among play-by-play commentators. He is professional, articulate, knows the game pretty well, takes a stand, and knows how to use the color commentators. Unfortunately, he left USA after the French Open this year to go to ABC (with any luck, he'll take over from Cosell). Donald Dell - Dell is a walking portfolio of conflicting interests with managing players, promoting tournaments, as well as serving as a commentator. Even so, I like him as a color commentator. It's clear that he knows tennis and the players; unfortunately, he does show favoritism towards his own clients. Barry McKay - Like Dell, McKay has some conflicting interests going. However, I think McKay is one of the best around, especially at player interviews. At the U.S. Open this year, he was doing coverage for both USA and CBS and doing it well. Bob McDonald - McDonald took Trautwig's slot for the U.S. Open coverage this year and did all right. He was a let-down after Trautwig but USA could have done worse (and, in fact, did at the Seiko Super Series last month - the guy who did play-by-play was an embarrassment). Mary Carillo - Carillo is the best of the women commentators. She knows tennis and the players, and conveys her ideas well. My only complaint is that she seems too chummy with some of the women players, especially Martina (with whom she wrote a book). Also, she seems to serve as McEnroe's PR person. Steve Flink - Flink isn't a polished commentator and serves as a third-man in the booth for USA as well as MSG; however, he is a walking encyclopedia of tennis facts and history. I really enjoy his contributions. Finally, this is how I rank these networks on their coverage of tennis: 1 - ESPN 2 - USA 3 - CBS 4 - NBC 5 - ABC