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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