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From: cccallan@ucdavis.UUCP (Allan McKillop)
Newsgroups: net.sport
Subject: Re: tennis commentators
Message-ID: <270@ucdavis.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 9-Nov-85 19:53:58 EST
Article-I.D.: ucdavis.270
Posted: Sat Nov  9 19:53:58 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 10-Nov-85 10:21:27 EST
References: <233@ucdavis.UUCP> <580@ihlpm.UUCP>
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Organization: University of California, Davis
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> Blah, blah, blah...: I do have a great number of other good
> topics I'd love to dicuss: extravagant costs of junior tennis,
> disgust with Bud Collins, etc, but work+school...
> 

hmm, i personally try not to let such insignificant things as school
and work get in the way of usenet...:-)

anyway, i think this brings up an interesting point: among tennis
commentators, who do you like and dislike?  i'll start with my
good/bad list.

Favorites:
	Dick Enberg - when he doesn't try to get too cute with collins,
		      he does a superb job.  i love him at wimbledon,
		      and the french.
	Cliff Drysdale - very intelligent.  knows his stuff, and he has
			 the ability to get the info to the audience.
	Virginia Wade - yeah, i know i am going to take a lot of flack
			on this one, but i happen to like her.  she still
			plays enough to be humble when talking about
			martina or chris when they miss a shot.  she is
			even better on the BBC during wimbledon when she
			isn't forced to constantly chatter to fill dead air.
	Dan Maskell - not really widely watched here in the states unless you
		      watch wimbledon on HBO or remember the old Brannif
		      World of Doubles telecasts that used to be in syndication.
		      i wish more of the american commentators could be like
		      him.  just wishful thinking, i guess...

Most Hated: (where, oh where do i start?!?!)
	Tony Trabert - constantly talks down to the players ("you know, newk,
		       i don't know WHY they try that shot.") except when
		       jimmy or john are in the booth, then it's nothing
		       but mindless compliments.  he is just too wrapped up
		       in himself, and his past history in the game.
	John Newcombe - did i say trabert is wrapped up in his own self
			importance?  sorry, newk takes the cake here!  we
			are always being forced to listen to "well, when the
			aussies were #1 we did/didn't do this or that".  I just
			want to scream "newk, you never had a backhand, so
			shut up!"
	Joanne Russell - send her to broadcasting school.
	Pat Sumerall - he should stick to football.  i don't care if the man
		       used to be a ranked junior in florida, he doesn't know
		       how to commentate a tennis match.
	Stan Smith - send him out to get a personality.
	Authur Ashe - far too wishy-washy to be a good commentator.  when
		      was the last time you remembered something he said for
		      more than the next two points?
	Howard Cosell - i will be glad the day ABC pulls out of tennis coverage
			all together.  howard is soooo bad, i won't go into
			it here.  it would be like shooting a caged animal,
			far too easy.

The rest:

well, you might have noticed the lack of the name of Bud Collins.  you see,
i don't think he is among the best, but (um, well, er...) i kinda like him.
he knows his stuff (he is the first person i ever heard tout sabatini as the
next wunderkind of tennis).  you just have to suffer through "the angelic
assassin", "Mac the Knife", "the Ice Maiden" and who could ever forget
"Count Dracula" (Ian Tiriac)?  i guess i just think that his good points
(his tennis knowledge) outweighs his bad ones (his tv personality).

so, lets hear other peoples opinions!  mike, you can take a few minutes off
to tell me why you hate bud, can't you?  and the rest of you, speak up!
lets get some discussions going!

-- 

Allan McKillop
(...ucbvax!ucdavis!deneb!cccallan)

"Where there's a will, there's a relative..."