RIP Paul Sherwin

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Kevin M.

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Dec 3, 2018, 8:55:04 PM12/3/18
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Most won’t recognize the name, but odds are you heard his voice if you watch Le Tour de France. Cyclist turned broadcaster, he was well liked and respected by his peers. 

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Kevin M. (RPCV)

Bob Jersey

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Dec 4, 2018, 9:13:42 AM12/4/18
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The younger (by 10+ yrs) of that iconic duo with Phil Liggett... ISTR reading he'd cut back on other events in recent years due to health issues, but still continued to do TdFs and Olympics.

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Adam Bowie

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Dec 4, 2018, 9:34:45 AM12/4/18
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I was thoroughly knocked by this when I heard the news yesterday morning. Paul Sherwen and Phil Liggett had been the voices of Tour de France coverage from the very first time it got properly covered back in the eighties. At the time it was a UK-only thing, but in due course they were the main voices for the English speaking world including the US, Australia and South Africa.

While I've been critical in the past here about them perhaps continuing on a little too long, and the UK now has its own commentary team (as does Australia I believe), they were still much loved. Paul and Phil were still heard in the UK on feeds of some other international races like the Tour Down Under or Tour of California.

Earlier this year I rode a sportive cycle event at which Phil saw us away on the start line. He had been due to ride himself, but illness prevented it (it was a grey wet day. I got soaked to the skin. It was probably a smart move not to ride). However the event was in part to raise money for Helping Rhinos, a charity that does conservation work in Uganda, and that both he and Paul Sherwen supported. So Phil, who lives nearby, was standing there on the line in a Helping Rhinos t-shirt seeing us all off.

Paul always came across as just a thoroughly nice man, and it's been lovely reading some of the kind words people have posted on social media and cycling websites. His voice will be sorely missed.


Adam

On Tue, Dec 4, 2018 at 2:13 PM 'Bob Jersey' via TVorNotTV <tvor...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

The younger (by 10+ yrs) of that iconic duo with Phil Liggett... ISTR reading he'd cut back on other events in recent years due to health issues, but still continued to do TdFs and Olympics.

B

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Kevin M.

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Dec 15, 2018, 3:49:08 AM12/15/18
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Sherwin's memorial will be in Feb.

I suspect it will be very well attended.

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Kevin M. (RPCV)

Adam Bowie

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Feb 7, 2019, 5:17:27 AM2/7/19
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The memorial was yesterday, although sadly I was unable to attend it. 

ITV Cycling produced this nice video which is on their Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/itvcycling/status/1093155288109248512


Adam Bowie

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Jul 17, 2019, 4:51:39 PM7/17/19
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Here's what ITV ran yesterday during their first rest day coverage.



Adam

Kevin M.

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Jul 17, 2019, 5:47:34 PM7/17/19
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On Wed, Jul 17, 2019 at 1:51 PM Adam Bowie <ad...@adambowie.co.uk> wrote:
Here's what ITV ran yesterday during their first rest day coverage.

Unfortunately ITV videos aren’t able to be viewed in the US

I’ve been watching Le Tour on the NBC Sports app again this year. They did a nice tribute to Paul at the start of both Le Tour and the Tour of California.

Bobke has joined Phil in the broadcast booth. He’s good, but it’s a different rhythm and chemistry. Frequently, he’s struggling to find things to say and isn’t paying attention to Phil, so Bob repeats things Phil had said moments earlier. 

The biggest gaffe, however, occurred when Lance Armstrong was brought in to offer his thoughts on the race, and he said “Good morning Phil and Paul...” Bob’s face at that moment was priceless. 

I predict two or three years before Lance is in the broadcast booth full time. 


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Kevin M. (RPCV)

Bob Jersey

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Jul 18, 2019, 11:41:33 AM7/18/19
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Kevin M., to Adam Bowie, in part, Wed. (7/18):
Bobke has joined Phil in the broadcast booth. He’s good, but it’s a different rhythm and chemistry. Frequently, he’s struggling to find things to say and isn’t paying attention to Phil, so Bob repeats things Phil had said moments earlier. 

The biggest gaffe, however, occurred when Lance Armstrong was brought in to offer his thoughts on the race, and he said “Good morning Phil and Paul...” Bob’s face at that moment was priceless. 


Didn't seem to me like Roll even reacted to that, but...


I predict two or three years before Lance is in the broadcast booth full time. 

Good shot at that, I agree...

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Adam Bowie

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Jul 18, 2019, 12:38:08 PM7/18/19
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On Wed, Jul 17, 2019 at 10:47 PM Kevin M. <drunkba...@gmail.com> wrote:

The biggest gaffe, however, occurred when Lance Armstrong was brought in to offer his thoughts on the race, and he said “Good morning Phil and Paul...” Bob’s face at that moment was priceless. 

I predict two or three years before Lance is in the broadcast booth full time. 


Is having Armstrong on really a smart move for NBC Sports? If Eurosport or ITV employed him, I'd be letting them know very firmly of my views, and stop watching. 

A brief Twitter search of "Armstrong" and "NBCSports" suggests I'm not alone: https://twitter.com/search?q=armstrong%20nbcsports&src=typed_query&f=live 

I don't think Tour owners, ASO would even allow him anywhere near the race - let alone in the booth - because of his lifetime ban. Even paying him for his contributions remotely could put NBC Sports in breach (they have reportedly said that he was unpaid).

There obviously are plenty of ex-dopers doing TV work. Pretty much any cyclist from that generation was probably caught up. David Millar does co-commentary on ITV and he's an admitted doper who served his time and came back reformed. But Armstrong leaves an awful lot of unpleasantness in his wake beyond simply doping.

Adam

Kevin M.

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Jul 18, 2019, 12:46:57 PM7/18/19
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I don’t think it is smart, but Phil loves Armstrong and will probably go to his grave believing Lance is innocent of all charges, so he won’t mind.

In the US, notoriety and fame are sadly synonymous. It doesn’t matter that Armstrong is known for cheating, he is known, and most Americans can’t name any other professional cyclists... if he can get people’s attention and get people talking about the broadcasts, I think NBC Sports would consider it a win. 

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Kevin M. (RPCV)

PGage

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Jul 18, 2019, 12:51:55 PM7/18/19
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Agreed. Armstrong’s unforgivable sin is not that he was a doper and a liar (he was part of a complex web of deceit and marginal practice that includes large sponsors and media corporations). His sin is that he was such a manipulative, vindictive self righteous and unrepentant asshole about it. Dude is radioactive and will stain the reputation and credibility of any broadcast he is part of. Look for OJ doing SNF right after Lance joins a regular cycling booth

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Bob Jersey

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Jul 18, 2019, 2:31:58 PM7/18/19
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Adam Bowie, today (7/18):

I don't think Tour owners, ASO would even allow him anywhere near the race - let alone in the booth - because of his lifetime ban. Even paying him for his contributions remotely could put NBC Sports in breach (they have reportedly said that he was unpaid).

There obviously are plenty of ex-dopers doing TV work. Pretty much any cyclist from that generation was probably caught up. David Millar does co-commentary on ITV and he's an admitted doper who served his time and came back reformed. But Armstrong leaves an awful lot of unpleasantness in his wake beyond simply doping.

This piece last week from "CyclingNews" says that (1) Armstrong was not paid, and (2) the intl cycling federation doesn't regard the interview as a violation of the ban.


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