Why Bruce McAvaney sets my teeth on edge
Ruth Ellison
I've just figured it out. The problem with Bruce is that he's
unAustralian. While the rest of us spend the game thinking -- and saying
-- Player X on the opposition team is a first-class wanker and Player Y on
our own team is a no-talent airhead, Bruce is giving us this drivel about
"special" and "the king" and generally implying that we should be
impressed. Channel Seven should instruct all its commentators to stick to
bagging the players at every opportunity. The highlight of the
Port-Sydney game was Doug Hawkins saying "The technical term for that is
DUMB."
--
Ruth Ellison su...@tmx.com.au for 'sufur' read 'rufus'
.sig looking forward to taking The Next Step this season
Sean Connolly
Ruth Ellison wrote in message ...
>I've just figured it out. The problem with Bruce is that he's
>unAustralian. While the rest of us spend the game thinking -- and saying
>-- Player X on the opposition team is a first-class wanker and Player Y on
>our own team is a no-talent airhead, Bruce is giving us this drivel about
>"special" and "the king" and generally implying that we should be
>impressed. Channel Seven should instruct all its commentators to stick to
>bagging the players at every opportunity. The highlight of the
>Port-Sydney game was Doug Hawkins saying "The technical term for that is
>DUMB."
--
IMO (and no doubt 1000's of other footy fans), it's Bruce that's the
first-class wanker (literally when Carey is within 50m of the ball!)
But I think that Ruth has a point here ...
I don't know much about Bruce's background i.e. whether he actually played
the game at any level for any length of time, but he gets (over-)excited
about things that other (shall I call them 'normal') football fans don't.
Does he really know the intricacies of the game? - we all know he can spout
stats from his infamous 'red book' until the cows come home. I've seen/heard
him do athletics, tennis etc. and he does a reasonable job, so why don't Ch.
7 leave him there and let us enjoy footy 'Bruce Free!'
To me there's only a couple of things that ruin an AFL game more than
Bruce's over the top commentary and one of those is Bruce commentating a NM
game - then it's *definitely* TV sound down and radio on for me and my
mates.
I don't want to offend any of the true female fans of our great game, but
Bruce's commentary is like when you decide (in a moment of weakness) to take
your new (football novice) girlfriend to a game and she does nothing but
squeal about "how good looking no. 5 is" or "aren't their
jumpers/shorts/haircuts nice" all game.
In any case, I've been trying to lead the anti-Bruce league (southern
Fremantle suburbs division) for a while now and I was wondering about some
broad opinion from others ...
To gauge public (OK r.s.f.a. & a.s.a-r) opinion why don't we have some sort
of snap poll ...
*** WHO ARE YOUR WORST 3 CH. 7 AFL COMMENTATORS? ***
We could award votes on a 3,2,1 basis and award the "DOWNLOW" (very
appropriate in Bruce's case)
To set the ball rolling my picks are ...
3 votes; Bruce McAvaney (in racing parlance, "by the length of the
straight"!)
2 votes; Tim Watson (for a bloke who played 300+ senior games, he should be
ashamed of himself)
1 vote; Don Scott (nickname "Skeletor". The leather pants do nothing
either!)
If enough people respond, I will tabulate and advise totals, winners etc.
Get your votes in, NOW!
GECKO
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sean T. Connolly, Email: ge...@echidna.id.au
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Casper
Sean Connolly wrote:
> To set the ball rolling my picks are ...
>
> 3 votes; Bruce McAvaney (in racing parlance, "by the length of the
> straight"!)
> 2 votes; Tim Watson (for a bloke who played 300+ senior games, he should be
> ashamed of himself)
> 1 vote; Don Scott (nickname "Skeletor". The leather pants do nothing
> either!)
>
> If enough people respond, I will tabulate and advise totals, winners etc.
>
> Get your votes in, NOW!
3) Dennis Commetti
2)Ross Glendinning
1)Tim Watson
Do I need reasons?
cheers
Casper
Conrad Leviston
Ruth Ellison (su...@tmx.com.au) wrote:
: Channel Seven should instruct all its commentators to stick to
: bagging the players at every opportunity. The highlight of the
: Port-Sydney game was Doug Hawkins saying "The technical term for that is
: DUMB."
I must admit I was surprised by how good a commentator Doug
Hawkins was. While it is no secret that the Hawk's brain does not synapse
at an astounding rate, an impression he seems happy to reinforce, he made
a lot less stupid comments than Dennis Cometti usually manages, and gave
a number of useful observations about the game. Just goes to show you
don't need to be smart to know your footy.
And for the record I like Bruce too. He's a bit of a fan-boy, but
that's part of what I like about him. He appreciates good play.
--
Conrad Leviston | 'Quotation is the refuge of the lame mind'- Confucius
http://yoyo.cc | 'It takes a thief to catch a thief, and for the same
.monash.edu.au | reason it takes a mongoose to catch a snake in the
/~mongoose/ | grass'- Herbert Frond
Alex Connolly
Sean Connolly wrote
>
>*** WHO ARE YOUR WORST 3 CH. 7 AFL COMMENTATORS? ***
>
>We could award votes on a 3,2,1 basis and award the "DOWNLOW" (very
>appropriate in Bruce's case)
>
3. The f...ing umpire (is it Peter Russo). Who wants to know what is going
through a bloody umpires mind unless it is a bullet :)
2. Don Scott (6 games as coach of South Adelaide, 6 losses, sacked,
unfortunately the prick has lasted over 10 years as a Ch 7 commentator -
f...k knows why.
1. Robertson (the old prick who used to play for Carlton)
All these pricks show a strong Victorian bias as do Timmy Watson and Peter
McKenna but I ran out of votes. No that is unfair on McKenna he just has a
full forward bias.
Bruce, Sandy and Dennis (and Drew Morphett for that matter) may be wankers
but at least they show a bit of balance when commenting on interstate teams.
I thought Bruce played at U19 level in the SANFL.
AC
Power Mad
Sean Connolly <ge...@echidna.id.au> wrote>...
>
> *** WHO ARE YOUR WORST 3 CH. 7 AFL COMMENTATORS? ***
>
2 votes - Peter Landy
1 vote - Ian Robertson
Special mention - John Russo
Dean Smith
My three worst ......
3) Sandy Roberts ..... my (already low) opinion of him could never have been
reversed after his efforts on "4 Quarters" ... that disgraceful attempt at a
Friday night football variety show a couple of years back.
2) John Russo ... as if the 3 umpires on the field aren't enough to annoy
you already, they have to put another one up in the commentary box to sprout
more shit at us.
1) Peter McKenna .... nothing against him personally but what the hell is
the point ??? He sits in the outer until they cross to him periodically for
some meaningless banter. What did the poor guy do wrong to deserve that ?
Special Mention to Tim Watson (the smug bastard) and Bruce (for obvious
reasons) and anyone who gets stuck with the task of "video analyst" for the
evening drawing crappy pointless lines on the tv screen.
I nearly cried when channel 9's attempt to obtain the future telecast rights
fell through. We're just overdue for some new faces. I'm not completly
against them all ... but overall you could liken their coverage to
masturbating with a cheese grater ....... slightly entertaining but mostly
painful in the end.
Jason McCracken
3 votes = Sandy "Don't tell me he's kicked it" Roberts.
2 votes = Tim Watson (christ he's annoying.)
1 vote = Kevin Bartlett (It really hurts to say it but KB totally sucked as
commentator)
On the subject of Bruce I don't think he's that bad.
And I'd also like to say that Mick McGuane is doing very well for his first
year. And the article he wrote on Matty Knights helped lift my opinion on
him no end. It's a shame he had to play for the two filthiest teams in the
league.
Jason McCracken
http://www.angelfire.com/ok/designlife/
kin...@state.mi.us
My votes for worst commentators are
3. Sandy Roberts (I don't really know why but I hate his guts) 2. Peter
McKenna (Although he does get credit for his GF call that Jarman be moved to
the forward line) 1. Bruce McAvaney (A footy commentator should love
football - he just loves commentating)
Ben
>Gecko Wrote;
> To gauge public (OK r.s.f.a. & a.s.a-r) opinion why don't we have some sort
> of snap poll ...
>
> *** WHO ARE YOUR WORST 3 CH. 7 AFL COMMENTATORS? ***
>
> We could award votes on a 3,2,1 basis and award the "DOWNLOW" (very
> appropriate in Bruce's case)
>
> To set the ball rolling my picks are ...
>
> 3 votes; Bruce McAvaney (in racing parlance, "by the length of the
> straight"!)
> 2 votes; Tim Watson (for a bloke who played 300+ senior games, he should be
> ashamed of himself)
> 1 vote; Don Scott (nickname "Skeletor". The leather pants do nothing
> either!)
>
> If enough people respond, I will tabulate and advise totals, winners etc.
>
> Get your votes in, NOW!
>
> GECKO
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Sean T. Connolly, Email: ge...@echidna.id.au
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading
kin...@state.mi.us
What happenned to Drew Morphett?
When he used to be on The Winners on ABC
he was great and then Channel 7 bought him and
all of a sudden he sucked - and continues to suck.
Ben
In article <6g23uq$5...@internal.sa.gov.au>,
"Alex Connolly" <Afri...@hello.net.au> wrote:
>
>
> Sean Connolly wrote
> >
> >*** WHO ARE YOUR WORST 3 CH. 7 AFL COMMENTATORS? ***
> >
> >We could award votes on a 3,2,1 basis and award the "DOWNLOW" (very
> >appropriate in Bruce's case)
> >
>
> 3. The f...ing umpire (is it Peter Russo). Who wants to know what is going
> through a bloody umpires mind unless it is a bullet :)
> 2. Don Scott (6 games as coach of South Adelaide, 6 losses, sacked,
> unfortunately the prick has lasted over 10 years as a Ch 7 commentator -
> f...k knows why.
> 1. Robertson (the old prick who used to play for Carlton)
>
> All these pricks show a strong Victorian bias as do Timmy Watson and Peter
> McKenna but I ran out of votes. No that is unfair on McKenna he just has a
> full forward bias.
>
> Bruce, Sandy and Dennis (and Drew Morphett for that matter) may be wankers
> but at least they show a bit of balance when commenting on interstate teams.
> I thought Bruce played at U19 level in the SANFL.
>
> AC
>
>
Shane
On 3 Apr 1998 06:31:00 GMT, mong...@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au (Conrad
Leviston) wrote:
>Ruth Ellison (su...@tmx.com.au) wrote:
>: Channel Seven should instruct all its commentators to stick to
>: bagging the players at every opportunity. The highlight of the
>: Port-Sydney game was Doug Hawkins saying "The technical term for that is
>: DUMB."
>
> I must admit I was surprised by how good a commentator Doug
>Hawkins was. While it is no secret that the Hawk's brain does not synapse
>at an astounding rate, an impression he seems happy to reinforce, he made
>a lot less stupid comments than Dennis Cometti usually manages, and gave
>a number of useful observations about the game. Just goes to show you
>don't need to be smart to know your footy.
I think its called having "a good football brain". Yup, Dougie's
comments were grouse.
> And for the record I like Bruce too. He's a bit of a fan-boy, but
>that's part of what I like about him. He appreciates good play.
I happen to like his enthusiasm. Some of the other commentators seem
to have this "seen it all before" comtemptuous superior attitude.
- Shane
Shane
>IMO (and no doubt 1000's of other footy fans), it's Bruce that's the
>first-class wanker (literally when Carey is within 50m of the ball!)
>But I think that Ruth has a point here ...
>I don't know much about Bruce's background i.e. whether he actually played
>the game at any level for any length of time, but he gets (over-)excited
>about things that other (shall I call them 'normal') football fans don't.
Juniors or something in SA. Some well known players were in the same
team.
>I don't want to offend any of the true female fans of our great game, but
>Bruce's commentary is like when you decide (in a moment of weakness) to take
>your new (football novice) girlfriend to a game and she does nothing but
>squeal about "how good looking no. 5 is" or "aren't their
>jumpers/shorts/haircuts nice" all game.
I think that is too much of a generalisation. I mean, you quote Ruth,
then you have a go at other chicks. Almost everyone who never grew up
in one of the footy states is a novice at some stage. Before anyone
becomes a true believer, they like to relate what they see to what
they're most familiar with. Geeze even Ruth has mentioned haircuts,
yeah yeah.
I'm sure that our Amurikan friends, who probably have never played a
game, might get offended that we think that they can't comment on the
game just because they've never played. You don't have to play to have
a deep admiration for, and understanding of, the game.
>*** WHO ARE YOUR WORST 3 CH. 7 AFL COMMENTATORS? ***
3. Drew Morphett. I don't know why, I don't enjoy his commentary as
much as some of the others.
2. Blighty. For the same reasons as his interviews as coach suck.
Special comments were OK but you just wished the pros were back from
the Olympics.
1. The Flea. See Blighty.
- Shane
Shane
>3 votes = Sandy "Don't tell me he's kicked it" Roberts.
>
>2 votes = Tim Watson (christ he's annoying.)
>
>1 vote = Kevin Bartlett (It really hurts to say it but KB totally sucked as
>commentator)
>
>On the subject of Bruce I don't think he's that bad.
>
>And I'd also like to say that Mick McGuane is doing very well for his first
>year. And the article he wrote on Matty Knights helped lift my opinion on
>him no end. It's a shame he had to play for the two filthiest teams in the
>league.
Mick never played for the Doggies.
- Shane
David Johnson
This is brief but here it is:
3 - Peter McKenna
(spends more time telling us what team a player used to play for than
anything else)
2 - Don Scott
("not like it was in my day")
1 - Ian Robertson
( either hates the National expansion or is just a parochial
Victorian - The Bill Lawry of footy perhaps...
Regards
David Johnson
Dettol
Sean Connolly wrote:
> I don't know much about Bruce's background i.e. whether he actually played
> the game at any level for any length of time, but he gets (over-)excited
> about things that other (shall I call them 'normal') football fans don't.
> Does he really know the intricacies of the game? - we all know he can spout
> stats from his infamous 'red book' until the cows come home. I've seen/heard
> him do athletics, tennis etc. and he does a reasonable job,
er, not when King Carl Lewis is racing.
so why don't Ch.
> 7 leave him there and let us enjoy footy 'Bruce Free!'
>
> To me there's only a couple of things that ruin an AFL game more than
> Bruce's over the top commentary and one of those is Bruce commentating a NM
> game - then it's *definitely* TV sound down and radio on for me and my
> mates.
I think he's OK he just needs tranquilisers and to be kept away from
North Melbourne games. He's certainly better than guys like Roberts
Sandy.
> 3 votes; Bruce McAvaney (in racing parlance, "by the length of the
> straight"!)
> 2 votes; Tim Watson (for a bloke who played 300+ senior games, he should be
> ashamed of himself)
> 1 vote; Don Scott (nickname "Skeletor". The leather pants do nothing
> either!)
3. Peter McKenna
2. Peter McKenna
1. Peter McKenna
Mike
Dettol
or the camry's
Mike
Sean Connolly
Shane wrote in message <352cccb0...@news.ans.com.au>...
[snip]
>>I don't want to offend any of the true female fans of our great game, but
>>Bruce's commentary is like when you decide (in a moment of weakness) to
take
>>your new (football novice) girlfriend to a game and she does nothing but
>>squeal about "how good looking no. 5 is" or "aren't their
>>jumpers/shorts/haircuts nice" all game.
>
>I think that is too much of a generalisation. I mean, you quote Ruth,
>then you have a go at other chicks. Almost everyone who never grew up
>in one of the footy states is a novice at some stage. Before anyone
>becomes a true believer, they like to relate what they see to what
>they're most familiar with. Geeze even Ruth has mentioned haircuts,
>yeah yeah.
At no stage did I want to 'have a go at other chicks'. Possibly what I
should have said was when you watch a match with people (and this includes
on TV with Ch. 7) and they make superfluous comments that are irrelevant to
the play/game. Believe me, females don't have a monopoly on this, Bruce
being my case in point.
>I'm sure that our Amurikan friends, who probably have never played a
>game, might get offended that we think that they can't comment on the
>game just because they've never played. You don't have to play to have
>a deep admiration for, and understanding of, the game.
Again, you might be reading things into my comments that aren't there. I
agree that you don't have to have played the game to have a deep admiration
for, and understanding of, the game, but some experience (be that player,
official, supporter or otherwise) at any level over some period certainly
helps. McAvaney (by his position as head of the football 'team' at Ch. 7 and
the subsequent $'s he gets paid as such) sets himself up as some sort of
'expert' and therefore should be expected to display a greater knowledge and
understanding of the game and it's culture than our 'Amurikan' friends or
football novices.
I trust that no-one did take offense at my original post. If so, it was not
my intent and my unreserved apologies.
Back to the usual tips, analysis, opposition team baiting, player sledging
etc. ...
>- Shane
GECKO
... And don't forget to register your votes for your worst 3 Ch. 7
commentators in the 'DOWNLOW'!
Peter Nevin
Sean Connolly wrote:
> <snip>
> *** WHO ARE YOUR WORST 3 CH. 7 AFL COMMENTATORS? ***
>
> We could award votes on a 3,2,1 basis and award the "DOWNLOW" (very
> appropriate in Bruce's case)
>
> To set the ball rolling my picks are ...
>
> 3 votes; Bruce McAvaney (in racing parlance, "by the length of the
> straight"!)
> 2 votes; Tim Watson (for a bloke who played 300+ senior games, he should be
> ashamed of himself)
> 1 vote; Don Scott (nickname "Skeletor". The leather pants do nothing
> either!)
>
> If enough people respond, I will tabulate and advise totals, winners etc.
>
> Get your votes in, NOW!
>
> GECKO
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Sean T. Connolly, Email: ge...@echidna.id.au
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
3: John Russo - "That should have been a free, the umpire was probably
unsighted"
Every year, Channel 7 insist on miking up the Ansett Cup umpires, which results
in a couple of hours of heavy breathing and "back, back, back, leave him alone,
leave him alone". 7 have finally found a way to take this useless concept one
step further. Adds nothing that anyone who can read a rule book could achieve
on their own.
2: Dennis Cometti - "Could have been a free, nothing doing, you get the feeling
at the present time etc etc"
Former West Perth coach. I've always suspected that Cometti sits in front of
the mirror and practises his one-liners. In the WCE-St Kilda game in the Ansett
Cup, he said "Sierakowski `sharks' the ball" like he'd been waiting all summer
to use the line.
1: Bruce McAvaney - "What a wunnnnnderful kick, Carey, the KING, etc etc"
See Ruth's post. Just too damned gushy. The AFL '98 computer game has an
option where you can turn McAvaney's voice off and just have crowd noises. The
sooner Channel 7 introduces this option, the better.
McAvaney's Olympics performances showed that he can be orgasmic across the
sports spectrum, but he's hardly alone there (remember Mike Gibson's Katarina
Witt infatuation at the Winter Olympics a number of years back?)
Honourable mentions
1: Don Scott. He would have made the list, but it's not nice to pick on the
unwaged.
2: George Griljusich. Used to do a segment on the crap local (WA) footy show,
so he qualifies as a "TV commentator". His performances on ABC radio Sat
mornings were legendary ("You don't like Sumich, that's your opinion and you're
entitled to it, next caller...").
Conrad Leviston
kin...@state.mi.us wrote:
: What happenned to Drew Morphett?
: When he used to be on The Winners on ABC
: he was great and then Channel 7 bought him and
: all of a sudden he sucked - and continues to suck.
Completely agree. Here's my votes.
3: Dennis Cometti. Used to be a succesful coach, but often doesn't appear
to have a particularly good grasp of what's going on.
2: Sandy Roberts. I looked up the word 'bimboy' in the dictionary and
found a picture of him.
1: Drew Morphett. No idea what's changed him, but he does seem very much
to suck.
If it was a matter of the worst commentator of all time I would
have to say Daryl Eastlake. I can forgive people for not understanding
what is going on and I can forgive people for loud mouthing their
opinions, but Daryl does both at the same time and it really pisses me
off. He has ruined more than one sporting event on channel nine for me
with his over-enthusiastic comments that show how completely clueless he
is about what's going on. No matter how bad the commentators are (and of
my list I only truely detest Dennis Cometti), they can't be as bad as
Daryl.
Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.
k...@tnet.com.au
"Dean Smith" <c...@quantum.net.au> wrote:
>
>
>Special Mention to Tim Watson (the smug bastard)
Yeah, what a bastard Timmy Watson was when commentating for
the Eagles v North game. I could have killed that bastard
He could not stop chuckling and chuckling when North won, and
geez did Brucey and all of them get excited when North got
that last goal - they were shall I say a touch biased
Kim :)
ps Fancy North losing to last years wooden spooners, what a laugh
me
3. Tim Watson Was an absolute crap footballer and his commentary is the
same.
2. Drew Morphett. What happened Drew you are now a complete wanker.
1. Tim Watson Ill vote for him twice as he is like two dickheads in the one
body.
Glenn Brady
On 4 Apr 1998 13:50:42 GMT, k...@tnet.com.au wrote:
> >Special Mention to Tim Watson (the smug bastard)
>
> Yeah, what a bastard Timmy Watson was when commentating for
> the Eagles v North game. I could have killed that bastard
> He could not stop chuckling and chuckling when North won, and
> geez did Brucey and all of them get excited when North got
> that last goal - they were shall I say a touch biased
Oh, and Dennis Commetti isn't? So bloody what if a commentator is biased.
They all love the game, it stands to reason that they'd have a favourite
team, and a bias. It's when a commentator pretends s/he _isn't_ biased that
I get pissed off.
The same goes for politics. That fat bastard from channel nine, pretending
he's somehow neutral. What a fraud.
3 votes. Dennis Commetti
2 votes. He's "Special". You know who.
1 vote. Can I vote for radio? Rex bloody Hunt. He's on seven, so he counts.
Just don't let the big woos get hit in the head by a footy though.
.
* Email : gro...@pipeline.com.au * You're Rex Hunt... *
* www.pipeline.com.au/users/groucho * And I'm Not *
* * Thank Ablett! *
PGP Key from:
http://keys.pgp.com:11371/pks/lookup?op=index&search=0xAFF7BFD7
Christopher Fulham
>
>*** WHO ARE YOUR WORST 3 CH. 7 AFL COMMENTATORS? ***
>
>We could award votes on a 3,2,1 basis and award the "DOWNLOW" (very
>appropriate in Bruce's case)
3 Votes : Peter McKenna
2 Votes : Ian Robertson
1 Vote : Drew Morphett
marcus
3. Mc Avaney
2. Roberts
1. Watson............ He grins like a shot fox.....
Speeecial mention....Russo
Ga...@iinet.net.au
.
>
>To gauge public (OK r.s.f.a. & a.s.a-r) opinion why don't we have some sort
>of snap poll ...
>
>
>We could award votes on a 3,2,1 basis and award the "DOWNLOW" (very
>appropriate in Bruce's case)
>
>
>3 votes; Bruce McAvaney (in racing parlance, "by the length of the
>straight"!)
>2 votes; Tim Watson (for a bloke who played 300+ senior games, he should be
>ashamed of himself)
>1 vote; Don Scott (nickname "Skeletor". The leather pants do nothing
>either!)
>
>If enough people respond, I will tabulate and advise totals, winners etc.
>
>Get your votes in, NOW!
>
>GECKO
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>Sean T. Connolly, Email: ge...@echidna.id.au
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
.2. Tim Watson
1. Ross Glendinning
Bateman
I come from Canberra and I've seen the crap that channel 9 put on the
screen for Rugby League. Now the poor bastards don't even get ONE live
coverage of a league game. Channel 9 are pack of bastards. Even though
Rugby League is a shit game it does not deserve channel 9.
Thank christ they didn't get the AFL rights
go Bombers
Mic Cullen
"Sean Connolly" <ge...@echidna.id.au>, far, far away from here, appears to
have written:
[snips]
>Believe me, females don't have a monopoly on this, Bruce
>being my case in point.
You agreeing or disagreeing with yourself here?
cheers,
Mic. Yellow & Black!!!
Mic Cullen
mong...@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au (Conrad Leviston), far, far away from here,
appears to have written:
>Ruth Ellison (su...@tmx.com.au) wrote:
>: Channel Seven should instruct all its commentators to stick to
>: bagging the players at every opportunity. The highlight of the
>: Port-Sydney game was Doug Hawkins saying "The technical term for that is
>: DUMB."
>
> I must admit I was surprised by how good a commentator Doug
>Hawkins was. While it is no secret that the Hawk's brain does not synapse
>at an astounding rate, an impression he seems happy to reinforce, he made
>a lot less stupid comments than Dennis Cometti usually manages, and gave
>a number of useful observations about the game. Just goes to show you
>don't need to be smart to know your footy.
I'm not so sure about that. I think that in reality he's fairly bright.
(Hard to believe if you've only seen him on tv, but read on.) I heard him
interviewed on morning radio here in Perth a few years ago, and he was
*extremely* perceptive and together. I think that the "totally dumb" image
is just so as not to lose his spot on tv.
Mic Cullen
"David Johnson" <dj...@shoalhaven.net.au>, far, far away from here, appears
to have written:
[snips]
>This is brief but here it is:
>
>3 - Peter McKenna
> (spends more time telling us what team a player used to play for than
>anything else)
>
>2 - Don Scott
> ("not like it was in my day")
Sounds like they've both a got a case of "Ian Chappell Syndrome", where the
current team can't possibly compare to the old days.......
3. Russo
2. The ABC radio team in Adelaide. (I've never heard a more biased
mob, except when Brucie is commentating on a NM game.)
1. If it's a NM game, Brucie.
1. George Grizzleguts (Now at 6PR so I never have to hear him anymore)
Ruth Ellison
In article <6g1o4s$q1$1...@news.iinet.net.au>, "Sean Connolly"
<ge...@echidna.id.au> wrote:
> Ruth Ellison wrote in message ...
> >I've just figured it out. The problem with Bruce is that he's
> >unAustralian. While the rest of us spend the game thinking -- and saying
> >-- Player X on the opposition team is a first-class wanker and Player Y on
> >our own team is a no-talent airhead, Bruce is giving us this drivel about
> >"special" and "the king" and generally implying that we should be
> >impressed. Channel Seven should instruct all its commentators to stick to
> >bagging the players at every opportunity. The highlight of the
> >Port-Sydney game was Doug Hawkins saying "The technical term for that is
> >DUMB."
>
> --
>
>
> IMO (and no doubt 1000's of other footy fans), it's Bruce that's the
> first-class wanker (literally when Carey is within 50m of the ball!)
>
> But I think that Ruth has a point here ...
>
> I don't know much about Bruce's background i.e. whether he actually played
> the game at any level for any length of time, but he gets (over-)excited
> about things that other (shall I call them 'normal') football fans don't.
> Does he really know the intricacies of the game? - we all know he can spout
> stats from his infamous 'red book' until the cows come home. I've seen/heard
> him do athletics, tennis etc. and he does a reasonable job, so why don't Ch.
> 7 leave him there and let us enjoy footy 'Bruce Free!'
>
> To me there's only a couple of things that ruin an AFL game more than
> Bruce's over the top commentary and one of those is Bruce commentating a NM
> game - then it's *definitely* TV sound down and radio on for me and my
> mates.
I don't actually have a problem with Bruce himself. I think he's
excellent in the more sedate atmosphere of 'Talking Footy'. I just can't
stand him commentating live on *any* sport. However much Channel Seven
paid John McEnroe, he earned it just for baby-sitting Brucie for a week
and not succumbing to the temptation to toss him out of the box.
>
> I don't want to offend any of the true female fans of our great game, but
> Bruce's commentary is like when you decide (in a moment of weakness) to take
> your new (football novice) girlfriend to a game and she does nothing but
> squeal about "how good looking no. 5 is" or "aren't their
> jumpers/shorts/haircuts nice" all game.
Hey, I resemble that comment. Believe me, the comments about hair in my
previous match report were merely a distillation of a debate involving at
least four people which lasted the entire game. And just be grateful
we've transferred our more shallow discussions to email.
Actually, the only thing I can recall saying the first time I went to an
Aussie Rules game was that I called the umpire the ref...not a mistake I
made twice.
--
Ruth Ellison su...@tmx.com.au for 'sufur' read 'rufus'
.sig just happy to come away with the four points
Alan Maxwell Herlihy
On Mon, 6 Apr 1998, Mic Cullen wrote:
> mong...@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au (Conrad Leviston), far, far away from here,
> appears to have written:
>
> >Ruth Ellison (su...@tmx.com.au) wrote:
> >: Channel Seven should instruct all its commentators to stick to
> >: bagging the players at every opportunity. The highlight of the
> >: Port-Sydney game was Doug Hawkins saying "The technical term for that is
> >: DUMB."
> >
> > I must admit I was surprised by how good a commentator Doug
> >Hawkins was. While it is no secret that the Hawk's brain does not synapse
> >at an astounding rate, an impression he seems happy to reinforce, he made
> >a lot less stupid comments than Dennis Cometti usually manages, and gave
> >a number of useful observations about the game. Just goes to show you
> >don't need to be smart to know your footy.
>
> I'm not so sure about that. I think that in reality he's fairly bright.
> (Hard to believe if you've only seen him on tv, but read on.) I heard him
> interviewed on morning radio here in Perth a few years ago, and he was
> *extremely* perceptive and together. I think that the "totally dumb" image
> is just so as not to lose his spot on tv.
I'm not so sure he's too smart. At one point in the Melbourne vs. North
game, Hawkins said "The Garry Lyon of old would kick this goal" and Gerard
Healy did a little play on words and said something like "But would the old
Garry Lyon?" to which Hawkins said "Yes, the old Garry Lyon would kick this
goal" and he wasn't answering Healy's comment, just repeating his own
earlier comment.
Now, Healy's statement went straight over Hawkins' head, and that can
happen to everyone occasionaly, but Hawkins totally missed the point.
Alan
> Mic. Yellow & Black!!!
David Wareing
> 3. Russo
> 2. The ABC radio team in Adelaide. (I've never heard a more biased
> mob, except when Brucie is commentating on a NM game.)
> 1. If it's a NM game, Brucie.
> 1. George Grizzleguts (Now at 6PR so I never have to hear him anymore)
3. Russo.
2. Russo.
1. Russo.
Nobody else on the commentary team compares to this guy for
his breathtaking backstabbing, fence sitting and stupid "hey, listen
to me everyone!" style of commentary.
For what it's worth, I like Don Scott. He quite often gets things
wrong, and is a little too proud to fix his mistakes, but at least
he says his mind. And hell, he's entertaining.
--
David Wareing dwar...@adelaide.on.net
Macintosh Game Development <www.ambrosiasw.com/~dwareing>
Get Mars Rising: <www.marsrising.com>
David Wareing
In article <01bd6157$dd03ba60$a279...@bateman.dynamite.com.au>, "Bateman"
<bat...@dynamite.com.au> wrote:
Indeed. Channel 9 makes everyone at the Seven commentary team
(Russo included) look like hyper-educated gods of the game. People
in this group can whine and bitch all they like about Special Brucey
but at least Bruce and his pals don't dress up as women.
Herbie
>"David Johnson" <dj...@shoalhaven.net.au>, far, far away from here, appears
>to have written:
>
>[snips]
>
>>This is brief but here it is:
>>
>>3 - Peter McKenna
>> (spends more time telling us what team a player used to play for than
>>anything else)
>>
>>2 - Don Scott
>> ("not like it was in my day")
>
>Sounds like they've both a got a case of "Ian Chappell Syndrome", where the
>current team can't possibly compare to the old days.......
>
>3. Russo
>2. The ABC radio team in Adelaide. (I've never heard a more biased
> mob, except when Brucie is commentating on a NM game.)
>1. If it's a NM game, Brucie.
>1. George Grizzleguts (Now at 6PR so I never have to hear him anymore)
I laughed that you mentioned George Gorrillashit, because when he left the
ABC for 6PR, the ABC's footy ratings exploded while 6PR's plummented.
What a great deal for 6PR; they now have man who never shuts up, can't
think of a good thing to say about anybody, except Matera, who on one
occation was caught holding the ball fairly (he had alread shrugged 2
tackles, but pinged for the 3rd) and all George could do was have a go at
the umpires for making a bad decision.
George is like Wilson "Iron bar" Tuckey; Never shuts up, has a lot of
enemies and carries on like a two year old if he doesn't get things his
way.
>
>cheers,
>
>Mic. Yellow & Black!!!
Herbie
"They put a hotwire to my head 'cause of the things I did and said and made these feelings go away, model citizen in every way." - J Lydon
To reply via email, replace "spamoff" with "newton"
Erik Kallhovd
Aside from McAvaney's overexcitment at times (the bloke cracks a fat
over a set shot, 10 meters out directly in front) I actually don't think
he's all that bad. The two guys who really irk me are Don Scott and
Peter McKenna.
How often have we heard Don Scott whine over umpiring decisions at
marking contests or the lack of hard men in footy these days.
As for McKenna, every time Hawthorn or Sydney play, just count the
number of times he says "Where's Lockett?" or "Where's Dunstall?" as the
ball approaches the forwad line.
Anyway...just this Yanks two cents worth
Chucky
____________________________________
The New York Magpies Australian Rules Football Club is here!!! To
find out more info, visit our web site at:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cricket/Footy/footy.html
If you prefer, you can call (914) 289-0145,
or you can email nyf...@webtv.net
JOHN NIZZI
On Mon, 06 Apr 1998 21:59:31 +0800, nos...@cross.com.au (Mic Cullen)
wrote:
>"David Johnson" <dj...@shoalhaven.net.au>, far, far away from here, appears
>to have written:I ilke the commentary team at Channel seven. I agree about the commentary team at Channel nine including Sam (foul mouth) Newman. My votes would be:
3- Don Scott He needs to remember that the game has changed.
2- Ian Robertson He needs to go to elocution school to learn how to
use his voice and alter the volume.
1- Peter McKenna- has shown improvement because he no longer talks
just about Collingwood but he still has a way to go.
>
>[snips]
>
>>This is brief but here it is:
>>
>>3 - Peter McKenna
>> (spends more time telling us what team a player used to play for than
>>anything else)
>>
>>2 - Don Scott
>> ("not like it was in my day")
>
>Sounds like they've both a got a case of "Ian Chappell Syndrome", where the
>current team can't possibly compare to the old days.......
>
>3. Russo
>2. The ABC radio team in Adelaide. (I've never heard a more biased
> mob, except when Brucie is commentating on a NM game.)
>1. If it's a NM game, Brucie.
>1. George Grizzleguts (Now at 6PR so I never have to hear him anymore)
>
Sue Smith
Sean Connolly wrote in message <6g1o4s$q1$1...@news.iinet.net.au>...
>Ruth Ellison wrote in message ...
<snip>
Bruce is giving us this drivel about
>>"special" and "the king" and generally implying that we should be
>>impressed.
Erm... excuse me for saying this (coming from a woman it's going to sound
even worse :) - but I have often wondered during a Bruce/Carey game whether
Bruce is a closet gay and is in love with the "King". This is often
expressed in my thoughts as "oh, why doesn't he just get down and suck his
dick and get it over with?". Channel seven, please don't sue me, it's just
a thought!
>IMO (and no doubt 1000's of other footy fans), it's Bruce that's the
>first-class wanker (literally when Carey is within 50m of the ball!)
Ahh, on second reading I realise I am not the only one! Heheh
>*** WHO ARE YOUR WORST 3 CH. 7 AFL COMMENTATORS? ***
>
>We could award votes on a 3,2,1 basis and award the "DOWNLOW" (very
>appropriate in Bruce's case)
>
>To set the ball rolling my picks are ...
>
>3 votes; Bruce McAvaney (in racing parlance, "by the length of the
>straight"!)
>2 votes; Tim Watson (for a bloke who played 300+ senior games, he should be
>ashamed of himself)
>1 vote; Don Scott (nickname "Skeletor". The leather pants do nothing
>either!)
>
My votes:
3. Sandy Roberts - no knowledge and unashamed eastern states bias
2. Bruce - its all too "special"
1. Don Scott - if he was a woman, they wouldn't let him in front of a
camera.
Russo is just there to fill in empty air - he invariably disagrees with the
decision which just frustrates a fan even more, if it is their team that was
been wronged.
Sue Smith
Corey Popelier
>In article <352ccffa...@news.m.iinet.net.au>, nos...@cross.com.au wrote:
[snip]
>3. Russo.
>2. Russo.
>1. Russo.
>
>Nobody else on the commentary team compares to this guy for
>his breathtaking backstabbing, fence sitting and stupid "hey, listen
>to me everyone!" style of commentary.
Bah, he doesn't even come across like that. He's just... useless.
>For what it's worth, I like Don Scott. He quite often gets things
>wrong, and is a little too proud to fix his mistakes, but at least
>he says his mind. And hell, he's entertaining.
I shudder every time I hear that name.
Cheers,
Corey Popelier.
Perth Western Australia.
"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks
he already knows." - Epictetus (50-138 AD).
LUKE RICHARDS
*snip*
>
> For what it's worth, I like Don Scott. He quite often gets things
> wrong, and is a little too proud to fix his mistakes, but at least
> he says his mind. And hell, he's entertaining.
>
I dont mind Don Scotts commentry, although he should never cover a
Hawthorn game as he is _very_ one eyed. Personally I cant stand Dennis
Commetti.
C'arn the Hawkies!
Luke
Sue Smith
Ruth Ellison wrote in message ...
<snip>
However much Channel Seven
>paid John McEnroe, he earned it just for baby-sitting Brucie for a week
>and not succumbing to the temptation to toss him out of the box.
<snip>
Whatever it was, it was worth it - two weeks of blissful commentary from a
guy who_actually_understands the game he's talking about. Pity about the
New York accent though, but it was worth it. Everyone I know who really
enjoys the tennis was really impressed with Seven for that. Made up for
having to listen to Peter Landy as well (another hated commentator - can I
give him a vote?)
Sue Smith (yes it_is_my real name!)
Chris Spikesman
Bateman wrote in message
<01bd6157$dd03ba60$a279...@bateman.dynamite.com.au>...
>I come from Canberra and I've seen the crap that channel 9 put on the
>screen for Rugby League. Now the poor bastards don't even get ONE live
>coverage of a league game. Channel 9 are pack of bastards. Even though
>Rugby League is a shit game it does not deserve channel 9.
>
>Thank christ they didn't get the AFL rights
>
As a Sydney-sider I say "Amen to that. Lord protect the AFL from Channel 9."
>
>go Bombers
>
Yes, but where to?
David McKendry
About the 2-votes - I agree but the except should include George
grizzleguts (as someone else nicknamed him).
And if you want to know why what's-his-name (memorable, ain't he)
didn't make it as a coach (albeit at Fitzroy), listen to his comments
about all other teams except Adelaide!
DMcK
nos...@cross.com.au (Mic Cullen) wrote:
>3. Russo
>2. The ABC radio team in Adelaide. (I've never heard a more biased
> mob, except when Brucie is commentating on a NM game.)
>1. If it's a NM game, Brucie.
>1. George Grizzleguts (Now at 6PR so I never have to hear him anymore)
>cheers,
>Mic. Yellow & Black!!!
,-._|\ David McKendry Melbourne, Australia
/ Oz \ davi...@melbpc.org.au., Ph: 03-98001292, Fax: 03-98002520
\_,--.x/ Member, Melbourne PCUG. Sec/Treasurer, SAGGROUP Australia
v ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++