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Sports greatest commentators

I think people forget what makes live sport on television so exciting.


Yes people watch for the sporting action, but it's those charismatic, over zealous commentators that add that little something special to every sporting occasion.

There was no one better last night to remind me then the great Sid Waddell as I was watching a darts repeat on Sky Sports.

“Look at the man go, it’s like trying to stop a buffalo with a pea shooter.”

He has become a cult hero for his hilarious one liners and outright complete obsession for every single little detail.

Thanks to him darts is like an institution on Sky Sport’s generating huge viewing figures and sell out crowds for every tournament.

I'll never forget Waddell when commentating on an obviously very hot John Part: "He's sweating like a donkey with a belly full of vindaloo."

I'm sure you'll agree a classic piece of commentary gold.

And there are so many more, cricket might not be the world’s most exciting sport, but there have certainly been some thrilling commentators.

The Telegraph once called the great Brian Johnson, “the greatest natural broadcaster of them all”, he was superb on both television and radio.

And in rugby, I have to admit, I’m a big fan of Will Chignell. He brings so much character to every match, when Leinster won away in Toulouse in the Heineken cup three years ago that was the most excited I have ever heard a commentator on TV.

He gave the match a new purpose, he created intensity and brought the game to life just with the passion in his voice.

Only the other day I turned over to watch cycling on Euro-Sport, i am by no means a cycling fan but the commentator, ‘eccentric’, to say the least was enthralling and I was hooked.

But there are also the opposites who create tension at the most silent of sporting events, whispering Ted Lowe had snooker fans in pure suspense.

Even Dan Maskell had a style so endearing to tennis fans, “What a glorious forehand.......ooh I say."

And Ausie Richie Benaud channel 4’s cricket commentator produces superb elegant displays in front of the mic, articulating and calling the match in a faultless manner.

But for all those great commentator's and broadcasters, I can’t let this blog go without mention for those awful football pundit’s.

John Motson’s double act with Mark Lawrenson had me swiftly reaching for the mute button and for Johnathan Pearce on channel five, I swear he started his career on Robot Wars, not that I ever watched it of course.

But hey, at least we’ve now got the evervescent pair of Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer to look forward to........... yeah right!

The demise of Rafa!

I am a huge Liverpool fan, and I found myself this morning saying where did it all go wrong.

Okay Liverpool won well against Everton on the weekend, but this season has been as bleak as any for a Liverpool fan.

And I have finally now come to the stage where Rafa has to go, Liverpool have stagnated and they need an injection of innovation and someone to implement new ideas.

Liverpool finished last season unbeaten in their last 11 games and were very unlucky not to pip Man Utd to the title in May.

So this season was billed as the platform to press on and win that first title for twenty years.

However that has not been the case, the title race is over and Liverpool are out of the Champions League, a competition that has served them so well.

Torres has been injured, Gerrard has only played a hanful of games and new signing Aquilani has yet to start a premier league game.

On top of that the lack of depth in Liverpools squad has been seriously exposed with flops like Babel and Voronin.

Liverpool now need a change of direction, and I personally would like to see Jose Mourninho come and manage the side, its that type of character which may just transform the club back to greatness.

'Denmania'

NOW the dust has settled on what was simply an incredible Hennesy Gold Cup its time to start billing the Gold Cup decider.

Denmans win on Saturday under a 11st 12 was one of the great weight carrying peformances in recent years.

After the tribulations of his heart surgery I don't think anyone believed we would see the real Denman again.

But when he springheeled the cross fence four out and had the rest of the field in his wake, Denmania was back.

I am myself a Kauto Star man but I couldn't help being taken back buy the scenes at Newbury, it was something very very special.

The bookies now price the Gold Cup with Denman and Kauto at 9/4 a piece and the decider is well and truly on.

Come March I promise you this will be billed as the greatest race of all time, and so it should be, I think it will grab not only racing fans, but reach out to the public as well.

What makes it so fascinating as they are both in their own right top class staying chasers, but both have such contrasting styles.

It's the elegance and speed of Kauto against the brute force and power of Denman, both times when either horse has won, the other horse has not quite been fully fit.

However this year baaring any mishaps both horses will be primed 100 per cent for the race, and I already can not wait.

Can Golf Recover?

The sport of Golf has seen a huge transformation in the last decade and has been launched into the public eye with Tiger Woods as their spearhead.

He has commercialy brought golf onto the front pages and has brought millions into the sport.

His sole participation in tournaments doubles viewing figures as well as attendance at tournaments.

when Woods was recently out with a knee injury it hurt the sport and sponsors and fans alike were crying out for his return.

He is almost the modern face of golf and darling of the sport, for me personally i am not a golf fan, but I am a Tiger Woods fan.

However that image now faces huge pressure after the recent debacle at Woods family home in Florida, where speculation is that the car crash was caused by a domestic row.

Woods was involved in an accident in the early hours of Friday morning which saw him collide into a fire hydrant and tree, he was left semi-conscious with facial injuries.

He has come under huge pressure in the media this morning with the tabloids jumping all over the accident and putting the domestic row spin on the story which can only embarass the superstar.

Japanese television even played a virtual video highlighting Woods Wife slapping him in the face and then chasing thew car down the road before smashing into a tree.

Woods has never had to come under such pressure in the media before, and I can promise you now the powers that be at the PGA will have hearts in their mouths as their darling of the sport begins to fold under scrutiny.

Is Woods the perfect human being we were led to believe?

'Boxings new era'

I think this country might just be on the freshhold of a new golden era for British boxing.

David Hayes triumph against 22 stone giant Nikolay Valuev last weekend was as big an indication that British Boxing is on the threshold of success.

The heaveyweight division has been for years pinnacle of the sport, producing greats like Frazier, Ali, Tyson and our very own Lennox Lewis.

It is has always been where the ability of a fighter is measured and has always produced the most chrasmatic of fighters who have championed and sold the sport of boxing.

However in recent years that has somewhat been lost and the division has been crying out for a flamboyant new champion to ignite new interest.

And now the world sees David Haye as that man to bring back the glamour to heavyweight boxing, with his arrogant style in the ring and his cocky pre fight jibes outside of the ring.

To back that up Britain has the future of Amir Khan to look forward to, ever since his first defeat to Breidiss Prescott he has been a reformed fighter under Freddy Roach.

His rehabilitation has seen him beat living legend Marco Antonio Barrera and then go on to win a world title, his first defence is in two weeks.

Another two to keep an eye on are Nathan Cleverly and Kevin Mitchell who have wipped the floor at domestic level and now look set to be launched on to the international stage.

And with Olympic heroes James De Gale and Billy Joe Saunders making succesful starts to their professional careers, all I can say is watch this space.

'The hand of frog'

I Think people need to get off Thierry Henrys back and just accept he did well not to be caught.

How an earth though officials did not see his blatant control of the ball with his left hand is beyond me.

I do question everyone brading Henry a cheat, saying he should have told the referee he handled it, I'm sure in that situation anyone else would have done the same.

It is however a shocking way to lose out on a world cup spot and the luck of the Irish really felt as if it had vanished in midweek.

It had us all reminiscing of when Diego Maradonna broke english hearts in the 1980 World Cup.

What was so cruel is that Republic of Ireland played so well, and dominated France for large periods of the game and looked set for their reappearance on the world stage after missing out four years ago.

Up stepped Henry though, with the deftest of touches to cushion onto his left hand and accurately land it onto a french head.

He knew exactly what he was doing and you can see that in his recent interviews, but I don't blame him one little bit.

I'm sure I would feel differently if I was on the recieving end, but I am competitive my self, it is simply win at ALL COSTS.