Who are your favourite Pundits & Commentators

[Boxerbeetle]

Commentry and punditry is all about generating excitement and passion which translates through your television set and into your living room.

There's no substitute for genuine passion and excitement (sadly with today's commentators it's too often feigned and comes across a right wet lettuce).

Howard Cossell's commentry for Foreman-Frazier in round 1 is an example that sticks with me. He lost his voice by the end of the round from screaming "Down goes Frazier!".

The best in the business currently is Jim Watt. I don't always agree with him or his scorecards but if there was a mega fight tomorrow i'd want Jim Watt on the edge of his seat ringside because nobody else can translate the buzz of a big fight over the airwaves like he can.

Rewatch the end of r1 of Froch-Groves. Jim Watt's commentry consisted of him screaming "OOOAAHHHH!!". The action and intensity was immense and the commentators were as immersed as the crowd and viewers.

In the US the HBO team has always done a great job. This from round 9 in Gatti vs Ward is phenominal from the team, espicially from Manny Steward who personally was my favourite ever commentator/pundit who at the end screams "and here comes Gatti" which is enough to give you goosebumps: http://youtu.be/D5mRv3xGY80

Unfortunately in the UK most pundits and commentators across all our sports are complete garbage. Barry Jones? Seriously people? Guy doesn't even know the rules. Some of the garbage he spouts and he would bore you to tears. Johnny Nelson is a total loser who should be nowhere near a mic or a camera. He's like an old uncle at a party trying awkwardly to be down the kids, asking them if they like all the rap music. Bunce is gold imo but let's e honest he's just a bald fat bloke you'd meet down your local.

Football is even worse. I don't watch it much these days but since Sky got rid of Andy Grey there commentry and punditry has been putrid. I'll never forget Andy Grey screaming "ya beauty" after that Gerrard goal in the champions league.... but nor will i ever forget Gary Neville's "goal-gasm" after Torres scored against Barcelona.... unfortunately.

Terrible, terrible post. Commentary and punditry have nothing to do with generating excitement and passion. That can only come from the sport itself. Commentary and punditry is about knowledge & analysis. To put Watt above Jones is completely ridiculous.

[Ricky_]

Commentry and punditry is all about generating excitement and passion which translates through your television set and into your living room.

There's no substitute for genuine passion and excitement (sadly with today's commentators it's too often feigned and comes across a right wet lettuce).

Howard Cossell's commentry for Foreman-Frazier in round 1 is an example that sticks with me. He lost his voice by the end of the round from screaming "Down goes Frazier!".

The best in the business currently is Jim Watt. I don't always agree with him or his scorecards but if there was a mega fight tomorrow i'd want Jim Watt on the edge of his seat ringside because nobody else can translate the buzz of a big fight over the airwaves like he can.

Rewatch the end of r1 of Froch-Groves. Jim Watt's commentry consisted of him screaming "OOOAAHHHH!!". The action and intensity was immense and the commentators were as immersed as the crowd and viewers.

In the US the HBO team has always done a great job. This from round 9 in Gatti vs Ward is phenominal from the team, espicially from Manny Steward who personally was my favourite ever commentator/pundit who at the end screams "and here comes Gatti" which is enough to give you goosebumps: http://youtu.be/D5mRv3xGY80

Unfortunately in the UK most pundits and commentators across all our sports are complete garbage. Barry Jones? Seriously people? Guy doesn't even know the rules. Some of the garbage he spouts and he would bore you to tears. Johnny Nelson is a total loser who should be nowhere near a mic or a camera. He's like an old uncle at a party trying awkwardly to be down the kids, asking them if they like all the rap music. Bunce is gold imo but let's e honest he's just a bald fat bloke you'd meet down your local.

Football is even worse. I don't watch it much these days but since Sky got rid of Andy Grey there commentry and punditry has been putrid. I'll never forget Andy Grey screaming "ya beauty" after that Gerrard goal in the champions league.... but nor will i ever forget Gary Neville's "goal-gasm" after Torres scored against Barcelona.... unfortunately.

Terrible, terrible post. Commentary and punditry have nothing to do with generating excitement and passion. That can only come from the sport itself. Commentary and punditry is about knowledge & analysis. To put Watt above Jones is completely ridiculous.

In the midst of excitement i couldnt care less about some old pudenda opion on the technique of a certain punch or how the footwork of a fighter allowed alliowed for a fighter to land a counter. Try living in the moment.

[reggaereggae]

Commentry and punditry is all about generating excitement and passion which translates through your television set and into your living room.

There's no substitute for genuine passion and excitement (sadly with today's commentators it's too often feigned and comes across a right wet lettuce).

Howard Cossell's commentry for Foreman-Frazier in round 1 is an example that sticks with me. He lost his voice by the end of the round from screaming "Down goes Frazier!".

The best in the business currently is Jim Watt. I don't always agree with him or his scorecards but if there was a mega fight tomorrow i'd want Jim Watt on the edge of his seat ringside because nobody else can translate the buzz of a big fight over the airwaves like he can.

Rewatch the end of r1 of Froch-Groves. Jim Watt's commentry consisted of him screaming "OOOAAHHHH!!". The action and intensity was immense and the commentators were as immersed as the crowd and viewers.

In the US the HBO team has always done a great job. This from round 9 in Gatti vs Ward is phenominal from the team, espicially from Manny Steward who personally was my favourite ever commentator/pundit who at the end screams "and here comes Gatti" which is enough to give you goosebumps: http://youtu.be/D5mRv3xGY80

Unfortunately in the UK most pundits and commentators across all our sports are complete garbage. Barry Jones? Seriously people? Guy doesn't even know the rules. Some of the garbage he spouts and he would bore you to tears. Johnny Nelson is a total loser who should be nowhere near a mic or a camera. He's like an old uncle at a party trying awkwardly to be down the kids, asking them if they like all the rap music. Bunce is gold imo but let's e honest he's just a bald fat bloke you'd meet down your local.

Football is even worse. I don't watch it much these days but since Sky got rid of Andy Grey there commentry and punditry has been putrid. I'll never forget Andy Grey screaming "ya beauty" after that Gerrard goal in the champions league.... but nor will i ever forget Gary Neville's "goal-gasm" after Torres scored against Barcelona.... unfortunately.

Terrible, terrible post. Commentary and punditry have nothing to do with generating excitement and passion. That can only come from the sport itself. Commentary and punditry is about knowledge & analysis. To put Watt above Jones is completely ridiculous.

In the midst of excitement i couldnt care less about some old pudenda opion on the technique of a certain punch or how the footwork of a fighter allowed alliowed for a fighter to land a counter. Try living in the moment.

I think the key is balance. One expert and one 'colour' commentator. Me, personally I think a good commentator does get excited at the right moments, they can help raise the atmosphere. I hate it when a commentator continues droning on about something bland when the fight has entered a really exciting moment like someone landing a good shot.

[Counter-puncher]

Lampley is very underrated

Hes absolute top notch in terms of his voice and how he can create excitement. He is extremely knowledgeable and a genuine fan of the game. He really brings that big fight feel. He really ADDS to the experience of watching the fight which very few can do. Can you imagine him commentating on Joshua vs Whyte.

Ian Darke is another legend of commentary, along the same lines of Lampley. Never heard anyone complain about a Darke commentary. Darke always seemed to ask the questions I was thinking and bring up some things that made you think as well. I also thought he was quite humorous at times, in a kind of classy way.

Really miss Darke. I always try to catch a HBO version of a fight if I can.

I disagree on Lampley. He's done some putrid work where the narrative he wants to construct or has begun constructing completely overshadows what's actually going on in the ring.

I agree with that. You're talking about some Pacman fights right? He's not perfect but in general he is pretty good. His voice I think is exceptional for commentary and I like it when he's just describing whats happening. For example, once tua gets ruiz going here Lampley takes over and simply describes what is happening in a matter of fact way but his voice and his own excitement is kind of infectious. Maybe it's just me though, a personal preference

Pac - Morales (2) is always the one that springs to mind, around round 5 or 6, Lampley (I paraphrase here): 'Manny lands with the bodyshot, if he works the body more he may have success but its tough for a slugger like Manny to remember to go to the body...' at that point in the fight Pacquiao had been smashing Morales to the body with both hands for the last round and a half, obviously completely unacknowledged or unnnoticed by lampley in whatever reverie he was lost in....

he does that poo all the time

[Tommy Gunn13]

Ian Darke & Barry Jones would be my ideal partnership on the UK side of things

[handsofstone]

I always loved "BACK COMES BARRERA,BACK COMES MORALES"

Dont know who it was but it was class

[magwitch]

Foster and Cram are my favourite commentators to listen too.
There's another chap that did the athletics for years....bit of a crackly voice....I don't know his name but if you imagine the Olympic 100m final...any of 'em, you will instantly know who I mean "...in lane 5, the Namibian, Frankie Fredericks.......Lane 6, Linford Christie of Great Britain" ......and then hush. Just used to let the tension do the talking. Spine-tingling.

Away from athletics: in football one of my favourite pundits is Gabriel Marcotti. Looks like a greedy lard*ss sat there until he opens his mouth and you realise he's an expert on all of football - especially on the European stuff. I also like Stan Collymore, brilliant show and for an analyst Graham Taylor and probs a load more I forget right now.

For boxing I also think that Lampley fella is a great host. I used to love Jim Rosenthal. When Rosenthal had the dickie-bow on, you knew you were in for an evening of class.
I also am a big fan of Teddy Atlas, in addition to the UK guys. Jim Watt, Ritchie W, Duke McKenzie to name some.

Honourary mention to Danny Kelly, if he hasn't got awards for services to Sports/ broadcasting, he should have.


Finally - I think I've remembered the name of that chapabove and I think it was David Coleman, think he passed away recently.

[squared circle]

I like darke. Rawling, smith and halling don't hold a torch to him.

In other sports I always think the guys who do the swimming are class. Get proper excited. Love bumble on the cricket too

[Counter-puncher]

OT but I totally disagree on Fowler. An extremely unintelligent commentator in a sport populated by intelligent commentary, nowhere near as funny as he thinks, a self-indulgent self-parodying fvcken clown. He ruins minutes worth of listening with his schtick, that perpetual forced 'I'M FUNNY! I'M A CHARACTER!'

[Bodyshot3]

Woodhall is consistently good despite the fact that he's a freelance 'gun for hire' who has to jump between TV shows for Channel 5, radio for the BBC and amateur boxing on the Beeb.

Maybe Richie could be a bit more flamboyant/controversial and land a bigger gig....but I actually like the fact that he is not an overt showman and sticks to calling a fight as it unfolds and is very good at explaining the technicalities quickly and concisely.

I listened to Fury v Wald on 5 Live and enjoyed the way he explained how the fight was unfolding...and when I watched it on You Tube I thought he had the action spot-on and the scoring right as well. He's seriously under-rated.

When it comes to the print guys I rate Ron Lewis for The Times - who does top class previews and interviews - and Gareth Davies for The Telegraph writes very sound and compelling big fight reports.

[dbf]

Foster and Cram are my favourite commentators to listen too.
There's another chap that did the athletics for years....bit of a crackly voice....I don't know his name but if you imagine the Olympic 100m final...any of 'em, you will instantly know who I mean "...in lane 5, the Namibian, Frankie Fredericks.......Lane 6, Linford Christie of Great Britain" ......and then hush. Just used to let the tension do the talking. Spine-tingling.

Away from athletics: in football one of my favourite pundits is Gabriel Marcotti. Looks like a greedy lard*ss sat there until he opens his mouth and you realise he's an expert on all of football - especially on the European stuff. I also like Stan Collymore, brilliant show and for an analyst Graham Taylor and probs a load more I forget right now.

For boxing I also think that Lampley fella is a great host. I used to love Jim Rosenthal. When Rosenthal had the dickie-bow on, you knew you were in for an evening of class.
I also am a big fan of Teddy Atlas, in addition to the UK guys. Jim Watt, Ritchie W, Duke McKenzie to name some.

Honourary mention to Danny Kelly, if he hasn't got awards for services to Sports/ broadcasting, he should have.


Finally - I think I've remembered the name of that chapabove and I think it was David Coleman, think he passed away recently.

Barry Davies?

[dbf]

Sky boxing needs Mike Costello.

[Boxerbeetle]

Woodhall is consistently good despite the fact that he's a freelance 'gun for hire' who has to jump between TV shows for Channel 5, radio for the BBC and amateur boxing on the Beeb.

Maybe Richie could be a bit more flamboyant/controversial and land a bigger gig....but I actually like the fact that he is not an overt showman and sticks to calling a fight as it unfolds and is very good at explaining the technicalities quickly and concisely

I agree, although I do like the idea of Richie trying to be more flamboyant in his analysis