I have been wondering about the quality of sports commentators over the last few weeks.
I have always been very negative towards Eddie Butler when he has tried to commentate on rugby for the BBC. I think I am justified too. He is an ex-captain of the Wales 1st XV and as such should have a good grasp of the Laws of the game, and some sort of tactical nous. He demonstrates neither. His side kick Brian Moore is a very clever narrator and writer, but he adds nothing to the Stadler and Waldorf double act which they have long been.
I was relieved, therefore, that neither are being involved in the ITV coverage of the Rugby World Cup in the coming weeks.
I am now seriously considering my position. The ITV coverage is awful. Its not all their fault of course, well actually yes it is, but neither ITV or BBC have sufficient regular commentary opportunities given most of the day to day rugby is on Sky. That said, Phil Vickery, son of Cornwall and all , adds about as much specialist insight as Gabby Logan would. Poor old Steve Ryder must wonder how he manipulates his panel of experts such that they do not resemble a bunch of Muppets.
So rugby has a challenge, but in a few weeks normal service will be resumed and Sky will be back in the driving seat. You have to feel, therefore, for Sky. Last season they sacked Andy Gray and Rob Key from their prime time football slots for inappropriate sexual comments which were caught on mike, off air.
I suspect now they wish they had disciplined them and left them in their roles. Why? well they have been replaced by Geoff Snelling, and there is no problem there, but he is being supported by Gary Neville and Ray Wilkins.
Now if I was an insomniac, the chances of me staying awake through a Sky televised footie match would be absolutely zero. You could train Neville to say all the right things, but an accent and the associated inflection are inbred. He is the dullest, least emotional, man you could wish to have on commentary. Maybe if Snelling dressed in a referee outfit you might see some rage out of him, otherwise its all gloom and doom.
The same is true of Wilkins. He brings his own brand of English to the role, and his comment is as bland as his play was. Come on Sky sort it out.
On BBC there is at least the option to listen to the radio commentary rather than the TV. I do remember Sky having a 'crowd noise only' option, I wonder if they still do?
