Now that we are between Grand Slam tournaments, it gives us a moment to look at one of the most important aspects of tennis television coverage—the on-air commentators.
During the recent French Open, ESPN2, NBC, and Tennis Channel had a plethora of analysts to choose from in their broadcast booth. On some days, it was great, on others it was overkill. Having four different highly-opinionated individuals calling Serena Williams’ first round match was distracting because I felt that too much attention was being given to the people behind the court, not on the court.
It requires a delicate mix of skill, talent, and experience to be a success in the booth. Keeping fans informed about the happenings on court is a must, but overstating the obvious is never necessary.
He or she must have a thorough knowledge of the game, yet not come across as a know-it-all. While I do appreciate hearing about the technical strengths and weaknesses of a player’s game, dissecting a forehand on match-point is just plain annoying.
And while we are at it, could someone please tell a few of tennis’ most popular analysts that this is 2008, not 1978. A brief stroll down memory lane is acceptable, but quit dwelling on the good old days while you’re supposed to be paying attention to the present.
Wit is another prized commodity, but too often you wonder if there is bad blood between some of the players and the good folks calling the shots. Sour grapes and unnecessary snark makes them look pathetic and washed-up as former players.
Speaking of former players, I do believe that they make the best commentators because of their experience and first-hand knowledge of life on the Tours. Yet, this can also swing to the other side of the pendulum as personal examples are only palatable in small doses. ESPN2′s most loyal listeners know Mary Joe Fernandez’ comeback story against Gabriela Sabatini at the French Open in 1993 almost better than she does.
Aaress’ Top Five Favorite Commentators
- Cliff Drysdale
- Darren Cahill
- Patrick McEnroe
- Mary Joe Fernandez
- Leif Shiras
Aaress’ Top Five Least Favorite Commentators
- Dick Enberg
- Mary Carillo
- John McEnroe
- Martina Navratilova
- Pam Shriver
So, for today’s edition of Open Forum Friday, I’d like to read the list of your favorite (and least favorite) television commentators. If you are not from the USA, still feel free to participate by telling us about the analysts in your country.
You can give us one or two, or if so inclined your all-time Top 10 list stretching back to the first days of tennis on television. This time, it’s okay to go for a stroll down memory lane and think about the days when the broadcasters let the tennis do its own talking.
Everyone, have a great weekend!
Interesting choices. My favorites:
- Ted Robinson
- Jim Courier
- Patrick McEnroe
- Mary Jo Fernandez
- Mary Carillo (though can be too opinionated at times)
- Martina Navratilova (I like her match calling!)
- John McEnroe (prefer for men’s matches)
My least favorites:
- Pam Shriver (nice but kind of drab)
- Cliff Drysdale (good but gets too overexcited at times)
- Bill Macatee (sounds like he’s slobbering)
- Dick Enberg (should stick to figure skating or something)
- Bud Collins (eek, I always mute when this one comes on!)
I agree – four commentators is far too much. Two work well. I understand the need to have male commentators covering the ATP tour and female commentators covering the WTA tour, but I prefer to see a mix. Former players absolutely are the better choice for commentating, but they need to have a very specific skillset to be successful (vocally, stage presence, et…)
Most Favorite Commentators:
Bud Collins
Jim Courier
Cliff Drysdale
John McEnroe
Mary Carillo
Least Favorite Commentators:
Dick Enberg
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
Tracy Austin
Bill Macatee
I’d like to see Justin Gimelstob doing more commentating – he has a great personality and obviously knows the game. He is also well aquainted with the players, since he just retired in 2007.
*** I’ve been waiting for this post! Aaress, you are so right about that Mary Jo Fernandez Sabitini match. They discussed that about five different times! I also think three is the perfect number of commentators for a match: Two in the booth, one courtside.
My top favorites:
Mary Jo Fernandez (sweet, calculated, perfect)
Darren Cahill (perfect, love the accent)
Pam Shriver (always has something relevant to say)
Martina Navratilova (is never at a lost for words)
Dick Enberg (excellent voice)
Lief Sharis (excellent voice)
Leat Favorites:
Justin Gimelstob (EWWWWWWWW! Lame!)
Mary Carillo (talks during rallys)
John McEnroe (he can be rude at times)
Patrick McEnroe (his bias towards the American men is over kill at times)
Tracy Austin (never has anything insightful to say)
Luke Jensen (bipolar {too excited at times, too dull at times})
Katrina Adams (I ABSOLUTELY HATE THIS WOMAN!)
Corina Morariu (Her voice makes her seem like a ditzy girl)
Aaerss, who is that Austrailian lady who commentates for the tennis channel? She plays doubles. I can’t think of her name right now, but I know I know her. I think she’s pretty good too.
Hey Will, do you mean Rennae Stubbs? She worked for Tennis Channel during Paris.
Yes! Thanks Aaress. She’s awesome!
I am a big fan of Pam Shriver. She was always very level headed with her comments and didn’t just open her mouth for the sake of opening her mouth.
In Australia, I like John Alexander and Mark Woodforde – big supporters of the women’s game and again, similar to Pam, made very relevant comments.
Wow that’s a bit scary! All the people who commentate for the BBC during Wimbledon are not popular with you guys… Shriver, Mac, Austin, Martina, Jensen.
Favorites:
Cliff Drysdale – Good knowledge of game’s history
Patrick McEnroe – Great match analysis
Mary Jo Fernandez – Almost perfect
Martina Navratilova – Superb analysis & history
Justin Gimelstob – Improving, should be good
Least favorite:
Dick Enberg – Tennis is not his speciality
Bud Collins – Past retirement age (and I’m 73!)
Mary Carillo – Too cutesy and smart-*****
John McEnroe – Not as good as his brother
Tracy Austin – Waster of time
Don’t complain about yours tennis commentators. Come to Bosnia, and you’ll see that they are fantastic. Here, we don’t have any decent tennis commentator :( Many off them don’t know almost anything about tennis (I wanted to write some examples, but I’m afraid you wouldn’t believe me). Every time they make me wonder do I really need to watch tennis!? Well, I’m a huge tennis fan and I just have to watch the action, but my mute button is on all the time and I’m so frustrated cause of that. Please help me, send us just one decent tennis commentator, and you will make me the happiest man alive!!!
Favorite:
Mary Carillo
Bud Collins
Bill Macatee
Martina Navratilova
Cliff Drysdale
not U.S., but Virginia Wade, my favorite of all
Least favorite:
Justin Gimelstob
Dick Enberg
Pam Shriver
Patrick McEnroe
John McEnroe (for ATP; he’s okay with WTA)
I can only say I’ve heard a few of the American commentators because I’m from Australia, but I’ll do the best I can:
BEST
John McEnroe – quality match analysis, humerous at times, and a good student of the game
Wally Masur – Australian, makes extremely insightful comments regarding tactics, nice voice to listen to
Kerryn Pratt – also Australian, not sure what her background is but she is also highly knowledgable
WORST
Fred Stolle – Australian, unfortunately. Stuck in a time-warp, and deliberately and repeatedly mispronounces player names, including Rafael Nadal (He says Nad-AL, not Nad-AHL) and Mats Wilander (he’s the only person on earth I have heard call him WIL-an-der, instead of Wil-AN-der). Also refers to toilet breaks as ‘comfort stops’ and sweat-bands as ‘sweatlets’. I don’t know who taught him to talk like this and why he hasnt been axed. Deeply irritating.
Virginia Wade – strange British woman, often trails off in the middle of sentences and commentates in an off-beat, bizarre manner. I have no idea what she’s on about almost all the time.
Mary Carillo – for about three years of watching tennis beamed in from the US I was convinced Carillo was a man until somebody called her ‘Mary’.
Martina Navratilova – talks WAY too much. Great analysis but nearly runs out of air trying to pour everything out before the player serves. I’m not even sure she actually does stop talking… maybe somebody just cuts off her mike during rallies?
Tracy Austin – nasal, grating voice
Billie Jean King – If you weren’t playing close attention to the TV during the Australian broadcast of the 2002 Aus Open final, you would have reasonably concluded that Capriati was playing a faceless entity at the other end of the court (it was Martina Hingis). BJK did nothing but **** on about Capriati all match, never mentioned Hingis, and seemed unperturbed by Capriati carrying on like a pork chop for the whole match (expletives directed at umpire, etc).
Dick Enberg – is he that geriatric who officiates the US Open trophy presentations on NBC? If so, I lost all respect for him when he called Justine Henin ‘Christine’ during the 2003 US Open final trophy ceremony. A bit of a faux pas if you ask me, given she won the whole thing and was World No. 1…
I know this is critical but there is a serious dearth of quality commentary out there… However it is lovely to listen to the few that do a good job.
i really like most of the British commentators, jo durie, sam smith, virginia wade, mark petchy, john lloyd. not so keen on greg rusedski or andrew castle. and i don’t get why they feel the need to have americans commentating for the bbc during wimbledon. my least favorite is tracy austin. she can’t seem to get through a match without bringing up the fact that she won the US open when she was 16.
Aaress, I don’t agree with all your selections but great topic for discussion!
Look, it’s more than individual ability. Some commentators have chemistry and complement their co-host. Cliff Drysdale (Cliffy!) and Mary Joe Fernandez together they are magic.
Aaress, Pam Shriver is good in “small doses”. When the commentators take a break they will go to her for a brief courtside assessment. she will quickly gage the feel of the game and the mood of the crowd and then say “back to you, Cliff and Mary Joe.” Pam is very real and honest.
and BRAD GILBERT.<— he is underrated. Again, it’s all about the role. Brad is great in the pre-match ups (when commentators are discussing what one player needs to do in order to win. What to look for etc.)
Also I don’t know the names of the 2008 Australian Open radio broadcast team
http://www.australianopen.com/media/audio/080125_djokovic_federer_2min_64.mp3
“just savage ball-striking by Djokovic” “mid-semi final action here! He’s pumped and why wouldn’t he be.” Those guys are great I can really visualize the game the way they describe it. Great stuff.
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Those who could improve:
I don’t like the Tennis Channel commentators. They are not bad, it’s just they are not enthusiastic, they don’t inspire.
As far as the NBC crew, Will.I.am said it best, “Mary Carillo (talks during rallys)” She annoys me when I have to hear her still giggling about some almost witty observation when the player is serving the next point.
Brad Gilbert? He scares me, to be honest.
I like hearing matches with Cliff or Mary Joe.If Martina or Pam are doing the match, I hit the mute button – quickly.
Best: Patrick mcEnroe (opposite to John McEnroe), Mary Joe Fernandez (nice and sweet), Pam Shriver (humourous), Navratilova (candid and factual and worldly), anyone with an aussie accent, and Jimmy Connors (nice voice).
Worst: John McEnroe (loves to talk about himself, egotistical), Mary Carillo (way too pretentious, always trying to use fancy and sophisticated phrasing of words) Maybe it’s a new yorker thing?, Corina Morariu (her voice could be a little annoying at times, a little whiny)
I too like Mary Jo Fernandez’s commentary, but I’m really curious about the pronunciation of some of her words. She substitutes a d sound for t (linguistically called a “flap”). We Canadians do this with the words butter and thirty and forty, etc. (whereas Brits would pronounce these with the t sound). But she does it with many other words such as impordand, Lleydon, fladden, etc. I would be interested to know if this is a variety of pronunciation from a certain region in the States. ??
Will.i.ami agree with you about Renae Stubbs, she is so good, love her ability to really make me understand what the players are feeling and thinking, as well as her great analysis of a match and yeah love the accent! And Mary Joe is boring! honestly, she puts me to sleep.
I could tolerate any of the commentators if they would just SHUT UP DURING GAMEPLAY. It’s gotten so bad this year! They flipped things around where they constant ramble during the points and keep quiet between the points.
The mute button has become my saving grace over the past 6 months.
I’ve seen a massive number of websites talking about commentators but have yet to find 1 where I can send them an email and tell them to ZIP IT!
Tracy Austin: Please learn how to pronounce ERRORS. It’s not pronounced ERRS.
Paula, if you would like to leave feedback for the USA Network, please visit this link:
http://www.usanetwork.com/feedback/
Thanks!
Fred Stolle – the worst, sounds like grandad giving you drab lecture. Always states the obvious and no tehnical shot analysis. Totally boring- retire old man.
Dick Enberg is THE worst tennis commentator EVER! And I don’t think that he is any better with other sports. Retire him!
Best: Richard Evans, the McEnroes, Ted Robinson, Robbie Koenig, Doug Adler, Jim Courier, Cliff Dreysdale
THE WORST: Barry MacKay..VERY Close behind or maybe equally as dreadful: Corina Morariu, Leif Shiras, Lindsay Davenport and Elise Burgin
Oh yeah! How could I forget…Tracy Austin…Wow….Is she bad!!!
None of the above. They all have diarrhea of the mouth. Bad enough we have to listen to the screaming, but to be forced to listen to the drivel coming from thier mouths, UNBEARABLE.. Usually watch with the sound off unless lucky enough to find a Brittish commentator. They know how to be silent, at least during the play, which make watching a whole lot more enjoyable. Some of us actually do want to watch the match as though were were there: i.e., without aid of prattle, often about anything but the match being played.
Most everyone is okay to listen to…..GET RID OF MARY CARILLO I’m sick of hearing her talk about what the players are thinking… She doesn’t know jack…..HUSH UP MARY and let us enjoy the game. I’d rather hear the grunts!!!!!!
My least favorite commentator is Martina Navrotilova because she cannot be neutral as to whom she wants to win!!
During the Australian Open with the Murray/Djokavic match she was horrible in her one sided commentating wanting Murray to knock out the most wonderful male No. 1 tennis player that we have had since Andre Agassi!
Please keep her “off the air”.