Sports that do not work on the radio

[C C Csiders]

I have listened to a couple of the Rugby World Cup matches on the radio for a time, and have come to the conclusion that this is one of those sports that just do not work on the radio.

Football and cricket work well, as does boxing, but most other sports fail to transfer to the spoken word. Other sports that are often featured on the radio but just do not work, IMO, are golf and athletics.

The best I can remember though, of an event that did not transfer to radio, was during the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo when I heard Torvill and Dean's Bolero performance on the radio - somewhat akin to listening to Ray Alan and Lord Charles on the radio, it completely misses the point.

 

[SUFC_Al]

snooker....i mean what's the point? On TV it's fantastic but no way should it be on radio!

 

[Mr. Benedict]

snooker....i mean what's the point? On TV it's fantastic but no way should it be on radio!

Many people would debate that Snooker is a sport though, Al. Same with darts - doesn't work on the radio either but is it a sport?

 

[Napster]

Kabbadi's hard to do on the radio

 

[number11]

TEnnis is rubbish on the radio...commentators try to keep up with the shots "serve out wide, forehand return cross court, back hand down the line, forehand down the line"....at this point you hear the crowd clap but the commentator still has 3 more shots to describe as he hasnt been able to keep up.

I listened to some of the France Argentina (Rugby) game on the radio and thought it was fine and the commentators were very good.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

TEnnis is rubbish on the radio...commentators try to keep up with the shots "serve out wide, forehand return cross court, back hand down the line, forehand down the line"....at this point you hear the crowd clap but the commentator still has 3 more shots to describe as he hasnt been able to keep up.

I listened to some of the France Argentina (Rugby) game on the radio and thought it was fine and the commentators were very good.

Agreed about Tennis - this goes for all raquet sports, they're too fast paced to work on a radio: by the time you've finished describing one shot the opponent will have already hit the return, so the commentator has to talk really fast and that sounds rubbish.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

TEnnis is rubbish on the radio...commentators try to keep up with the shots "serve out wide, forehand return cross court, back hand down the line, forehand down the line"....at this point you hear the crowd clap but the commentator still has 3 more shots to describe as he hasnt been able to keep up.

In the days of Dan Maskell & Virginia Wade, my Mum used to watch the TV coverage with the sound down and put the radio commentary on, she said it worked a lot better for her (I also do this now on interactive BBC games if Lawrenson is the co-commentator, Alan Green is the lesser of two evils as far as I'm concerned).

Wouldn't think live cycling would work, although on the road TdF updates by Simon Brotherton do sound good on R5Live. Speedway also is a non radio-friendly sport!

 

[number11]

In the days of Dan Maskell & Virginia Wade, my Mum used to watch the TV coverage with the sound down and put the radio commentary on, she said it worked a lot better for her (I also do this now on interactive BBC games if Lawrenson is the co-commentator, Alan Green is the lesser of two evils as far as I'm concerned).

Wouldn't think live cycling would work, although on the road TdF updates by Simon Brotherton do sound good on R5Live. Speedway also is a non radio-friendly sport!

One of the worst things about the BBC over recent years is the standard of their commentators. They used to be THE experts....a voice that was pleasant to listen to, but also knowledgeable. Their football programs are full of annoying voices like Alan Green and Jonathon Pierce, Motty os well past his sell by date (and I always preferred the more all round punditry of Barry Davies), and they have too many mundane 'expert summarisers' like Lee Dixon, Mark Bright, etc.

Alan Green is a particular annoyance to me. He tries to be controversial, or at least he says some preposterous or presumptious things and is too opinionated. He should stick to telling people what is happening and not his opinions, the expert summariser should be for this, if they had any decent ones. Match of the Day is acceptable as I have a lot of respect for Alan Hansen's forthright views, and Gary Lineker is ok as an anchor (no puns...), but Ian Wright doesnt really add anything.

Im not sure there are many sports now where I would put the radio commentary on (irrespective of them usually being out of sync). Ive done it with cricket from time to time when there are particular commentators on, but generally Sky now have a top notch team.

Incidently was listening to talk sport this morning (shocking I know), and Ronnie Irani was presenting. Must say I was quite impressed. I heard him doing some bits for Sky cricket a year or so ago and felt he sounded too 'northern', but I suspect he has been spending some of his knee rehab time in Media Training as he did a good job.

 

[Pubey]

motty and lawenson for the england commentaries is just so so dull

 

[number11]

motty and lawenson for the england commentaries is just so so dull

Sadly I heard they have Lawrenson doing the commentating for the new Pro Evo game :eek:

 

[MrB]

Chess is terrible on the radio.

 

[number11]

Chess is terrible on the radio.

Equally as bad in the papers....all that E4.H7, B2.F6+; H7.C3......

 

[C C Csiders]

motty and lawenson for the england commentaries is just so so dull

It is not too dissimilar to listening to Julian and Sandy from Round the Horne (one for the conoisseurs or over 70's I suspect).

 

[Vange Shrimper]

motty and lawenson for the england commentaries is just so so dull

I dunno why Lawrenson is doing the commentaries for England anyway, seeing as he played for Eire.

And watching footie/cricket/tennis etc on the t.v whilst listening to the commentary on the radio isn't really a good idea. You'd hear what would happen first before actually seeing it. It's because radio is faster than television transmissions.

 

[Southminster_Shrimper]

Underwater hockey never works on radio.....

http://www.uwhworlds2006.net/

 

[ldnfatso]

skiing isnt a radio sport!

 

[Southminster_Shrimper]

Syncronised Swimming isnt either......but then come to think of it, it isnt great TV viewing either....and I am beginning to wonder if it even qualifies for a sport....

 

[Bluesmanager]

Trampolining. Can you imagine?

*Applause*
Commentator: and here we go. We start with a star jump.
*Trampoline squeaks*

Ad Infinetum.

 

[londonblue]

How about 10 pin bowling?

"He set himself, he bowls. He's hit some pins."

Repeat as many times as it takes to finish a game.

 

[fatshrimp]

Squash.

Would love to hear them try and keep up with that!