I would like to get your opinions on what I think was poor biased commentary by Phil Gould on Sunday in the Saints Vs Cowboys game. Twice in the 1st half Jonathon Thurston did cross field kicks from within his own 30 metre line looking for his winger. Twice the ball went into touch inside his own half handing possession back to the Dragons and putting them on the attack. Instead of giving Thurston a serve, Gould loved the tactic and thought it was a good idea because of Saints compressed defensive line. If this was any run of the mill halfback they would have been slammed for these actions and the pressure they were putting their team under. Because it is JT and Gould obviously has a man crush on him he was complimented for what was a very high risk play, TWICE in 1 half. If it was a better attacking side it could have easily been 24nil at half time. I remember Tim Smith doing it in the 2005 finals series and getting absolutely slammed by the commentators.
I think this is also the problem with Dally M voting. Players like Thurston, Slater etc get votes they don't deserve because of "Man Love" from the person awarding the points. How often do you go "Your Kidding" when the man of the match is awarded? Sure they are very good players but get preferential treatment more than they should.
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if daniel mortimer did exactly the same thing he would have been criticized for being inexperienced . it is the same as when anybody puts in a crap kick but gets a lucky bounce and regathers and is called brilliant but the ball bounces the other way and it is a poor option.
ReplyDeletecommentators are annoying
it's been a problem in the states for years, it is now creeping into Aussie commentary.
ReplyDeleteThe basic problem is this- big stars=ratings.
So commentators are always loathe to criticise stars.
Also, couldn't agree more with Dally M voting- tapes need to be reviewed rather than a random media judge handing out the points after watching the game live, with a director from the truck in his ear telling him what to focus on.
Interesting point. I didn't think it was too bad in the general commentary but Gus would have to be the main offender. He does have plenty of man love out there though.
ReplyDeleteThe Daly M's are a rort. Overall the best player usually does win the medal but the week to week voting at times is a joke. The same names appear regardless of whether the player has a great game or an ordinary game.
I also love the fact Deevs is our very own american correspondant. What don't you know about American sport ?? Its brilliant !! Deevs who will be the number 1 draft pick in the Nba for next season ??
blake griffin the power forward from oklahoma will be no 1.
ReplyDeletethe grizzlies should pick ricky rubio the spanish point guard second- he is 17 and started the gold medal game v USA- but will probably stupidly pick hashim thabeet the giant tanzanian center from UConn.
could be an aussie in the first round too- pat mills the little point guard.
watching american sports is like looking into the future- the sports are different, but the trends filter over to australia after 5 - 10 years. training techniques, front office set ups, how they scout, media coverage. everything except the money of course.
You had to get him started didnt you George! He not only has the words, but the physical evidence to back up such commentary as seen in the pub on Saturday night with ipod footage of his mate LeBron James. Amazing stuff
ReplyDeleteI love it Deevs, I have a man crush on American Sports due to one Greg Devine.
ReplyDeleteWith the commentary I agree that Gould should have given Thurston a serve on the second occasion forsure. I agree there is preferential treatment given to some players, however I dont think that Gould is the only offender. I am a huge Gould fan, however if you listen to his commentary on 9 and then on Triple M on Monday Night the difference is huge, 9 obviously want him to be up tempo and carry on a bit where as on Monday Night Footy he just comes in when he has an opinion and something constructive to add to the game.
I think Laurie Daley is also a serious man lover, now I watched the replay of the Titans Vs Roosters game on Saturday Night. I am a huge Titans fan. However the players getting wrapped and 'man loved' by Daley were Prince and Laffranchi who I dont think have been playing well all season. On the Roosters side it was Anasta who was getting the love and even when he put in 3 or 4 poor kicks culminating in Anasta putting the ball out on the full which lead to a 18-0 run for the Titans late in the first half he somehow managed to take the focus away from the fact that he put the ball out on the full but rather went on to say how well Anasta has been kicking in 2009????????????
Totally agree boys, however I think the 9 commentators are told to play it up and make outlandish statements. If I was Niel Henry I would have almost hooked Thurston after the second kick it was stupidity and almost saying to the Dragons that we cannot work for a try, the only hope we have is for kicks to wingers inside our own half. I think the Fox commentators are just as bad.
The Dally M Medal should be selected by the players and players only. Each team nominates 2 players. And out of the 4 nominated 3 players recieve points in a 3-2-1 system. Its funny how often the TV man of the match is nowhere near that of what the teams select as players player, which is a joke. The Dally M is a media beat up and has lost alot of merrit especially after Matt Orford won the award last season.
Players aren't the answer- too many agendas and believe or not, a lot of players don't necessarily know the game that well. Besdies, a fullback might not be the best judge of the impact of a front rower etc. I think you'd still get the 6, 7 and 9 getting too many votes.
ReplyDeleteCoaches could judge, no-one knows the game better and no-one watches more tape. I don't even think the weekly "point system" works that well- you can play 8 great games and 16 stinkers and get the cash- thats an extreme example i know, but i dont think consistency is awarded.
I think a vote of coaches at the end of the year-each picks their top 5 overall and 3 best at each position, rookie and coach of the year etc would be best. Can't pick from your own team to remove bias. This is similar, again, to the US sports where it's a yearly vote but over there media members vote, and as we've discussed they're horribly ill-informed at times and star-struck, plus some of them don't even watch half or more of the games.
Regardless of how it's done, coaches should pick the awards, not media members.
Yeah the NFL system always seems to be spot on, as does the Heissman and NBA all star teams.
ReplyDeletei actually dont think they always get them right. mvp awards are usually fair enough, but all-start teams are rubbish- except for reserves to the nba all star game, which the coaches vote. fans vote starters, which mostly pick themselves but a couple of washed up superstars make it every year. then the coaches pick the guys that deserve to be in.
ReplyDeleteI though it was chosed by the Coaches, how good would it be to see a NRL All Star Team selected by the coaches. Even if it was selected at the Dally M Awards from 1-17 and players recieved recognition on the night. Id love to see the NRL adopt a All Star weekend similar to the NBA stop the competition after 13 rounds and have the Origin. Why do we not have the Under 20's State of Origin before the First Grade State Of Origin? Polonesian All Stars VS Indiginous All Stars. It would be a money making bonanza but that would be to hard i spose!!! I still would love to see the NRL stop while the Origin is on and stand alone games with the Under 20's Origin Series and the Indigenous Vs Polonesian also have a 3 match series which runs concurrent at the same venue and have the game on the Wednesday or even move to a Saturday to create bigger crowds and TV audiences.
ReplyDelete