Damon Hill joins James Allen to commentate on Hungarian GP... - Page 5

Ingsy · 7 Aug 2007, 08:51 (Ref:1983204)

To be fair I'd forgotten how embarassing JA was at last years Hungarian race, 'til they played it back in the build up to this years.

Damon was pretty good, considering it was his first go, as far as I know. I imagine that it's not easy commentating on any sport. Think about when you're talking - how much of the meaning is put across by you hand movements, facial expressions etc. When commentating you have none of those visual modes of getting your message across.

Smurfer · 7 Aug 2007, 11:44 (Ref:1983328)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefy

Martin Brundle is key to the F1 viewing weekend - but it'll be nice to have Damon on board, just for the change..

I can't disagree with you more. I find Brundle to be negative in every respect. Here in Ozy land we only get qualifying and the race so he may reveal a different side at other times. I've heard he does a good grid walk.

Anyway, I thought Damon put in a good honest effort with some interesting comments.

My two cents.

BootsOntheSide · 7 Aug 2007, 13:12 (Ref:1983403)

What do you find negative about Brundle's coverage? I think he gets the balance between praise and criticism about right. He's definitely not a Lewis fanboy.

Ralf's Girl · 7 Aug 2007, 14:45 (Ref:1983459)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutton

To be fair, James is not as bad as he used to be.

Either that or I am getting used to his incessant pish.

I think you must just be resigned to it. Listening to James Allen wittering about Lewis Hamilton is just as annoying as listening to him wittering about Jenson Button was a year ago - I thought he was going to explode when Alonso blocked his favourite driver in the pits.

That's the best thing about having Brundle as the other commentator - James Allen is so blatantly biased that there has to be somebody to counter that, and if Brundle has a bias he tends to keep it to himself.

Super Hans · 7 Aug 2007, 15:12 (Ref:1983468)

Allen will be contractually obliged to 'big-up' British drivers. It helps get the viewing figures up. It may sound terrible to the avid F1 fan, but he's only doing what his boss tells him to (unlike Lewis).

Knowlesy · 7 Aug 2007, 17:41 (Ref:1983550)

Ant was really good? Well, there are two sides to Ants commentary last year now I look back.

I enjoyed it aat the time, but when you listen to it a second time....yes, there are some fabulous and valuable insights. But the man does not have a commentators voice. And I didn't much care for the excited child style when Jenson was leading too. It served to get James even more revved up and resulted in some hideous finish line hysterics from both.

If you watch the Hungarian GP 2006 again, be advised to turn the sound down.

Dutton · 8 Aug 2007, 04:59 (Ref:1983700)

I think I might hunt out Austria 2002. Listening to him in the closing stages is utterly amusing.

How someone could somehow be so shocked that it happened is utterly mesmerising.

NAC · 8 Aug 2007, 10:56 (Ref:1983916)

I say get rid of James Allen and have a Martin Brundle / Damon Hill team.

I could listen to that

Smurfer · 10 Aug 2007, 12:59 (Ref:1985478)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

What do you find negative about Brundle's coverage? I think he gets the balance between praise and criticism about right. He's definitely not a Lewis fanboy.

I think there are two components. The first being that he is completely void of excitement. To me GP racing is exciting and I want the commentator to convey this excitement. Maybe he is too jaded to get excited, I don't know.

Secondly, he tends to be quite critical of most drivers. This could be for a number of reasons. I'm guessing one could be that he considers that he was a superior driver in his hayday. He also tends to use hind sight in most situations to criticise a driver. That is, on a replay he will be almost damning of some drivers. Does he not know that most decisions have to be split second decisions due to the nature of the beast. I think he should be more forgiving as each driver is trying as hard as the other and also as hindsight is worth nothing to those in arm chairs.

I'm not saying he is the worst commentator I have ever heard just that I would probably prefer someone else.

Ralf's Girl · 10 Aug 2007, 13:51 (Ref:1985514)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurfer

ITo me GP racing is exciting and I want the commentator to convey this excitement.

But isn't there a fine line between being excited and being a pain in the backside? Murray Walker got excited over just about everything and people loved him for it because his enthusiasm was infectious (consequently he needed a more downbeat commentary partner, like Brundle, to keep a balance). James Allen came along and tried to sound exactly the same and most viewers find him intensely irritating. I'd much rather hear Brundle, who knows what he's talking about, speaking calmly about something interesting than listen to Allen ranting about whatever he perceives as the latest injustice to be done to poor Lewis.

**Adam43** · 10 Aug 2007, 14:23 (Ref:1985534)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurfer

I think there are two components. The first being that he is completely void of excitement. To me GP racing is exciting and I want the commentator to convey this excitement. Maybe he is too jaded to get excited, I don't know.

He does convey excitement, he just doesn't shout when he does it. Anyway, he is there to inform principally.

Quote:

Secondly, he tends to be quite critical of most drivers.

Yes that should be kept to internet forums

Quote:

This could be for a number of reasons. I'm guessing one could be that he considers that he was a superior driver in his hayday.

I disagree, he is complimentary of good driving. He appreciates this a lot and in many things is quite humble and points out his own deficiencies.

Quote:

He also tends to use hind sight in most situations to criticise a driver. That is, on a replay he will be almost damning of some drivers. Does he not know that most decisions have to be split second decisions due to the nature of the beast. I think he should be more forgiving as each driver is trying as hard as the other and also as hindsight is worth nothing to those in arm chairs.

Again I see this in quite the opposite light. He will change his opinion with a replay. Even a split second decision can be the wrong one!

BootsOntheSide · 10 Aug 2007, 15:43 (Ref:1985589)

Brundle as a driver was quite easy to measure, at least after the crash in 1984 which might have affected him. When teamed with Hakkinen or Schumacher he was nowhere near their level, but probably tought them a thing or two. When alongside guys like Blundell, Modena and Panis he was a good match for them, and particularly strong on the street tracks. I'd say he'd be about average for the current grid - maybe slightly below average as driving standards seem to be improving. In real terms he wasn't as good as James Hunt (who frequently criticised drivers, even competitive ones like Patrese and Piquet) and Murray (a failed racer himself, who usually refused to criticise even the backmarkers), which is reflected in his commentary - complimentary when it should be, critical when it should.

Chatters · 11 Aug 2007, 06:33 (Ref:1985936)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Fletche

Why does Louise Goodman ask DC about LH every race? He must be getting teed off by now.

Maybe DC should finish more races then...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralf's Girl

I thought he was going to explode when Alonso blocked his favourite driver in the pits.

"Whats going on here, why is Alonso stopped... IS HE BLOCKING HAMILTON? IS HE HOLDING HAMILTON UP?"

Knowlesy · 11 Aug 2007, 16:00 (Ref:1986102)

I thought James found it quite amusing and fascinating actually!

Ralf's Girl · 11 Aug 2007, 17:16 (Ref:1986149)

I could just imagine his face getting redder and redder until he lost it and started shouting about Alonso blocking Hamilton. There's bigging up British drivers and then there's annoying the hell out of the viewers.

petecossie · 11 Aug 2007, 20:12 (Ref:1986275)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralf's Girl

But isn't there a fine line between being excited and being a pain in the backside? Murray Walker got excited over just about everything and people loved him for it because his enthusiasm was infectious (consequently he needed a more downbeat commentary partner, like Brundle, to keep a balance). James Allen came along and tried to sound exactly the same and most viewers find him intensely irritating. I'd much rather hear Brundle, who knows what he's talking about, speaking calmly about something interesting than listen to Allen ranting about whatever he perceives as the latest injustice to be done to poor Lewis.

Exactly my sentiments. James Allen is so over the top at times and as a result is almost universally disliked by motor sport enthusiasts. His hysterical shrieks at the start when the lights changes seem to been toned down, that really used to irritate me. I just wonder how long his contract has left to run with ITV as that can be be the only thing keeping him there.

In my opinion I thought Damon did a pretty good job, not perfect but a sight more accepible than JA.

As a commentating duo I like Charlie Cox and Steve Parrish on the Moto GP.

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