Standards of Commentary on TGG

Hi folks.

To get my contribution to the Terrace started, can I suggest that one of the chief obstacles in the way of RL's development/advancement in the public domain in this country, is the pathetic, sometimes embarrassing standard of commentary that fans are forced to put up with on Sky?

Watched the Wire Hudd game last night and was amazed at just how often the team of talkers were 'off topic' and apparently pursuing some undefined agenda of their own. Even the Wire Saints game two weeks back, was ruined for me by being bombarded throughout the 2nd half, by the revelatory idea that it was a SUPERB game. It's like being told by a bystander that the rain that's falling is WET! Give us a break! We could see that, couldn't we? We are NOT idiots.

Much of my frustration in listening last night, was to do with the fact that Stevenson defined and judged almost every 50/50 call. Can somebody clear up the role of the 'commentator' to this guy? I'd rather watch the action unfold and experience the excitement of the unknown than to be told what the man with the mic thinks. Aussie commentators don't do it. Football callers don't do it. Cricket commentators don't do it. Why the heck does this crew do it? As well as this, the limitation of the man's vocabulary is plain for all to see. [iSuperb, outstanding, try time! WTF? Used over and over, even the most endearing idioms become cliche.[/i And if you listen closely the two rely almost solely on idiom to call the game.

Hemmings is apparently much better, but IMO far more insidious than the bombastic one. The number of times he calls the wrong names of players (last night I counted at least 2) is indeed an embarrassment to the sport. He indulged in what I call Frenchisms the whole night, seeming not to know the difference between one black player and another, and even called one incomprehensible decision from the ref, 'Irish.' Steady, Eddie! Is that not a racial stereotype you're indulging in there, mate?

So ain't it time fans, and the game, got the quality they deserve behind the mic on Sky. What do you suppose people in Devon, Hampshire, Lincs, London et al make of the present incumbents' meandering inaccuracies, and self-opinionated tripe?

I wish they'd call it like it is, or do the game a favour and fall on their very blunt, rusty swords.

We deserve better than them, surely...