Worlds commentary - Porter v Harmon

[Ball]

Fair play to Hugh Porter, he out-commentated David Harmon yesterday in a big way, showed a bit more experience in that he actually had something prepared, or at least was able to keep talking and yet still sounded completely and utterly stunned and breathless. Harmon just sounded a bit clueless. I bet some people will come back and say he was genuinely lost for words, more natural, bla bla bla, but I just think it was a bit rubbish.
Watching Porter's BBC coverage gives me goosebumps every time. And you can hear Cav scream as he crosses the line, then a bit later when he puts his arms in the air.

Harmon:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/video/25092011/58/cavendish-ends-long-british-wait.html


Porter:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/15052887.stm


Feel like I should say that I've actually become a big fan of Harmon, and very much enjoy listening to his commentary on Eurosport. He's generally very well informed, has a lot to say, shares his passion. I just don't think he covers the really exciting bits very well, he gets a bit tongue tied.

 

[Tompy]

Fair play to Hugh Porter, he out-commentated David Harmon yesterday in a big way, showed a bit more experience in that he actually had something prepared, or at least was able to keep talking and yet still sounded completely and utterly stunned and breathless. Harmon just sounded a bit clueless. I bet some people will come back and say he was genuinely lost for words, more natural, bla bla bla, but I just think it was a bit rubbish.
Watching Porter's BBC coverage gives me goosebumps every time. And you can hear Cav scream as he crosses the line, then a bit later when he puts his arms in the air.

Harmon:

http://uk.eurosport....itish-wait.html


Porter:

http://news.bbc.co.u...ng/15052887.stm


Feel like I should say that I've actually become a big fan of Harmon, and very much enjoy listening to his commentary on Eurosport. He's generally very well informed, has a lot to say, shares his passion. I just don't think he covers the really exciting bits very well, he gets a bit tongue tied.

I cannot abide Hugh Porter's commentary.

His Brummie accent, very poor rider recognition, constant references to riders' track exploits (the only cycling discipline he knows anything about), the constant over-dramatisation of virtually everything that happens, his mangling of the English language... grrrrrr. Awful.

I'd rather watch in silence than listen to Porter.

David Harmon is the best by a long shot.

 

[rsvdaz]

first time I heard Porters commentary was ToB and although being a Brummie in Excile I thought it was a bit droll for sport.....Always prefer the commentary on Eurosport..probalby goes back to my moto gp watching days....just wished they reduced the adverts

 

[Fletch456]

+1 for Eurosport. Second season of watching them but really taken to them. Plus I really like the input of ex-pros Bakstedt, Smithy and Kelly.

Am sorry to say that tbh Porter may simply be past it. Though thinking about it...it could be his tone, not the Brummy but the higher pitched strained quality to his voice. It gets on my nerves and then there are the errors as described above.

Sky for me have also made Liggett and Sherwen sound monotone and as if they are bored. So I will HAVE to keep up a sky subscription...darn!!

 

[Fletch456]

first time I heard Porters commentary was ToB and although being a Brummie in Excile I thought it was a bit droll for sport.....Always prefer the commentary on Eurosport..probalby goes back to my moto gp watching days....just wished they reduced the adverts

Least you can pause with Sky+

The adverts on ITV4 were worse as it was either during the Vuelta or ToB that I watched some of the highlights on ITV and I couldn't believe the number in each break - may be not every break but some were verrrry long.

 

[Crackle]

Porter never calls the rider or tactics right, it's just ceasless dribble, sorry.

 

[raindog]

I've never understood the dislike for Harmon that alot of people seem to have. I think he does a good job of something that must be really bloody difficult to do.

 

[Auntie Helen]

I got fed up with "Tommy Voykler" and "Edvard Boyssen Hagen". It seems that any unusual foreign name has to have an "oy" in it.

Oh, and Andre Greipel he says as "Gry-pell" whereas it would be "Gry-pll".

Yes, I know foreign names are hard, but the other commentators sitting next to him (Chris Boardman) manage it!

And of course the "HTC Columbia" thing on day 1 of the ToB was appalling!

 

[HLaB]

The adverts on ITV4 were worse as it was either during the Vuelta or ToB that I watched some of the highlights on ITV and I couldn't believe the number in each break - may be not every break but some were verrrry long.

I was just saying to somebody on the club run, who jokingly complained that they were too slow, they didn't have enough dimples; that ad was doing my head in

 

[rich p]

Porter is a numpty whereas Harmon is genuinely knowledgeable.

I have gone off Sean Kelly as he never says anything remotely interesting that isn't prompted by DH. I think he's a not very interesting and intelligent person despite being a superb cyclist. Magnus Backstedt has shown how to be the on-board expert this year IMHO.

 

[Speicher]

I like the combination of Harmon and Smithy, or Harmon and Bakstedt.

Mr Smith managed very well, almost on his own, one day early in the Tour of ... oo err... when Mr Kirby could hardly talk. I will be staying with Sky for my coverage of Cycling events.

 

[rsvdaz]

another gripe....the co- commentators must be a least half articulate.

The woman doing the girls/womens WC race was awful

and Sean Kelly needs some uppers...very depressing

 

[Tompy]

another gripe....the co- commentators must be a least half articulate.

The woman doing the girls/womens WC race was awful

and Sean Kelly needs some uppers...very depressing

You mean Emma Trott? David Harmon is her agent but I'm sure she got the job on merit.

Her English wasn't the best but it was good to have a female perspective. Just as it was good to have a specialist time triallist, Micheal Hutchinson, commentating on the TT events.

 

[Paulus]

I thought Emma Trott was quite good on the telly, It was her first time as a pundit after all. So with a bit more practice she could be very good. I do prefer Big Magnus to Sean Kelly, Maggie seems to be more knowlegable and articulate.

 

[woohoo]

Well, I like Porter. At least he's been there and done it unlike some e.g. the abysmal guy that the BBC used to "add value" to the last track Worlds.

Porter gets a few things wrong but he makes good calls as well.