Oso planning to go pro
I have to say the commentary for this match is really bad.
In order to have the most effective pxp and analysis, one needs to travel and follow the tour week to week.(any sport)NBC, ESPN are only interested in fewer bigger events for casual observers in tennis and golf. That target market doesn’t care care that the quality is not the best from Hicks or Johnny Mac or Evert etc…They pair an NBC pxp person (a golf and olympics person in this example) with a bigger name tennis person even if the bigger named tennis person isn’t great at the job. Johnny Mac is often not good at the job but he’s a bigger name. NBC’s long 12 year contract expires after next year. And that should be the end of a long decades run of NBC and tennis. It doesn’t respect the sport. ESPN has in recent years, turned into a slams only place for tennis and golf. They would be likely to pick it up. Tennis Channel and TC plus will continue to carry all tour events including slams. Chris Eubanks and some others have been very good. Courier has always been good at explaining what is happening in the moment and why it is happening. I’m not their target market as I don’t need sound to watch sports. Sounds stays on for good broadcasts, and it stays down for bad ones for me.
To be honest not one of them analyzed the actual tennis the entire match. They also have a propensity to talk in non-sequitirs during the course of the points. Literally 95% of what they said during the entire match was Muchova has had injuries to overcome and Swiatek hasn't lost a set in a GS Final. They're seriously awful and have been for quite some time.
Each person is different. And each job is different. Pxp vs analyst are two very different jobs. Dan Hicks next to never does tennis outside of the French Open once a year. And he does it as a back up to Mike Tirico. Hicks doesn't travel the tour and follow the tour. Johnny Mac spends much of his time split between NYC and L.A ( his academy in Randall's Island/Mamhattan and L.A./Malibu)Evert spends much of her time in Boca Raton. And so on..They don't know what to say beyomd talking points and generalities because they are not a regular part of the tour. Again, their target audience are casual observers who either wouldn't know better or who wouldn't care. Dick Vitale in college basketball for example has a following despite not being a good in game analyst. He's better cast as a hoops PR spokesman giving talks, fund raising etc...The commentary and discussions have better depth and quality on TC and plus. Some better than others but definitely way better than ehat you would find on NBC and even ESPN too.
I'm sure you're right so perhaps it's time to step it up and get people in the booth that know how to communicate and discuss things? We are talking about the biggest women's sport in the world. And it's always been the #1 sport. McEnroe has had his moments but I think this trio could use a permanent vacation. Just my opinion. Muchova is a fun player to watch because she can volley from both wings after she unloads on power approach shots. She even served and volleyed a few times.
I didn't watch the match, but I've always liked McEnroe's work. Sad to hear that he apparently has gone downhill so much.
Something wrong with Joker?
Ruud really messed up that 1st set. This now looks like a formality and #23 for the Djoker.
Yeah, had to step away after saying Joker looked off, just now turned it on to see Ruud blow one in the middle of the net down 0-1 and down in set two. It’s early, but perhaps Joker has found his legs.
Eubanks is fun as hell to watch