Matt & Robbie vs. Phil & Paul
 

My wife and I have decided we like the commentary of Matthew Keenan and Robbie McEwen (on the NBCSportsGold service) better than Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin (no introduction needed for these guys).

I am so tired of hearing Paul talk about "a job of work" and "a nasty little this" or "a nasty little that".

What say you?

I like Matt & Robbie, especially McEwens real insight. My son who is a real sports fan picked up on McEwen right away...he was watching with me and commented on how the announcer was really good and knew his stuff.

I do miss listening to Phil & Paul a bit though...for nostalgic reasons only.

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Same here, except my wife doesn't really tolerate any of them - headphones were my friend.

Did they ever mention Fabian Aru? :p

What, no Lance and JB option?


:)

William

Phil and Paul needed to go to pasture long ago.

Give me Carlton Kirby and Sean Kelly any day.

My threshold of acceptable commentary is that it be in English and that I can understand over 50% of the words. I'm not sure if Sean meets either one of those. :no:

To say PL is past his prime is being kind.


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And Phil saying Team Kelme is in the break is somehow better?

Kelly at least can still give real insight into a race and what's happening in a particular move.

Phil's too busy misidentifying guys as riders who retired 25 years ago.

I do prefer McEwen/Keenan myself, but I think a lot of casual fans (test case: my wife) think that Phil/Paul are a cultural part of the race. Like Verne Lundquist is SEC football, or Bill Raftery is March Madness, or Marv Albert is NBA. None of those guys have their fastball anymore, but there's a comforting familiarity there. My wife doesn't know enough to care that Phil is just guessing at rider names at this point.

I got into cycling in the -7 era, and I will grudgingly admit to the super-fredliness of still hearing Phil's voice in my head when I get out of the saddle on a climb. :o

+ 1

Unfortunately Keenan is as exciting as watching grass grow and talks cr4p about someone's 8th place in a race 5 years earlier because he memorised it.... McEwen is really growing into the role (& he's only been commentating for about 3 years)

McEwen has surprised me. I didn't expect a scrappy sprinter type to be a knowledgeable, articulate commentator.

Yep. I honestly don't know why you'd watch anything other than Eurosport for racing. Carlton Kirby's infectious enthusiasm, extensive knowledge and witty asides are pure joy. Can't imagine the Tour without him.

Though I do miss David Harmon.

When I was watching I preferred Matt & Robbie for commentary content but, having met Phil and Paul, I would still listen to them for a while.

Plus, as others mentioned, there is a sort of "It's not the same withoutt them" feel about it all.

BK