ESPN3 Commentators

[volleydude444]

So I'm wondering what everyone's thoughts are on the commentators that are covering your favorite teams. Who do you like? Who not? What are some pet peeves announcers do/say that drive you nuts? What would you like to hear/see more of?

[rainbowbadger]

I like Adam Amin. He knows the sport decently, doesn't yammer in over the play about irrelevant topics in the name of color commentary, and doesn't talk down to viewers.

I never get the reminding-people-what-the-libero-is-3x approach. You'd think that it's safe to assume that someone tuning in to watch a non-Olympic volleyball match on TV or - especially - online would be into the sport enough that you don't have to spend time reviewing the most basic rules.

[rockhopper]

Oct 17, 2014 6:47:36 GMT -5 rainbowbadger said:

You'd think that it's safe to assume that someone tuning in to watch a non-Olympic volleyball match on TV or - especially - online would be into the sport enough that you don't have to spend time reviewing the most basic rules.

True!

[mclvbdad]

I know the SEC Network is having to dig pretty deep because they do so many matches on Fridays and Sundays. Some of the ones they get are clueless. They won't even get the players names right until the 3rd or 4th set. And they constantly mis-call faults. How hard is it to glance at the up ref and see what he signals? They have the best seat in the house.

I do like Maria Taylor though. She does a great job. She is very knowledgable and she can communicate and pass information in a non-condescending way.

I also like Nell Fortner. She does a good job.

[vbman100]

What is interesting to me is how ESPN seems to always treat volleyball like people don't know the rules. They will explain at the beginning of a match that the game is played to 25, rally scoring, 5th set to 15, blah, blah, blah.

I watched their coverage of the lacrosse championships in the Spring and there was hardly any explanation about the rules, the length of the game, etc. They did explain that there is different terminology between the men's game and the women's game, but did not explain what the different terms were.

Then for softball, they did not explain the substitution rules for re-entry, what a DP is in the lineup, how long the game is, etc. They treated those sports like the viewers knew what everything meant, knew all the rules, and if you didn't know, oh well.

[onfiya]

True. The few folks that do tune in to watch college volleyball, are probably well acquainted with the game...

The libero is the back row player in the non-matching jersey...

[longtimefan]

Regarding the SEC network's Nell Fortner - she is certainly very experienced and knowledgeable and is probably a great person, but I find her voice a bit annoying and she repeats cliche after cliche after cliche. Many color announcers are apparently not familiar with the proverbial saying "Silence is Golden" (this also applies to baseball, football, basketball, etc). Also, many announcing partners get into long conversations during a set and ignore the action on the court. That being said, I'm grateful that we are now have many more opportunities to watch volleyball on TV than we had in the past, and the play-by-play and color announcers are generally doing a good job. On a cumulative basis, I'd give the announcing crews I've listened to a B+ or A-.

[mikegarrison]

Oct 17, 2014 10:29:48 GMT -5 longtimefan said:

Many color announcers are apparently not familiar with the proverbial saying "Silence is Golden" (this also applies to baseball, football, basketball, etc).

In case you weren't aware of it, their job is to talk about the sports contest you are watching.

[hammer]

Oct 17, 2014 10:29:48 GMT -5 longtimefan said:

Regarding the SEC network's Nell Fortner - she is certainly very experienced and knowledgeable and is probably a great person, but I find her voice a bit annoying and she repeats cliche after cliche after cliche. Many color announcers are apparently not familiar with the proverbial saying "Silence is Golden" (this also applies to baseball, football, basketball, etc). Also, many announcing partners get into long conversations during a set and ignore the action on the court. That being said, I'm grateful that we are now have many more opportunities to watch volleyball on TV than we had in the past, and the play-by-play and color announcers are generally doing a good job. On a cumulative basis, I'd give the announcing crews I've listened to a B+ or A-.

Nell Fortner is the reason they invented twin beds.

[bigscrill]

I cannot get through the Wisconsin home matches on BTN is because of the commentating team. Screw waterboarding, make our prisoners listen to those two knuckleheads at max volume. Guaranteed results. Can only imagine the reaction from Sunderland listening to their dialogue.

If any one has the Wisconsin Maryland match dvr'ed I dare you to try and get through the first set without pulling your hair out.

[badgerbreath]

Oct 17, 2014 12:54:54 GMT -5 bigscrill said:

I cannot get through the Wisconsin home matches on BTN is because of the commentating team. Screw waterboarding, make our prisoners listen to those two knuckleheads at max volume. Guaranteed results. Can only imagine the reaction from Sunderland listening to their dialogue.

If any one has the Wisconsin Maryland match dvr'ed I dare you to try and get through the first set without pulling your hair out.

X 10!!

And the lack of Vball knowledge is only the tip of the iceberg.  They lack basic commentator skills and preparation.  I swear the play by play guy pronounces Morey's name different every time, Mowry, Marley, Marney, Morney. We could have 5 or 6 extra players on the court.  It was like he was doing it on purpose.  Teams names get interchanged randomly, too, as do players names. And you don't even have to be there to get credit for a play...Carlini became Hancock at one point during a recent match.  Never mind the fact that he doesn't seem to be paying attention to the referees calls.  Also the Badgers were taking on the Rutgers.  As if the team macot were Rutger Hauer.  If it happened once, well, but over and over and over.  Maddening.

I would listen the UW radio team, who are much better, but the commentary and video are so offset in time, it can be very disorienting. Anybody who is basically competent would be an improvement.  I don't care how many times they explain the libero. 

[psumaui]

I saw Hannah Werth was doing some commentating. Forget which matches. I liked the way she explained what exactly the player did right or wrong when going up for a kill. More technical info than you hear all the time from other announcers/color commentators.

I agree about some of the announcers that go off on a tangent while play is going on. Sometimes I'd catch myself yelling at the screen "Hey, stop yapping and pay attention to the game that's going on in front of you"

[ZUp]

Oct 17, 2014 13:47:08 GMT -5 psumaui said:

I saw Hannah Werth was doing some commentating. Forget which matches. I liked the way she explained what exactly the player did right or wrong when going up for a kill. More technical info than you hear all the time from other announcers/color commentators.

I agree about some of the announcers that go off on a tangent while play is going on. I'd catch myself yelling at the screen "Hey, stop yapping and pay attention to the game that's going on in front of you"

If was the Florida vs South Carolina match.

[Upfrontvb]

Oct 17, 2014 13:54:00 GMT -5 ZUp said:

Oct 17, 2014 13:47:08 GMT -5 psumaui said:

I saw Hannah Werth was doing some commentating. Forget which matches. I liked the way she explained what exactly the player did right or wrong when going up for a kill. More technical info than you hear all the time from other announcers/color commentators.

I agree about some of the announcers that go off on a tangent while play is going on. I'd catch myself yelling at the screen "Hey, stop yapping and pay attention to the game that's going on in front of you"

If was the Florida vs South Carolina match.

I liked Hannah Werth too. Very informative about volleyball and explaining things. So that was good. But she and her partner were a little bit blah compared to some of the commentators. There is a male on one sports channel who really gets into it but then it gets annoying. I don't like the commentators that just talk about one team and forget to talk about the other team. Marie Taylor does that and it pisses me off. I guess I like the guy who did the WCH. He's said it like it was.

[beb12345]

They are bad!