Thursday, May 17, 2007
The problem with James
I was reading this post on F1Fanatic about Ross Brawn's dislike of the Formula 1 coverage when I was motivated to write the following comment. As it was quite long I thought I'd repeat it here:
The problem is that there are two roles in the commentry box. They should be divided up like a newspaper between News and Comment. And Murray used to do News and Martin did Comment. But James, desperately desperately wants to show off how much he knows about F1. It means that both of them end up doing Comment and we don't have a clue what's going on! It means that Martin sometimes, feeling embarresed no doubt ends up describing what's going on. All of their descriptions are far too slow because James has been taking his lead from Martin.
It should be like this:
James: Somethings happening on the track, somethings happening on the track. Something very exciting is happening on the track. Why is it happening on the track?
Martin: Because of x and then y and this is because of...
James: Sorry to cut you off Martin something is happening on the track. Something is happening on the track. Something is happening on the track.
When it is usually like this:
James: This week I had dinner with somebody who told me something that was relevant before this race started.
Martin: Really? That might mean the fuel in the race is going to be x.
James: Well I thought the complete opposite because I'm completely stupid.
Martin: That would be a stupid thing to think.
James: Yeah I know. I'm stupid. I'm stupid. I'm stupid.
Martin: Well while we've been speaking about that this is what's been happening on the track.
James: Let me re-cap everything that's been happening since the start of the race again, I haven't done that for 2 minutes and it's not as if you've been watching the whole race or anything and as far as I can tell nothing could possibly be happening now and if it is then it can probably wait a minute or two and I'll include it in my next recap of everything that's happened in the race.
Martin: You are stupid.
James: Yes I'm stupid.
Or something like that.
The problem is that there are two roles in the commentry box. They should be divided up like a newspaper between News and Comment. And Murray used to do News and Martin did Comment. But James, desperately desperately wants to show off how much he knows about F1. It means that both of them end up doing Comment and we don't have a clue what's going on! It means that Martin sometimes, feeling embarresed no doubt ends up describing what's going on. All of their descriptions are far too slow because James has been taking his lead from Martin.
It should be like this:
James: Somethings happening on the track, somethings happening on the track. Something very exciting is happening on the track. Why is it happening on the track?
Martin: Because of x and then y and this is because of...
James: Sorry to cut you off Martin something is happening on the track. Something is happening on the track. Something is happening on the track.
When it is usually like this:
James: This week I had dinner with somebody who told me something that was relevant before this race started.
Martin: Really? That might mean the fuel in the race is going to be x.
James: Well I thought the complete opposite because I'm completely stupid.
Martin: That would be a stupid thing to think.
James: Yeah I know. I'm stupid. I'm stupid. I'm stupid.
Martin: Well while we've been speaking about that this is what's been happening on the track.
James: Let me re-cap everything that's been happening since the start of the race again, I haven't done that for 2 minutes and it's not as if you've been watching the whole race or anything and as far as I can tell nothing could possibly be happening now and if it is then it can probably wait a minute or two and I'll include it in my next recap of everything that's happened in the race.
Martin: You are stupid.
James: Yes I'm stupid.
Or something like that.
Comments:
<< Home
I thought this was very funny and accurate, but perhaps a bit too harsh? I'm sure if we ever met him we'd think he was a great guy and take back all the things we've said.
I'm totally with you on that... To an extent. I love talking to you, Stew and Adrian about F1. I'm not sure that any of us would make great commentators. I think that I could motormouth my way through a grand prix but I wonder, would I be better than James - really? Some people are better at one type of commentry some at another. James is an interesting person to talk to about F1 surely. And I must say I actually really rate him in print. I think he adds genuine insight in his Friday Form Guide, Post Race Analysis and Question the team features - BUT I think he's a substandard Martin. And we already have a top rate Martin.
If I was his friend I would suggest to him that he should concentrate on the other thing. He doesn't seem to see what he does as different than Murray. How he doesn't see this is amazing to me.
What may have happened was that he was so overly criticised at the beginning when nobody was willing to give him a chance (and I do still think he has a chance) he has totally closed himself to criticism. He can't deal with it at all anymore. He has just placed it all in the area of prejudice. And I can totally understand that.
Despite my post, I think that there was a lovely bit of commentary that James did on the qualifying on Saturday. It was in part the team radio, part a pre-prepared line by him, and in part a moment of sublime insight by Martin. But when Lewis Hamilton started his last flying lap everything slotted into place. Did James know he was delivering commentary heaven rather than hell? That's what I worry about? I wonder if he is too focused on what he enjoys, and not on providing an integral part of the entertainment.
Post a Comment
If I was his friend I would suggest to him that he should concentrate on the other thing. He doesn't seem to see what he does as different than Murray. How he doesn't see this is amazing to me.
What may have happened was that he was so overly criticised at the beginning when nobody was willing to give him a chance (and I do still think he has a chance) he has totally closed himself to criticism. He can't deal with it at all anymore. He has just placed it all in the area of prejudice. And I can totally understand that.
Despite my post, I think that there was a lovely bit of commentary that James did on the qualifying on Saturday. It was in part the team radio, part a pre-prepared line by him, and in part a moment of sublime insight by Martin. But when Lewis Hamilton started his last flying lap everything slotted into place. Did James know he was delivering commentary heaven rather than hell? That's what I worry about? I wonder if he is too focused on what he enjoys, and not on providing an integral part of the entertainment.
<< Home
