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The ubiquitous Carlton Kirby

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  • June 2, 2013 at 10:24 pm #18977
    ruffest

    An old chestnut, I know but… Argh! Why is Carlton Kirby determined to ruin my procycling enjoyment?! The man is everywhere. I cannot understand how he keeps getting work. To listen to his commentary is to hear a man drowning – the guesswork, the misidentifications, the tedious Partridge-esque turns of phrase, the needless shouting that does not inject excitement in the final… The way he ‘wings it’ reminds me of those psychic charlatans doing ‘cold reading’. Anyone else would be preferable. Anyone. There are many other commentators who actually know what they are talking about. His co-commentators often sound embarrassed. I know I am. He makes watching almost unbearable. As each new race starts I pray it won’t be him but increasingly often I am disappointed. :”( Sorry for venting but thanks for listening. I couldn’t hold it in any more. Hearing his voice in the opening seconds of tonight’s Dauphine coverage finally sent me over the edge X(

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  • April 19, 2014 at 1:58 pm #739931
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    Stumps

    Ooh, the “time to pull up my
    Ooh, the “time to pull up my sofa and become an expert on commentating” brigade are out in force.

    Him and Kelly were brilliant together and long may it continue.

    April 19, 2014 at 1:43 pm #739929
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    WolfieSmith

    Carlton’s part of the show.
    Carlton’s part of the show. He’s in the grand tradition of David Coleman – famously sent up on Spitting Image “Oh no!!! I’m already hysterical with three laps to go!!!’ I can’t sustain this level of excitement!!!!!’ He’s also reminiscent of Murray ‘pants on fire’ Walker.

    He’s a foil for ex racers who sometimes don’t have the delivery and emotion. Backstedt was awful when he started. He’s improved. Stephens is good. Kelly was awful to start with and said bugger all. Now his problem is talking over the action. What Kelly says is always spot but very few have his knowledge – including all those wittering on about how poor they think Kirby is. CK is the first to admit when he says something daft and turns to see Kelly rolling his eyes.

    In an ideal world we’d get to listen to a few of you commentating next to Sean Kelly on a pro race. Gawd how I’d love that… :)) You’d be out of the trailer on the tip of Kelly’s boot before the first feed stop. 😀

    April 19, 2014 at 1:00 pm #739927
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    amc654

    Kirby is an imbecile. His
    Kirby is an imbecile. His commentary is horrendous and shows an overwhelming ignorance of tactics, and he consistently misidentifies riders (even when he manages to name a rider’s name at all, rather than just calling the team name). He pretends to provide expert commentary, but he has less knowledge than your average club racer. Kirby covers the sport as a MAMIL — there’s absolutely no way anyone would put up with a dippy five-a-side player calling games for the Premier League, so I’m not sure why we have to put up with the equivalent for cycling coverage on Eurosport.

    For my part, I’m a huge fan of Rob Hatch (and the new inCycle show he hosts on Sky Sports is fantastic). And both Dan Lloyd and Matt Stephens are excellent. Real insight and detail.

    April 19, 2014 at 11:42 am #739925
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    Anonymous

    with CK the sprint for the
    with CK the sprint for the line starts to climax with about 15k to go.

    He just doesn’t have the knowledge and race insight that’s required to cover the big races, how many times does he get corrected by his co-commentator? Let’s remember he gets paid to do this, so I’m not interested in how difficult it may or may not be, there are commentators who do a far better job, so let’s have them (back), especially David Harmon.

    If I manage to find another feed of a race without CK, then I always switch from Eurosport.

    April 19, 2014 at 10:26 am #739923
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    Meaulnes

    I don’t dislike CK as much as
    I don’t dislike CK as much as some, but he seems to forget he’s broadcasting, and screams “WOOOAHHHHH!!!!” too often instead of telling the viewer what’s actually happening. Commentating is incredibly difficult, especially for hours at a time but so many commentators seem to have a fear of silence. Sometimes just shutting up and letting the images speak for themselves is the best thing.

    April 19, 2014 at 9:54 am #739921
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    ruffest

    As mentioned above I believe
    As mentioned above I believe David Harmon is ready to work again but has not been given the chance as yet. A couple of his recent tweets:

    @spokesmen Thanks all once again for your messages. I’m ready to work behind the mic. It’s not my call anymore if I do

    @spokesmen Thank you for all the questions about @EurosportUKTV. I have not been booked for any commentary on the channel

    A real shame if they are overlooking him. Especially if it is in favour of Carlton Kirby more often than not. Even more especially in his time of need after giving them many years good service.

    April 18, 2014 at 9:51 pm #739919
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    Roberj4

    Wish David Harmon was back
    Wish David Harmon was back his commentary of the men’s Worlds RR which Cadel Evans won was superb. He is sadly missed hope he recovers from his illness.

    April 18, 2014 at 8:57 pm #739917
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    Him Up North

    At the start of the ’14
    At the start of the ’14 season CK wasn’t on much, seemingly benched in favour of Declan Quigley and Rob Hatch. Now he seems over-used, I have to say. I like the guy, but if I’ve heard the phrases, “business end of the race,” or “that’s not a grin, that’s a grimace” once apiece I’ve heard them a thousand times. And now he seems to have been given a partner in grandiloquence in the shape of Matt Stephens. While Bri Smith or Sean Kelly temper CK’s verbosity, Stephens tries to match him platitude for platitude. I’d like to hear Quiggers and Magnus B call more races.

    April 18, 2014 at 7:38 pm #739915
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    Joelsim

    I like him. Find him funny.
    I like him. Find him funny.

    April 17, 2014 at 9:50 am #739913
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    Martyn_K

    Kirby is not bad, and i quite
    Kirby is not bad, and i quite like it when commentators have to scramble a bit to get a correct fact. It shows that they are human and not just reeling off scripted guff.

    Think about how tough it is to get things right, especially early in the season.
    Riders changing teams. Teams changing kit. Teams changing sponsors. Riders changing equipment according to new sponsors.

    So you have to identify someone when they have their most distinguishing features covered (hair with helmet/ eyes with glasses). And you are trying to identify them from ever changing camera angles from either long distance air shot or an unsteady motorbike view that is constantly being cut to a picture of some 15th century castle.

    April 17, 2014 at 9:35 am #739911
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    s_lim

    Carlton’s a knob, but he’s
    Carlton’s a knob, but he’s quite amusing. I can’t listen to Matt Stephens though, his reedy voice drives me insane. Big Maggy is the best of the Eurosport bunch by a country mile.

    April 17, 2014 at 9:30 am #739909
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    Colin Peyresourde

    I like Carlton. I think they
    I like Carlton. I think they all do a good job of a tough job.

    April 17, 2014 at 9:06 am #739907
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    ruffest

    Absolutely re Paris-Roubaix.
    Absolutely re Paris-Roubaix. I was fortunate enough to discover that the excellent Rob Hatch was commentating on Radio 5 Live Sports Extra to had that on the radio with the TV on mute 🙂

    I so hope Eurosport don’t give Kirby the Tour.

    From the tone of David Harmon’s recent tweets, even though he is available for work now, Eurosport don’t seem to want him 🙁

    April 17, 2014 at 8:33 am #739905
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    Carlton Reid

    There are too many Carlton’s
    There are too many Carlton’s in cycling.

    April 17, 2014 at 8:08 am #739903
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    mooleur

    Tell you who is really good,
    Tell you who is really good, though, who’s done a bit for ES recently – Rochelle Gilmore – genuinely great to listen to, her passion comes out in her commentary it’s ace. 🙂

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