Annoying things commentators say

[Tal]

Easy to turn this into a Townsend/Owen/Soccer Saturday bash-a-thon, but I was thinking about this in more general terms the other day.

I can't abide when the summariser in football, cricket, rugby, golf, NFL, etc, watches the player miss the target narrowly and decries,

"That was unlucky"

How, exactly, was it unlucky? Was he not aiming for the goal? Did the goal move out of the way? Did a sudden gust of wind take it off course? Did the ball change shape and lose aerodynamic trajectory? No. He missed.

Lots of things in sport are down to luck but this really isn't one of them.

Click to see full-size image.

Any better ones?

[horseplayer]

That's better

[horseplayer]

To be serious.

All of the English commentators always go on about English teams not playing the ball out from the back or defenders being comfortable on the ball.

A defender misplaced a tight pass leading to a goal cue said pundit "should have put it in row z".

Great logic

[George2Loose]

When a commentator makes the mistake of "literally"

He literally has no left foot

He literally took his head off there

Hmmmmm

[DungBeetle]

Two I don't like:

1) the general commentary approach to Barca.  30 minutes in and they are 0-0 at home to Granada or some such and you can just sense the comms getting ready for the Barca breakthrough when they can burst into fake wondrous joy with the pre-prepared lines about how wonderful they are.  Really gets my goat.

2) Willie Thorne banging on about in play frame betting.  "he's just gone favourite with that shot".  Even though he was 1.3 before the shot happened.

[KitKeeper]

"And that just sums up his day..."

[Karabiner]

Two I don't like:

1) the general commentary approach to Barca.  30 minutes in and they are 0-0 at home to Granada or some such and you can just sense the comms getting ready for the Barca breakthrough when they can burst into fake wondrous joy with the pre-prepared lines about how wonderful they are.  Really gets my goat.

2) Willie Thorne banging on about in play frame betting.  "he's just gone favourite with that shot".  Even though he was 1.3 before the shot happened.

Poor old Willie didn't get warned-off for being a shrewd bettor.

[RED-DOG]

Now highlights of Leicester's stunning 3-1 victory over Manchester United. If you don't want to know the score, look away now.

[Doobs]

It was unlucky though. 

[superwomble]

When a commentator makes the mistake of "literally"

He literally has no left foot

He literally took his head off there

Hmmmmm

This. What is even more annoying is that because of these fools using the word incorrectly, the OED has changed the meaning of the word 'literally' to literally include 'not literally'. 

[Longines]

Everything.

Would be quicker to compile a list of commentators who enhance rather than detract from the action:

Richie Benaud

Can't think of a second.

[The Camel]

I hate you Tal.

I might spend the next 48 hours making posts for this thread.

[The Camel]

One to begin with.

Zonal marking at corners.

If the ball is successfully cleared, nothing is mentioned.

If there a goal is conceded when the defending team is using man marking, it is down to an individual error.

If a goal is conceded and the team is using zonal marking, it is always the faul of the system apparently.

"Argh, Arsenal trying to useg zonal marking there when Charlie Austin scored."

[The Camel]

Baseball.

When a home run is scored, it is down to the pitcher "making a mistake".

It is never good hitting, it's because the pitcher "hung a curve ball" or "put a fast ball right down the middle of the plate".

What if those pitches were called by the catcher?

Why is the hitter not ever given credit?

[The Camel]

I was going to write a long post about momentum, but I came across a more annoying sub-category at the weekend.

The score is 0-0, when Team A scores.

The commentator said "they've got all the momentum now"

2 minutes later Team B equalises. The dimwit comes out with this.

"Not only have Team B scored, more importantly they've snatched back all the momentum"

I would have fired him on the spot.