RTE's BOXING PUNDITS

ROCKMAN

Well what do people think for the team of boxing pundits RTE have for the Olympics .

I have being very impressed with Dunne, OK he may be a small bit biased , maybe that's a bit harsh.... maybe loyal and optimistic would be a better way of putting it when it comes to Irish lads, However his overall performance has been outstanding IMO. And he is showing up Dowling in a way. Dowling has got on my tits throughout this games, I have found him condescending to the new and younger pundits.( especially to kate ).He as being caught on one occasion making a stupid face as a reaction to something the others have said.
Carruth seems to come across as trying to be the voice of reason , And bring us down to earth and talk about the facts . He has done OK ( if he could just stop mentioning his old fights or stories )
Finally Kate Taylor , she again is doing a very good job , One thing , now it could be showing respect but it come across as slightly been intimidated by Dowling when his on the panel with her. I say this because when its just herself and Dunne , she seems to handle herself and her views with more confidence and assured.

Ps not going to mention MAGEES EAR-BLEEDING COMMENTARY :D:

buck65

Classic Magee Quote from yesterday
"Brazil (he meant Silva the Brazilian) comes at Egan but to be honest it wouldn't matter if all the Brazil's came at Egan".

Ok Jimmy back to your room please.

Dowling is a dick but knows his stuff, has anyone noticed the way he has continually spoken to Dunne about his boxing style in a kind of "your a decent boxer with a lot of bad habits boyo" way?

Bernard is actually not too bad. Katie needs to come out of her shell a bit more. Dowling does take over though and loves his own voice.

I actually went training in Mount Tallant with Dowling for a few weeks when I was in college, just remembered that now!!

peejay1986

I think Andy Lee has been great during the Olympics. Good issues raised and discussed by him, and his crazy English/Irish/American accent supplies the needed humour.

walshb

ROCKMAN wrote: »

Well what do people think for the team of boxing pundits RTE have for the Olympics .

I have being very impressed with Dunne, OK he may be a small bit biased , maybe that's a bit harsh.... maybe loyal and optimistic would be a better way of putting it when it comes to Irish lads, However his overall performance has been outstanding IMO. And he is showing up Dowling in a way. Dowling has got on my tits throughout this games, I have found him condescending to the new and younger pundits.( especially to kate ).He as being caught on one occasion making a stupid face as a reaction to something the others have said.
Carruth seems to come across as trying to be the voice of reason , And bring us down to earth and talk about the facts . He has done OK ( if he could just stop mentioning his old fights or stories )
Finally Kate Taylor , she again is doing a very good job , One thing , now it could be showing respect but it come across as slightly been intimidated by Dowling when his on the panel with her. I say this because when its just herself and Dunne , she seems to handle herself and her views with more confidence and assured.

Ps not going to mention MAGEES EAR-BLEEDING COMMENTARY :D:

Dowling is class and knows his stuff. Dunne is a good speaker, a little patronizing at times. I hated when he kept referring to Egan as the 'KID'. The kids got talent etc etc. Get over it Dunne, as if he was the man and Egan, the boy.

Taylor, fantastic boxer; but by god does her voice have zero passion and enthusiasm. It's the most monotone droned voice I have heard in quite a while. It's a pity!

Carruth is OK, but has anyone noticed how he keeps bringing up his career and when he was this and that etc.y

Lee knows his stuff too and makes good points!

buck65

Yeah all that "kid " stuff was ridiculous. Egan is about 2 years younger than Dunne!!
I think Katie needs a good kick up the arse on the enthusiasm stakes but she needs time in front of the camera.

Draupnir

Dunne and Egan are both from Neilstown, I'd imagine they are mates and probably trained together growing up. By that logic, the whole "kid" thing might well be coming from their past together.

madds

I like Dowling. He's been on that panel so long it would be strange not to have him there.

Dunne - this guy has been great. Real passionate. Funny how he keeps talking about fighters who drop their hands and don't keep their guard up. Pot, kettle, black methinks.

Taylor - yeah, her voice is very annoying but cut her some slack, I think she is very nervous.

Lee - he seems to turn to the other panelists after making a comment as if looking for approval. Knows his stuff but another one who's accent can be annoying. Nice stories about training with Egan yesterday though.

Carruth - my favourite panelist. Honest, got his feet on the ground, and not afraid to laugh at himself (e.g. slagged himself off for being so fat yesterday). Loved his comment when he said they were looking for "Coghlan and the others" to slag them over the 2 medals now guaranteed by the boxers.

All in all, RTE have got themselves a great boxing panel to go with their other panelists. O'Toole is the best panelist of the lot though. Needs no notes, very knowledgeable about his sport (swimming). Jerry Kiernan (athletics) on the other hand has about 3 folders all laid out on the desk.

walshb

madds wrote: »

I like Dowling. He's been on that panel so long it would be strange not to have him there.

Dunne - this guy has been great. Real passionate. Funny how he keeps talking about fighters who drop their hands and don't keep their guard up. Pot, kettle, black methinks.

Taylor - yeah, her voice is very annoying but cut her some slack, I think she is very nervous.

Lee - he seems to turn to the other panelists after making a comment as if looking for approval. Knows his stuff but another one who's accent can be annoying. Nice stories about training with Egan yesterday though.

Carruth - my favourite panelist. Honest, got his feet on the ground, and not afraid to laugh at himself (e.g. slagged himself off for being so fat yesterday). Loved his comment when he said they were looking for "Coghlan and the others" to slag them over the 2 medals now guaranteed by the boxers.

All in all, RTE have got themselves a great boxing panel to go with their other panelists. O'Toole is the best panelist of the lot though. Needs no notes, very knowledgeable about his sport (swimming). Jerry Kiernan (athletics) on the other hand has about 3 folders all laid out on the desk.

Taylor may well be nervous. I was simply talking about her monotone voice which never ever deviates, she barely pauses, never changes tone etc etc. It's hard to listen to, that's all. Reminds me a bit of Stephen Roche and Liam Brady.

O'Toole is IMO the best of the lot. He makes you listen and keeps you interested with his in-depth knowledge and tales. Very accurate and has so much to say on the sport.

ROCKMAN

My bad , how did I leave out LEE.:eek:

Think he has being about the best, his reading of fights has been top notch , And his break down of fighers and fights is correct and clear even to the general public who only have a pasting interest in the sport.
Dowling has the experience and knowledge of the game and if he just sticks to that he would be great, But he also has the experience and knowledge of been in front of the cameras for all this years and years ,and sometimes i think he uses this to play up to the camera and even tries to put the other down a bit so his opinions come across and sound better(just my 2 cents)

As for Dunnes " KID comments " think it just part of boxing lingo he grow up with, I have an old trainer , that even today at 38 calls me nothing but KIDand I have even found myself using it with local fighters some of who are 24+ or even worst still the Waterford thingy of LAD

03mcgs0

peejay1986 wrote: »

I think Andy Lee has been great during the Olympics. Good issues raised and discussed by him, and his crazy English/Irish/American accent supplies the needed humour.

Totally agree with you there peejay, Lee is brilliant, the accent is weird but funny and i tell you he's very knowledgeable and a very good speaker, is he educated?

Sorry to say Taylor isn't great on the TV, sometimes I cringe when she speaks. She's obviously very nervous, but if she showed a little more enthusiasm about things it would help. Before people start to give out to me about my comments, it's only my opinion which is shared by others and this does not mean she’s a bad person or boxer, which is obviously isn't!!

Currath is a laugh a minute, hope he’s now for the Sutherland fight, he’s great to listen to a brings a little bit of real life realism to the studio, his comments one day last week “I was jumping up and down in the canteen!” and “this fat fella!”

cowzerp

walshb wrote: »

Dunne is a good speaker, a little patronizing at times. I hated when he kept referring to Egan as the 'KID'. The kids got talent etc etc. Get over it Dunne, as if he was the man and Egan, the boy.

I think dunne is good in the commentary, also i can understand him calling egan the kid! when he would of been around him more Egan would of been a kid, lots of adults i know that hang around with my younger brother i still think of as kids!!

also Kid kind of is dublin speak too and kind of affectionate towards egan

walshb wrote: »

Carruth is OK, but has anyone noticed how he keeps bringing up his career and when he was this and that etc.y!

People want to hear about his carreer tbh, also he puts dowling in his place when dowling is been patronising too! i like him on it.

walshb wrote: »

Lee knows his stuff too and makes good points!

Agreed but his accent is muck! foreigners watching this must think its a piss take!!

steve-collins

yeah i agree about katie taylor her voice would go through your head its that bray accent v . annoying . nice girl but .

i like carruth very down to earth and dos anyone remember when carruth was saying how hard it is too open your mouth to breath with the mouthgaurd and dunne stepped in and said you only had your mouth open so they could stuff food in . v funny . dunne has been a plesant surprise .

lee knows his stuff and dos not allow patriotism too cloud his jugement

Dodge

Not a huge fan of Carruth's (on his own) but he fits in well with the rest. TBH Dunne and Lee have been a revelation. Very enjoyable. Don't get to hear them doing the live broadcasts too much but the 7pm wrap up programme is superb when they're on. Taylor is intimidated. She was more animated on the women's football when she was on her own. Knows her stuff though

T-K-O

Jimmy is part of the furniture at this stage he was banging on about Barnes beating Mick Tyons - A true patriot.

The panel have been good over all. IMO Curruth Lee and Dunne are an excellent combo.

T-K-O

walshb wrote: »

Dowling is class and knows his stuff. Dunne is a good speaker, a little patronizing at times. I hated when he kept referring to Egan as the 'KID'. The kids got talent etc etc. Get over it Dunne, as if he was the man and Egan, the boy.

Taylor, fantastic boxer; but by god does her voice have zero passion and enthusiasm. It's the most monotone droned voice I have heard in quite a while. It's a pity!

Carruth is OK, but has anyone noticed how he keeps bringing up his career and when he was this and that etc.y

Lee knows his stuff too and makes good points!

You just can't help yourself..:D

fatgav

panel have been good. prefer it to the bbc who just go 'and no over to the fight.' at least on RTE you get build up for the irish guys. i've been watching the panel in dublin, and then flicking over to the beeb for neilly/woodhall. best combination IMO

efb

1. Lee (Good alround knowledge and analysis) Not as know-it-ally as Dowling, not as brash Dunne, excellent pundit.

2. Carruth- Good but stop with the self referencing, good use of humour nice style.

3. Taylor- Give the girl a break Dowling, needs to come out of her shell a little, can be quite incitful if given a second by the other pundits

4. Dowling. Very good analysis but quite patronising and condecending to the younger analysts

5. Dunne- not liking his style at all, Lee and O'Heirlihy picked him up about some of his analysis in the highlights show (re his live analysis) and he did a complete about turn and contradicted what he said.

eagle eye

They all have been pretty good. Dowling is a bully though and cannot accept when someone disagrees with him and normally they are right when they do. I think they'd be better off without him.

03mcgs0

eagle eye wrote: »

They all have been pretty good. Dowling is a bully though and cannot accept when someone disagrees with him and normally they are right when they do. I think they'd be better off without him.

I've always liked Dowling, however since hearing other’s speak out about him on this forum and on other threads about so called bullying other panellists, I had a rethink about it and after watching him for the past week I have to say I like him less and less.

Let’s talk about hard facts on the pure boxing front…..

Mick Dowling - Olympic Quarter finalist, winner of numerous national titles of which due to age I’ve never seen!!

Katie Taylor- Amateur World Champion that says it all

Andy Lee – Olympic Quarter finalist and aspiring Pro World Champion, soon to be world champion (Hard not to know that I’m biased!!!)

Micheal Carruth – Olympic Champion and World Champion bronze medallist, numerous national titles

Bernard Dunne – Although he never made the Olympics, he held a very good amateur record. European Title holder for about nine months

Purely on a pure boxing front everyone there is more qualified than Dowling.

However I am not saying that makes a person better equipped to answer a question, it’s just irritating that Dowling doesn’t show the respect to the other panellists that they deserve.

I still value Dowling’s views though, which I think he’s very knowledgeable.

HollowMan

Dowling, Carruth and Lee are brilliant, Dunne is annoying IMO. Katie is nervous alright.

Nothingcompares

Katie is what? A 18/19 year old athlete. She's a boxer and soccer player (presuming she still plays soccer). I'd be worried if she had any charisma. It's a handy number for her wrt $ that's all.

jimmyboy

Jimmy 'the memory man' MaGee is a hero. Love listenin to him even if he makes no sense

ROCKMAN

jimmyboy wrote: »

Jimmy 'the memory man' MaGee is a hero. Love listenin to him even if he makes no sense

The memory man is a bit of a joke , From RTE's know your sport , They give him 30secs /1 min maybe and then give him a year , He pick the all Ireland Final and start naming the players and ats all he do. Christ I Know drunks down my local that can do that with GAA stuff, never name or talk aout any other sport or anything . And everybody taught he was the bees knees a joke. imo

03mcgs0

Hero Of College wrote: »

As does his "This is how they cut and combed their hair in the 1930's in Ireland" look

I've got to agree with you an Andy's hair, whats he playing at?!!!

Looking at Andy in the studio, he doesn't fill out any of his clothes, that grey suit!lol! He's a real skinny lad really.

Have to say he's a cracking boxer have really enjoyed him on RTE, hope he's on it more, should he not be preparing for a fight coming up in Sept/Oct or whenever Peters puts on his next show??

raven136

Hero Of College wrote: »

Dowling...needs his nose broken some more.

QUOTE]

nice to see you and your gentle non aggressive ways are back:D

eagle eye

ROCKMAN wrote: »

The memory man is a bit of a joke , From RTE's know your sport , They give him 30secs /1 min maybe and then give him a year , He pick the all Ireland Final and start naming the players and ats all he do. Christ I Know drunks down my local that can do that with GAA stuff, never name or talk aout any other sport or anything . And everybody taught he was the bees knees a joke. imo

If you have ever met the man, you would know that he does have an incredible memory. I have personally experienced his incredible memory and his knowledge of sports history.

T-K-O

eagle eye wrote: »

If you have ever met the man, you would know that he does have an incredible memory. I have personally experienced his incredible memory and his knowledge of sports history.

The guy is a legend and I even met him in Germany about 2 years ago, but he does come out with a lot of clangers.

Running Bing

Dowling is a condescending wanker.


He has been bad with the new lads during the olympics but he can be equally bad with Jim Rock at times. Really dont like the fella at all (he's a miserable fvck as well).


Not Dunne's biggest fan but I feel he has done himself good during the olympics. He is a pretty good to watch and analyses the fight well.


I really like Andy Lee....think he has been class which is a big surprise. His voice is hilarious but once you get past that he makes a lot of good points and is very entertaining to listen to.

Magee needs to be given a gold watch ASAP.

ROCKMAN

Babybing wrote: »

Dowling is a condescending wanker.


He has been bad with the new lads during the olympics but he can be equally bad with Jim Rock at times. Really dont like the fella at all (he's a miserable fvck as well).


Not Dunne's biggest fan but I feel he has done himself good during the olympics. He is a pretty good to watch and analyses the fight well.


I really like Andy Lee....think he has been class which is a big surprise. His voice is hilarious but once you get past that he makes a lot of good points and is very entertaining to listen to.




Magee needs to be given a gold watch ASAP.

Maybe I am reading to much into this, we'll see at 12 and 2 o clock , This mornings fight was the biggest so far ,as in be an event and public interest , and Dowling was no where to be seen , maybe just maybe the powers that be at RTE are now looking at Carruth and Lee as the " A " team of pundits. Which I would have no problem with.

As for Magee's gold watch , I'll buy the watch.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Tbh I think Mick Carruths commentary is head and shoulders above the other panalists.

I love how his stories help the lay person to relate to what the lads are going through in Beijing. He injects alot of humour and common sense into the programmes.

I wouldn't miss any of the other's if they were replaced, but Carruth would IMO be a huge loss to us.

efb

guys you pick on Lee and Taylor's accents but Dunne's West Dublin twang really grates on me. Guess best voice and most articulate goes to Dowling...

walshb

Without doubt, Dowling's fluency and naturalness and articulation are above the others; but Dunne can definitely speak, as can Carruth and Lee. Taylor can speak, but it's just so hard to listen to her!

T-K-O

Mairt wrote: »

Tbh I think Mick Carruths commentary is head and shoulders above the other panalists.

I love how his stories help the lay person to relate to what the lads are going through in Beijing. He injects alot of humour and common sense into the programmes.

I wouldn't miss any of the other's if they were replaced, but Carruth would IMO be a huge loss to us.

Great point on Mick C, not every one out there is a boxing nut.

efb

walshb wrote: »

Without doubt, Dowling's fluency and naturalness and articulation are above the others; but Dunne can definitely speak, as can Carruth and Lee. Taylor can speak, but it's just so hard to listen to her!

I find it harder to listen to Dunne's accent than Katie's but maybe that's the midlander in me preferring the flatter accent :-)

walshb

Accent is one thing, but monotony and the same tone throughout is another!

efb

TG she's not that one dimensional in the ring!

Mazletov

ok, I'll speak since this thread keeps resurfacing.

Magee - Terrible as always. Really, really bad.

Lee - The accent is only a bit annoying. He knows what he's talking about.

Dunne - Seems to know the technical side of boxing the best, yeah him calling Egan "The Kid" was irritating but he analyses the fights well.

Taylor - Her accent is no problem, its just the loud and deep breaths she takes every time she's agreeing with someone that annoys me. Has good knowledge of the amateur fighters.

Carruth - Oh shut up we know you won an Olympic gold. All he has done since the fights were for medals is blabber on about his medal and even brought it in to show it off to Peter Collins, Andy and Bernard. You'd never think this guy was a welterweight 16 years ago with that stomach. Yes he knows lots about boxing but its him who really gets on my nerves.

Dowling - Not very impressive. Won't complain too much about him though. Analyses a bit like Klitschko has been boxing lately, does just enough to get by.

Vince135792003

Mazletov wrote: »

Carruth - Oh shut up we know you won an Olympic gold. All he has done since the fights were for medals is blabber on about his medal and even brought it in to show it off to Peter Collins, Andy and Bernard. You'd never think this guy was a welterweight 16 years ago with that stomach. Yes he knows lots about boxing but its him who really gets on my nerves.

Where's your Olympic gold medal?

My point is that when you achieve something remarkable, people will talk about and talk about it and rightly so. Especially since, well this is the Olympics and well, he was the last Irish boxer to win a gold medal. Therefore it's logical that presenters will ask him questions based on his experience. That's why he's on the panel!

And to be fair to Carruth, he comes across as a very down to earth guy.

nacho libre

Vince135792003 wrote: »

Where's your Olympic gold medal?

My point is that when you achieve something remarkable, people will talk about and talk about it and rightly so. And to be fair to Carruth, he comes across as a very down to earth guy.

yes , but as Armstrong said it's for other people to talk about not me. if you constantly self- reference about what you've achieved many people will vew it as self-regarding and off-putting. on the other hand as you mention he is able to poke fun at himself so perhaps it does balance out his constant reminders to people that he won a gold medal

Mazletov

Vince135792003 wrote: »

Where's your Olympic gold medal?

My point is that when you achieve something remarkable, people will talk about and talk about it and rightly so. Especially since, well this is the Olympics and well, he was the last Irish boxer to win a gold medal. Therefore it's logical that presenters will ask him questions based on his experience. That's why he's on the panel!

And to be fair to Carruth, he comes across as a very down to earth guy.

Where's my gold medal? Won't even bother responding to that. Ok so imagine Michael Phelps showed up to do commentary for an American channel with 8 gold medals around his neck in 2024 and went on and on about them. That would annoy the hell out of me. Whether its Michael Carruth or Michael Phelps, winning an Olympic Gold medal is a huge deal and not one that I will belittle, but boasting about it is just annoying.

Vince135792003

Mazletov wrote: »

but boasting about it is just annoying.

Michael Carruth is the furthest thing from a boaster. One of our greatest Olympians ever and a down to earth guy too. I wish more Irish athletes had medals to bring in to studio.

The pettiness of some people is really incredible. Off topic but when Sonia O'Sullivan was at her peak winning medals, people were more concerned about her flag carrying ability (for those that remember). Now in very much the same bane, you have a problem with Carruth bringing in his medal into studio. Give me a break.

One of my happiest memories as a kid is his fight in the Olympic final and being reminded of it by him referring to it in a humble way or by showing the medal every 4 years is a nice way to remember the great occassion. Embrace the memory that he gave the country (not just himself).

How old were you in 1992?

Mikel

Vince135792003 wrote: »

Where's your Olympic gold medal?

LOL where's your gold medals?
Yeah Carruth seems likeable, but he seems to use every question as an excuse to talk about his medal. I can imagine him carrying it around everywhere with him.
And what is it with these olympics, every perceived slight is met with 'oh I suppose you could do better.....'
If your athletes are in the spotlight people are going to pass comment, informed or not. It goes with the territory.

KJ_2008

Mazletov wrote: »

Carruth - Oh shut up we know you won an Olympic gold. All he has done since the fights were for medals is blabber on about his medal and even brought it in to show it off to Peter Collins, Andy and Bernard. Y

So you missed the half dozen times Collins tried to persuade him to bring in the medal so they could have a look? So in the end he did.

You, sir, are a fool.

eagle eye

Carruth has been great this Olympics.

If you are complaining about him with his gold medal, you really need to get a life.
Whats wrong with you people?

And comparing Phelps wearing 8 gold medals in a couple of years time is just beyond a joke. Wake up and smell the coffee. There was an english guy on bbc wearing three last night. And it wouldn't be beyond Phelps to do something like that anyways, not that there is any comparison.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Mazletov wrote: »

Carruth - Oh shut up we know you won an Olympic gold. All he has done since the fights were for medals is blabber on about his medal and even brought it in to show it off to Peter Collins, Andy and Bernard. You'd never think this guy was a welterweight 16 years ago with that stomach. Yes he knows lots about boxing but its him who really gets on my nerves.

And how many times have YOU seen an Irish person hold an Olympic gold medal?.

I think your at the wrong party here me ol' mate, for although my sport is Judo and not boxing I can appricate just what both the fighters, their support teams, families, friends and fans like these lads here on this forum have gone through in not only these games, but national, European and World events to follow the sport they love.

Honestly, are you a sports fan?. Do you fully appricate what it is to reach the very pinnacle of your chosen sport?. I don't think you do.

Did you see how absolutely gutted Carruth was for Egan this morning?, because Carruth knows more than any of us what it means not only to reach this final, but what it means to hold an Olympic gold for your country.

Its not just Carruths gold, he won it for us all.

Mikel

Mairt wrote: »

And how many times have YOU seen an Irish person hold an Olympic gold medal?.

I think your at the wrong party here me ol' mate, for although my sport is Judo and not boxing I can appricate just what both the fighters, their support teams, families, friends and fans like these lads here on this forum have gone through in not only these games, but national, European and World events to follow the sport they love.

Honestly, are you a sports fan?. Do you fully appricate what it is to reach the very pinnacle of your chosen sport?. I don't think you do.

Did you see how absolutely gutted Carruth was for Egan this morning?, because Carruth knows more than any of us what it means not only to reach this final, but what it means to hold an Olympic gold for your country..

I'm not having a dig at Carruth the boxer, he achieved his dream and good luck to him. He also has some insightful things to say and I've learned things listening to him. On top of that he comes across as likeable and down to earth, and well able to poke fun at himself.
BUT... it seems that everything he says begins with 'Well in Barcelona when I won the gold...' or something along those lines.
Maybe he feels that's what he's there for, having that experience, but it does grate after a while. I admit he doesn't seem the cocky type
He reminds me of Tony Cascarino writing his football column. Every single thing that happens is analagous to some event that happened to him, it's always about him.
It doesn't make him a bad guy though.

Its not just Carruths gold, he won it for us

This might not be a popular thing to say but I disagree with this 100%.
He did it for himself and those others you mentioned above. Rightly so. I don't go along with the whole 'making your country proud' thinking.
Partly because I don't see how I should derive pride from the hard fought achievements of someone else, and partly because once you start thinking like that it's a short journey to the 'disgrace to your country' line of thinking (witness the Irish rugby team).
Ken Egan should be proud this morning, as should his family and friends. Those who had a hand in his training, the guys who coach him and spar with him will be chuffed and rightly so.
Personally I can admire the guy, I have a small grasp of the work he has put in over the years and I take my hat off to him, as I would to anyone who gets to that level in any sport (especially Judo OUCH!!).
If I ever meet the guy I'll buy him a pint and shake his hand and say well done, but his achievement, enormous as it is, doesn't make me any more or less proud of where I happened to be born.

ROCKMAN

Mikel wrote: »

I'm not having a dig at Carruth the boxer, he achieved his dream and good luck to him. He also has some insightful things to say and I've learned things listening to him. On top of that he comes across as likeable and down to earth, and well able to poke fun at himself.
BUT... it seems that everything he says begins with 'Well in Barcelona when I won the gold...' or something along those lines.
Maybe he feels that's what he's there for, having that experience, but it does grate after a while. I admit he doesn't seem the cocky type
He reminds me of Tony Cascarino writing his football column. Every single thing that happens is analagous to some event that happened to him, it's always about him.
It doesn't make him a bad guy though.


This might not be a popular thing to say but I disagree with this 100%.
He did it for himself and those others you mentioned above. Rightly so. I don't go along with the whole 'making your country proud' thinking.
Partly because I don't see how I should derive pride from the hard fought achievements of someone else, and partly because once you start thinking like that it's a short journey to the 'disgrace to your country' line of thinking (witness the Irish rugby team).
Ken Egan should be proud this morning, as should his family and friends. Those who had a hand in his training, the guys who coach him and spar with him will be chuffed and rightly so.
Personally I can admire the guy, I have a small grasp of the work he has put in over the years and I take my hat off to him, as I would to anyone who gets to that level in any sport (especially Judo OUCH!!).
If I ever meet the guy I'll buy him a pint and shake his hand and say well done, but his achievement, enormous as it is, doesn't make me any more or less proud of where I happened to be born.

1.
But how many times was he answering a leading question like "Whats he feelin/doing now, how did you feel/do in barca....etc . In fact thevery first question put to him this morning was " So what it like on the morning of the gold medal fight , what you do " (well something along those lines ) I feel a hell of alot of the time he had no choice but talk about his own games.



2.
WOW REALLY, JUST DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO THAT.

menoscemo

Mikel wrote: »

BUT... it seems that everything he says begins with 'Well in Barcelona when I won the gold...' or something along those lines.
Maybe he feels that's what he's there for, having that experience, but it does grate after a while. I admit he doesn't seem the cocky type
He reminds me of Tony Cascarino writing his football column. Every single thing that happens is analagous to some event that happened to him, it's always about him.
It doesn't make him a bad guy though.

Rubblish. Did you see how embarrassed he got when the other pundits were lumping praise on him?

gordon_gekko

im with mikel here

while michael carruth injected plenty of humour into the discussions and is a likeable guy for the most part from what ive seen on tv , his performance on the panel was just about on the right side of self obsession, no opportunity was missed to make refference to barcelona 92 and no detail was too small to mention in relation to that time , at one stage he was talking about how he didnt watch the video of the guy he was going to be facing in the final or how he wore red shorts in the final , was a bit like that sketch they used to do on a comedy show some yrs ago of beatles producer george martin , someone would ask george martin how his ill mother was , martin would reply by saying , i think my best production was on abbey road rather than sgt peppers

you didnt hear sonia o sullivan ( a far more successfull sports person than carruth ) once mention her exploits

Mikel

menoscemo wrote: »

Rubblish. Did you see how embarrassed he got when the other pundits were lumping praise on him?

How is it rubbish?
Can you read? Seriously can you actually read?

Mikel

ROCKMAN wrote: »

1.
But how many times was he answering a leading question like "Whats he feelin/doing now, how did you feel/do in barca....etc . In fact thevery first question put to him this morning was " So what it like on the morning of the gold medal fight , what you do " (well something along those lines ) I feel a hell of alot of the time he had no choice but talk about his own games.

Granted that did happen a lot. A lot of it time is was 'unprovoked' though.