Off The Ball Official Thread <Mod Note - Post #1, #533, #6651>

Hippo

Really disappointing, would much rather he'd gone to Eoin & co.

pconn062

Please tell me that means that "Woolly" is getting the boot?! :pac:

foxtrot101

Strange decision. BOD's interviews on OTB were always a bit...dull. Hard to imagine him fitting to the current set up.

Muff Richardson

As mentioned here more than once by others and much as I like the show it needs another expert pundit beyond GAA so its a good thing...theres no doubting O Driscoll will be great for the serious stuff but whether he is suited to the style of show in terms of quick wit and regular gags is another matter. Ive only really seen him doing the whole candid style of interview when his excruciatingly annoying and unfunny wife has been by his side so its been fairly painful watching/listening...here's hoping he's better on his own or in the company of the lads who are already there. don't think they should give any one of them the chop just because he's coming in, not sure he'd want it either decent fella that he is.

Loafing Oaf

Bit nonplussed by the sniffy reaction here, the guy is one of the biggest names in world sport. Surely this is a massive coup for NT, ultimately irrespective of whether he can string two sentences together?

The question for me is at the other end: why is he going to this low-profile Irish station, when I'm sure he had offers from the table from Sky, BBC etc.

ballsymchugh

he's no ken burley.

JuanJose

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Surely this is a massive coup for NT, ultimately irrespective of whether he can string two sentences together?

I fear NT have missed exactly the same point. Massive coup in terms of publicity is all fine and dandy until the little red light comes on & you've got to present the actual radio show. But I guess we'll only know how he fits into the show come September.

foxtrot101

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Bit nonplussed by the sniffy reaction here, the guy is one of the biggest names in world sport. Surely this is a massive coup for NT, ultimately irrespective of whether he can string two sentences together?

If he is as stiff and awkward a presence on the show as I suspect he might be, then any gains in listeners tuning in because he is one of the biggest names in world sport won't last long. I think it's a risky move myself.

wandatowell

Its going to be weird for BOD going from world renowned sports star to one of the lads having the bants on OTB.

Tough transition for him to make.

ghostdancer

will he actually be there 4 nights a week for 3 hours (plus prep time before the show) as a full-time presenter though?

could see it being more likely that he'll be in once a week to present Rugby segment for an hour...

Skid X

Presumably he will be mainly doing the analysis on live matches and the occasional insert into the weekday shows, not turning up every night for the weekday show.

Great signing for them either way, I thought he would have gone to Sky or BT Sport.

reg114

Bod will be a part time contributer much like Giles or Wood, it is a coup to get a huge rugby name but I'd question whether his analysis of former team mates will be anything other than diplomatic.

JuanJose

ghostdancer wrote: »

will he actually be there 4 nights a week for 3 hours (plus prep time before the show) as a full-time presenter though?

could see it being more likely that he'll be in once a week to present Rugby segment for an hour...

So, although NT announce him as being brought in to "co-present" OTB, he'll actually be a rugby analyst? They're playing with words a bit then for the media oomph if that's the case.

JuanJose

pconn062 wrote: »

Please tell me that means that "Woolly" is getting the boot?! :pac:

According to his Twitter profile, that's not gonna happen. Sorry to burst your bubble

Diabhal Beag

Fairly sure O'Driscoll is an OTB listener anyways, he definitely was friendly with the Second Captains. Good addition but I don't mind any of the current staff tbh.

Matt_Trakker

I don't get to listen live, I do podcast the shows the following morning and so long as he ain't on the football or GAA show good luck to him.

No interest in rugby so I won't be hearing him........just hope he's not going to be full time in the room, like another poster said, he's quite bland in interviews and with Ireland being such a small pond hard to imagine he'd put the boot in regarding former team mates.

Anyway, I'm prattling, he won't be on the football or GAA podcasts so I shouldn't complain......I hope.

Horse84

Fair points. Well made.

http://ourmaninstockholm.com/2014/06/03/odriscolls-new-gig-tries-the-patience-of-professionals/

Hippo

Horse84 wrote: »

Fair points. Well made.

http://ourmaninstockholm.com/2014/06/03/odriscolls-new-gig-tries-the-patience-of-professionals/

His signing is fair enough, they're just trying to raise the profile of the programme. It's been that way on TV for years - I don't think Gary Lineker has any journalistic qualifications!

If he proves not to be any good I doubt his contract will be renewed. He shouldn't have too many problems keeping up with the level of 'banter' on OTB though.

foxtrot101

Hippo wrote: »

His signing is fair enough, they're just trying to raise the profile of the programme. It's been that way on TV for years - I don't think Gary Lineker has any journalistic qualifications!

Yes, but Linekers appointment led to the ruination of MOTD and BBC's soccer coverage in general. Back in Des Lynam's time it was top class. Now it's just the bland leading the bland.

Utopia Parkway

I heard this news in the morning and just thought he was going to be a rugby pundit on OTB but is he actually going to be on it every night presenting? Seems a bit weird if so but then again if bloody Parkinson can do it.

smellmepower

Wasn't there talk a while ago that O 'Driscoll had a job lined up working for Leinster behind the scenes once he retired?If so I doubt he'll be on OTB every night like Ger and the lads are.

Probably just contributing like Giles etc, and doing a bit of commentary once in a while.Handy money for BOD and keeps him in the public eye, and good publicity for Newstalk having an Irish sporting legend on board.

Hippo

foxtrot101 wrote: »

Yes, but Linekers appointment led to the ruination of MOTD and BBC's soccer coverage in general. Back in Des Lynam's time it was top class. Now it's just the bland leading the bland.

I'm not for a moment suggesting that Lineker is necessarily any good, but I can understand the reasoning. There's no guarantee that any journalist grad is going to be any good - there's plenty of journalists who are poor on the radio.

smellmepower

Miguel Delaney and Dan ''look it'' McDonnell for example!

foxtrot101

Hippo wrote: »

I'm not for a moment suggesting that Lineker is necessarily any good, but I can understand the reasoning. There's no guarantee that any journalist grad is going to be any good - there's plenty of journalists who are poor on the radio.

I get the high profile thing, but it comes back to the reason the original crew left(or were sacked - whichever you prefer) i.e. can a show on at that time of night attract more than 40,000+ listeners? 40,000 doesn't generate a whole lot of revenue and BOD won't come cheap.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see what happens. According to an ad on Newstalk just now O'Driscoll will be on OTB tonight, so we should find out later on what his role is going to be .

GSF

Horse84 wrote: »

Fair points. Well made.

http://ourmaninstockholm.com/2014/06/03/odriscolls-new-gig-tries-the-patience-of-professionals/

Make him read the scores after the news for a few weeks and mispronounce players and team names like most of the 'professionals'.

Link above is just about protecting jobs for the union members.

Muff Richardson

will you ever get satire as close to the truth as this much?

"RECENTLY retired Irish rugby player Brian O’Driscoll said today that he is looking forward to putting on loads of weight and getting paid for “talking ****e” on radio in a new career step towards sports commentating.
News was announced this morning on the Pat Kenny Show that the 35-year-old is joining Newstalk as a rugby pundit and co-presenter on Off The Ball.
“I’ll probably pile on the pounds now like all the rest of the retired rugby lads,” said O’Driscoll. “Hopefully I’ll get a good few years out of Newstalk before being picked up by a proper paying broadcaster, like Sky Sports. I’ll be like the new George Hook – riddled with gout and getting paid for my general observations on rugby games.”
“Sky care.” he added jokingly.
O’Driscoll spent the last six months of his career retiring as a two-time Six Nations winner with Ireland, having captained the side for nine years. Since January this year he has played 23 “final matches”, eventually forcing him to actually retire last week.
“Some people say I milked the whole retirement game thing. ” he agreed. “But didn’t I deserve it? Didn’t I make Ireland the team it is today?”
The Dublin born native also pointed out he won the Heineken Cup with Leinster three times, as well as being part of all four of their Pro12 championships, and he also lifted the Amlin Challenge Cup last year.
“I’m actually a legend when you think about it.” he concluded.

http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2014/06/03/i-cant-wait-to-get-really-fat-and-paid-for-talking-****e-says-odriscoll/

Frankie Lee

I'd imagine he is just doing it as a favour to his good friend Denis before moving on to Sky/BT/BBC or RTE after the summer. Getting a bit of broadcasting experience while he is at it.

wicklowwonder

Frankie Lee wrote: »

I'd imagine he is just doing it as a favour to his good friend Denis before moving on to Sky/BT/BBC or RTE after the summer. Getting a bit of broadcasting experience while he is at it.

I'd say his good friend Denis is paying for a few of the ski holidays he talked about today all the same.

GSF

Frankie Lee wrote: »

I'd imagine he is just doing it as a favour to his good friend Denis before moving on to Sky/BT/BBC or RTE after the summer. Getting a bit of broadcasting experience while he is at it.

He's not starting til September. Are you predicting an Indian summer?

Muff Richardson

First impressions...SH*TE