RTE's BOXING PUNDITS

walshb · 22-08-2008 10:39AM

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 · 22-08-2008 10:41AM

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 · 22-08-2008 11:23AM

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 · 22-08-2008 11:37AM

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

efb · 22-08-2008 11:42AM

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

Mazletov · 23-08-2008 10:56PM

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 · 23-08-2008 11:03PM

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 · 23-08-2008 11:14PM

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 · 23-08-2008 11:50PM

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 · 24-08-2008 12:31AM

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 · 24-08-2008 01:24AM

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 · 24-08-2008 01:52AM

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 · 24-08-2008 03:41AM

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 · 24-08-2008 11:18AM

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 · 24-08-2008 12:00PM

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 · 24-08-2008 12:33PM

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 · 24-08-2008 12:48PM

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 · 24-08-2008 01:05PM

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 · 24-08-2008 01:07PM

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 · 24-08-2008 01:09PM

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.

walshb · 24-08-2008 01:10PM

gordon_gekko wrote: »

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

I noticed that too, but come on, he did win a GOLD, so let's allow a little praise.

I don't think he was OTT with the self praise

Vince135792003 · 24-08-2008 01:24PM

gordon_gekko wrote: »

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

If Ireland had a middle distance male or female runner who had a realistic chance of winning a gold in a middle distance race they would have asked Sonia all the same questions they ASKED Carruth (how did you feel before the race?, how did you prepare?, what was it like winning the silver?, what was your tactics?, did you feel the pressure from home etc........).

This debate is ridiculous.

gordon_gekko · 24-08-2008 01:33PM

Vince135792003 wrote: »

If Ireland had a middle distance male or female runner who had a realistic chance of winning a gold in a middle distance race they would have asked Sonia all the same questions they ASKED Carruth (how did you feel before the race?, how did you prepare?, what was it like winning the silver?, what was your tactics?, did you feel the pressure from home etc........).

This debate is ridiculous.

thats beside the point , the point is sonia knowing her charechter would not be so enthusiastic about discussing her own passed achievments

walshb · 24-08-2008 01:46PM

gordon_gekko wrote: »

thats beside the point , the point is sonia knowing her charechter would not be so enthusiastic about discussing her own passed achievments

Sonia is a legend, but she is more remembered for being a flop rather than a star, plus she went on far too long and in the end she embarrassed herself in races

Vince135792003 · 24-08-2008 01:47PM

gordon_gekko wrote: »

thats beside the point , the point is sonia knowing her charechter would not be so enthusiastic about discussing her own passed achievments

It's completely the point. Re-read my post and break down where I'm wrong.

My point still stands. If Ireland had a middle distance male or female runner who had a realistic chance of winning a gold in a middle distance race they would have asked Sonia all the same questions they ASKED Carruth (how did you feel before the race?, how did you prepare?, what was it like winning the silver?, what was your tactics?, did you feel the pressure from home etc........).

It stands to reasons that RTE was going to ask him questions that related to Barcelona. And they did. And he answered the questions in a down to earth, pride filled way.

edit:Walshb, your 1 sentence summary of Sonia O'Sullivans prolific career is off the mark. But thats for another forum.

walshb · 24-08-2008 01:53PM

I always found Irish people a little strange when it came to success. We cry out for winners and when we get them, we begrudge them. Perfect example is in the rugby. We're not happy beating teams, we then go on to criticise the win, instead of celebrating victory.
Seems this is the case a little here!

And before anyone mentions Dunne, that's a completely different story. I just don't rate him. I never
ever begrudged him anything.

walshb · 24-08-2008 01:55PM

Vince135792003 wrote: »

It's completely the point. Re-read my post and break down where I'm wrong.

My point still stands. If Ireland had a middle distance male or female runner who had a realistic chance of winning a gold in a middle distance race they would have asked Sonia all the same questions they ASKED Carruth (how did you feel before the race?, how did you prepare?, what was it like winning the silver?, what was your tactics?, did you feel the pressure from home etc........).

It stands to reasons that RTE was going to ask him questions that related to Barcelona. And they did. And he answered the questions in a down to earth, pride filled way.

edit:Walshb, your 1 sentence summary of Sonia O'Sullivans prolific career is off the mark. But thats for another forum.

Off the mark?

Is she not a legend?

Did she not embarrass herself late in her career by insisting
on racing when she knew and we knew she was well past it?

Vince135792003 · 24-08-2008 02:08PM

walshb wrote: »

Off the mark?

Is she not a legend?

Did she not embarrass herself late in her career by insisting
on racing when she knew and we knew she was well past it?

Here's what you said. It was initially a positive statement followed by an over emphasis and an over exagerration of negatives

Sonia is a legend, but she is more remembered for being a flop rather than a star, plus she went on far too long and in the end she embarrassed herself in races

I don't believe that people who follow sport remember Sonia O'Sullivan as a flop. They remember her as being one of the greatest sports people this country has ever produced who had plenty more good days than bad.

I was gonna list all that she's won and explain the context of it all (coming back from the disappointment of Atlanta and winning 2 world golds, 2 european golds and an olympic silver).

However if you think her career will be remembered as a flop, it certainly won't be by anyone that has even an average knowlege of Irish sport and its history. In fact as time goes on, I think what she achieved will look even greater.

Anyway back on topic.

Big Ears · 24-08-2008 02:09PM

What must also be noted is Carruth tried to talk about Seoul as much as je could when talking about his time in the Olympics, he certainly didn't want to be talking about 'when I won gold' but was forced into it by questions asked to him.

Personally I think everyone bar Dowling has done a great job.
Taylor is very monotone though which can be quite irritating.

walshb · 24-08-2008 02:26PM

Dowling is still the most fluent and articulate of the lot!

RTE's BOXING PUNDITS

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