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You’re the first person I’ve ever heard say they dislike Ted Barton.
Your favorite and least favorite figure skating commentators
- Thread starter Minz
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I generally like the commentating now much better, regardless of who's giving it. It's really cringeworthy watching some of the racist and sexist commentary from the past. I remember Dick Button commenting that Debi Thomas had an "urban sensibility" to her performance, and several others fawning over Katarina Witt solely on the basis of her physical beauty. Now the focus is much more on aspects of skating that contribute to the score, like skating skills and jump rotation.
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It's still not perfect though. May I remind you of one of the British guys referring to Wakaba as "stocky"? Or the really tasteless comment at 4CC about Junhwan's hat? And don't get me started on Jack Gallagher (albeit not a commentator) claiming Mai Mihara had an eating disorder despite it very clearly being stated by her team that she suffered with an auto-immune disease.
We have come a really long way though. I think even Yagudin has toned down his commentary a tad compared to a few years ago.
He has this habit of adding a short pause after every few words, it drives me insane
(an example), so I guess I'm the second person... also, I personally prefer if the commentators actually speak their minds, even if I don't agree, because I'm interested in what other people think of a performance.
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He has this habit of adding a short pause after every few words, it drives me insane
I can understand the pause issue
But I think Ted really is speaking his mind. He phrases it in politer terms than others may, but I always know who boffed a jump (or not) and where a skater needs improvement after watching the replay with Ted.
I guess after watching NFL games, I'm tired of carping or criticism or sarcasm in the name of "keeping it real". So maybe I'm just overdosed
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I like Ted Burton for being quiet when skaters skate and I like Kurt Browning for giving interesting insights, information and opinions. I usually don't like Tara's and Johnny's commentating as they talk too much without saying anything interesting (I do, however, like Tara's voice).
But the commentator I really can't stand is the guy who commented 4CC 2020 for the official ISU YouTube channel.
But the commentator I really can't stand is the guy who commented 4CC 2020 for the official ISU YouTube channel.
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Love Ted ,can't stand the rest !!
I can't say I can't stand the rest, but I value Ted for being always polite, never ridiculing a skater. For instance he shows the mistake can be described and explained in the commentary without negative allusions, many commentators can't do that.
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And I'm the third because he annoys me and I refuse to watch anything he's commentating, just like Tara/Johnny.He has this habit of adding a short pause after every few words, it drives me insane
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Well I don't like any of the American commentators!! Eurosport guys, I found Chris to be so annoying!! I can't comment on Mark Hanratty but he does sound bearable from what people have said. I have low tolerance levels !!
When it comes to Eurosport FS guys, whatever can be said against them I think they are still much better than their swimming colleagues
"This is all about Murphy. I don't think anyone can catch Murphy. It's gonna be Murphy, I'm sure... No! Rylov!"
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Cutsey, maple syrup drenched commentary from a ned Flanders scoutmaster type I can do without. I think its also the prescribed element- he's not so much talking but also telling everyone else what they are allowed to say, and you can here that control and anger in his voice. At the same time I find all his commentary on the young ladies' lovely smiles really not relevant. there's also nothing particularly interesting in his expression- it's platitudes and the weakest form of bonhomie. I can see why the ISU uses him for junior though.
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Well, some of us like Johnny Weir as a commentator, others not so much, but the ISU has published a nice feature about him, who inspired him as a skater, his love for the Olympics and his role as a commentator which I would like to share:
https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/...more-so-than-just-an-athlete?templateParam=15 .
I think this is the best thread to do it.
https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/...more-so-than-just-an-athlete?templateParam=15 .
I think this is the best thread to do it.
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The guy who commentated Skate America, NHK and IdF is Mark Hanretty, he's from Scotland.Ummm, who is that guy commenting on Skating ISU channel on Youtube and where does his weird accent come from?
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Former Scottish ice dancer Mark Hanretty.Ummm, who is that guy commenting on Skating ISU channel on Youtube and where does his weird accent come from?
Edit: Nvm, @GoneWithTheWind beat me to it
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Ummm, who is that guy commenting on Skating ISU channel on Youtube and where does his weird accent come from?
Mark Hanretty, former Singles skater turned Ice Dancer. (ISU Bio)
He's Scottish. From the west of the country, near Glasgow.
CaroLiza_fan
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Mark is a year younger than me?!
Damn, you know you're getting old when the commentators are younger than you!
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