I'm not remotely interested in these Olympics

[Will]

I confess that I watched the 100 m finals yesterday.

[paulwoods13]

Byron MacDonald was part of that stable of excellent colour people CBC had developed over the years: Irene MacDonald (diving), Aldo Roy (weightlifting),

Geoff Gowan (track) to name a few.

Elliotte is a great reporter but he's no PBP guy, not yet at least. Through no fault of his own he was thrown in there, but frankly I'd rather they switch roles with Byron providing most of the commentary and Elliotte the fill. The blend we're looking for here is flowing conversation not encyclopedic knowledge. It doesn't have to be one does PBP and the other does colour. Sometimes they do spill over and you will have a colour guy finish the call instead of disrupting the conversation.

Gowan is a great example how it is supposed to work. He never stepped over Wittman, and he always brought valuable insights to the discussion. I don't remember what Byron was like in the past, but last week it was as if he decided Friedman was not up to the task so he was going to do 80% of the talking. And all of it at 100 miles an hour.

[Argoknot]

Only from the little I did catch, Elliotte wasn't up to the task, his calls were understandably weak, it's not his metier. His prep work was obviously good, that's his strength, live calls aren't. As for going 100 miles an hour it is swim racing not dressage.

[paulwoods13]

Only from the little I did catch, Elliotte wasn't up to the task, his calls were understandably weak, it's not his metier. His prep work was obviously good, that's his strength, live calls aren't. As for going 100 miles an hour it is swim racing not dressage.

I'm talking about McDonald blabbing away during the non-race portions of the event. Like when swimmers are being introduced. Friedman, like any good broadcaster, is more than capable of uttering a few nuggets of info about each as supplied by researchers. McDonald wouldn't let him get in a word, at a time when there was plenty of room for both to stay relaxed and conversational. Friedman's play by play was fine, apart from his two major gaffes, and particularly so given how he was thrown in at the last minute. Given your appreciation for professional broadcasters, have to say I'm surprised you apparently don't rate him highly. I'd say he is one of the best broadcasters (not play by play but general-purpose broadcasters and broadcast commentators) in the country.

[Argoknot]

I'd say he is one of the best broadcasters (not play by play but general-purpose broadcasters and broadcast commentators) in the country.

Taken verbatim, I'd agree with that.

[Wobbler]

I confess that I watched the 100 m finals yesterday.

Pretty hard to resist that one. I think I like the 4x100 even more though; there, you get the "guys running really fast" but also an element of "someone's probably going to screw up, so the winner could be anyone".

[paulwoods13]

Taken verbatim, I'd agree with that.

FTR I meant he is not a play-by-play guy so should not be considered as part of that group. I wouldn't rate him against Hughson, Cuthbert et al as pbp guys, but if we're considering all spots broadcasters as a single group (e.g. rate both Black and Forde as broadcasters, not in separate categories) IMO he is in the top 10-20%. He is doing pbp now as emergency relief and IMO doing a more than credible job (gaffes aside). It's too bad the guy sitting beside him often didn't allow him to actually do what the pbp guy generally does -- set up and call the race (as Wittman did, to use an example), and allow the colour guy to provide commentary and analysis.

[marcwagz]

I'm superbly interested in these olympics.
I think you guys take a little too much pride in having helter skelter sports tastes.

[Wobbler]

I'm (still) enjoying the Olympics too.

[ArgoZ]

I wonder if De Grasse can field a punt.

[Wobbler]

Pretty hard to resist that one. I think I like the 4x100 even more though; there, you get the "guys running really fast" but also an element of "someone's probably going to screw up, so the winner could be anyone".

So... there weren't any screw-ups, but it was a fun race. I thought De Grasse might sneak in for the bronze, but oh well. Who knew Japan had so many fast guys?

[Wobbler]

Um... like I was saying, someone's probably going to screw up. Bronze it is!

[AngeloV]

I wonder if De Grasse can field a punt.

LOL. Of course straight ahead speed and football speed are two completely different things. If you don't have football knowledge, and I believe he was a basketball player and never played football before turning to track, you really can get your head knocked off.

[Will]

So... there weren't any screw-ups, but it was a fun race. I thought De Grasse might sneak in for the bronze, but oh well. Who knew Japan had so many fast guys?

I suppose you cannot beat pure speed, but I always thought that the 4 x 100 took a little more than that. It's also about making sure you get the clean exchanges and that sort of thing.

[1argoholic]

Well watching the whole gold medal game in Handball on TSN 2 was killer. What a great sport and Denmark beat France for their first Handball Olympic gold.

[Wobbler]

Wow.

Abe's emergence in the closing ceremony was amazing. I love it!

[1argoholic]

That was amazing and so well thought out. I can't wait for Tokyo. Love the Olympics!!!!

[Macksam]

I think any funding should be pulled from sports like men's soccer or basketball because they never accomplish anything. For years both have done nothing. Obviously they don't deserve the funding. Put funding towards sports that are showing growth.

It must be tough for you seeing first hand how things have drastically changed over the past 30 years. Falling back on the bottle to cope and reminisce over days gone by while living in denial doesn't really accomplish anything.

[1argoholic]

Maksaw your obviously a young lurker/troll, nice booze comment. Lame!!!! Not to mention a few other things that would get me banned. I've always got to laugh at those who hide in their basements and troll. Dude I'm not one who looks back to good old days. Take life as it comes. Most unfortunately today is SHIT sort of like the Canadian Men's Soccer Team. Do they still even have a team? Some folks don't like the truth.
Canadian Men's soccer and Canadian Men's Basketball aren't worth the funding. Put it towards the women's teams. That was not an anti soccer comment I made just an anti men's soccer and basketball one. Both do squat. Not to mention it was great to see soccer where the players aren't rolling around like they are shot. The ladies are obviously the tougher ones playing that sport. Fun to watch a more tactical style of play as well.

Lip back once the men's team beats Brazil.


If your folks weren't sucking on the bottle you wouldn't be here.

[Ron]

LOL on the "no funding" stuff. You realize that if everyone felt that way 40 years ago we'd have no Canadian winners at the games since Canada used to suck and a silver was a glorious event?

And what of Japan? If they cut funding to what some couch potatoes wanted cut to have more badminton and ping pong we'd never have had this