[vladekad]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mot...-all-time.html




A guy with no understanding of F1, who spent his whole time making a fool of himself and they rate him so high. What comedy.

Can anyone explain to me the phenomenon of Murray? Since the first time I heard him, I considered him an idiot and rather would mute the TV than listen to his nonsense.

[obegeLype]

I would he's like Marmite, you either love him or hate him. I think his enthusiasm and the tone of his voice suited motor racing, as well as the fact that he was very popular with many of the drivers. He is a nice guy who said what he thought which made him popular with most. He covered F1 for over 50 years although his hilarious mistakes made him a pleasure to watch. His arguements with Hunt were golden. Most people of my generation remember and associate Walker with F1, and I think its good that he has been recognised. Obviously its a British audience and I would respect that other countries have similar favourite commentators.

I think the fact that a thread has been started simply to bash Walker, suggests that the thread starter is aware that many on here like Murray. A similar thread appeared about 12 months ago and ended quite badly. Do we really need to go through this again?

[maxtp]

what henners said. summed up everything i was gonna say. thank you henners for saving me lots of typing effort!

[HomePageOEMfreeSOFTWARE]

I think the fact that a thread has been started simply to bash Walker, suggests that the thread starter is aware that many on here like Murray. A similar thread appeared about 12 months ago and ended quite badly. Do we really need to go through this again?

DON'T FEED THE TROLL! Seriously you can never win against trolls like Garry (or Ken over on the Indycar board). The best strategy is to deny them the attention they crave.

[putza]

Alfa Fan, you seem to forget that this is a discussion forum where people hold different views.....

[PoideAdelereX]

A guy with no understanding of F1,

Do you honestly think that someone who had been doing sports commentary generally from 1949, and then Formula One from 1971 to 2001 and who traveled the world inside the F1 circus for 20 years would have "no understanding of F1"?

This idea of yours is preposterous.

[DrunkMans]

He is distinctive and lots of people connected with his enthusiasm for the sport, not because he is the most insightful commentator.

[amelveEnromma]

Despite the fact that he obviously knows a great deal about F1, and that he has commentated/covered it for nearly 60 years.

There are many lead commentators these days that have next to no knowledge about the sport at all (a lot less than Murray) - they rely on their colour guys to provide the insight.

Murray is a one of a kind, a very good commentator, and to me is deserving of the award.

[Siffidiolla]

DON'T FEED THE TROLL! Seriously you can never win against trolls like Garry (or Ken over on the Indycar board). The best strategy is to deny them the attention they crave.

For a troll he often makes interesting counter arguments from time to time

[realnilkless]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mot...-all-time.html




A guy with no understanding of F1, who spent his whole time making a fool of himself and they rate him so high. What comedy.

Can anyone explain to me the phenomenon of Murray? Since the first time I heard him, I considered him an idiot and rather would mute the TV than listen to his nonsense.

I have never witnessed anyone disliking or saying anything bad about Murray Walker. I consider it motor racing heresy!

He and James Hunt were the most wonderful partnership and commentating team. I consider myself and all others privileged to have been around at that time that they were.

[GreesyBeeva]

DON'T FEED THE TROLL! Seriously you can never win against trolls like Garry (or Ken over on the Indycar board). The best strategy is to deny them the attention they crave.

Ken, a troll? No say it isn't so. ...big ol' grin...

Gary

[obegeLype]

When you consider Murray gave commentary on races without the luxury of accurate live timing and multiple screens, I think he did quite well. I'd like to see todays commentators put in a similar environment. Brundle is excellent IMO, but even he makes the odd error. Murray does know an awful lot about F1 simply because its impossible for a human being to be surrounded by it for so long and not absorb an understanding. He was very good friends with the likes of Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell and got interviews due to his friendly demeanor where other networks failed to get a look in.

At the end of the day you can not make a judgement that someone knows nothing about F1 when you have observed their commentary on one single occassion. I would be inclined to say that that person knows nothing about commentary..

[drislerfottor]

They got the number 1 right on that list at least... but how does Boycs get on there but not Johnners? He was the Murray Walker of cricket

[lopaayd]

Murray and the idea of his constant gaffes have to be one of the biggest myths of all time. Probably because they are compiled and distilled down into video montages, books of quotes, whatever.

If you actually watch old tapes of Murray's commentary, 99% of the time he is insightful, had enormous background knowledge, and also kept the viewers up to speed with what was happening in the race off-camera (who was pitting, who was battling for 6th place, time gaps between positions, stuff like that). All while being enthusiastic and confident, with a distinctive voice that you would subconsciously associate with the sport in a split-second. Everything you'd want from a sports commentator basically.

His "gaffes" would generally be the result of a burst of pure enthusiasm or excitement, not senility or incompetence. And let's face it, those occasional mistakes just showed his human side and endeared him to us more. Who wants a word-perfect robot commentating? Yes he'll be remembered mostly for them but they tend to overshadow the fact he was a bloody good commentator.

[obegeLype]

Very well said V12...

[XqrkN4a0]

Murray was popular because people find formulaic boring. He was driven by a passion and desire rather than just spouting the facts and for that reason he gained a lot of support.

[vladekad]

I have never witnessed anyone disliking or saying anything bad about Murray Walker. I consider it motor racing heresy!

I take your consideration very much into my heart

When you consider Murray gave commentary on races without the luxury of accurate live timing and multiple screens, I think he did quite well. I'd like to see todays commentators put in a similar environment. Brundle is excellent IMO, but even he makes the odd error. Murray does know an awful lot about F1 simply because its impossible for a human being to be surrounded by it for so long and not absorb an understanding. He was very good friends with the likes of Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell and got interviews due to his friendly demeanor where other networks failed to get a look in.

At the end of the day you can not make a judgement that someone knows nothing about F1 when you have observed their commentary on one single occassion. I would be inclined to say that that person knows nothing about commentary..

Murrays f1 knowledge - He was an utter failure in Mastermind where he chose F1 as his special subject. Easy questions, idiotic answers.

As for my experience with Murray - it is unfortunately not limited to 1 race, it is probably closer to 200 races.

With regards to being so long in F1 and you saying it is impossible not absord an understanding, I will disagree.
I had some dealings with an accoutant who had been in the same area for almost 30 years, but her knowledge of it was such that even for a person such as I, who doesnt deal with such stuff on a day to day basis, it was embarrassing having to help her with stuff.

.

His "gaffes" would generally be the result of a burst of pure enthusiasm or excitement, not senility or incompetence. And let's face it, those occasional mistakes just showed his human side and endeared him to us more. Who wants a word-perfect robot commentating? Yes he'll be remembered mostly for them but they tend to overshadow the fact he was a bloody good commentator.

Funny, when Allen or Legard make a mistake, they are at once branded idiots, when Murray (mr.senile) makes 20 errors, he has passion and emotions.

[vladekad]

Do you honestly think that someone who had been doing sports commentary generally from 1949, and then Formula One from 1971 to 2001 and who traveled the world inside the F1 circus for 20 years would have "no understanding of F1"?

This idea of yours is preposterous.

Yes, he indeed understood very little about F1.
Sure, he might have known pretty much everyone and he might have seen oh so many races, but come race day, he struggled to actually understand what was happening in the race. That is undisputable in my view.
Now a different point is, was he entertaining for people? Obviously, it seems to many he was, which baffles me. In a commentator I primarily want not stupid catchphrases (Murrays favourite - Now he is pushing very very hard indeed to open a cushion or however it went, he said that every race) and yelling, but ability to make intelligent and accurate comments, so that for a listener it is interesting to listen to. That is something Murray was not able to do at all. Surely, if you are very entertaining that is a plus, but you have to have the knowledge.
He didnt.

[Zpxbawtz]

Sure, Murray was entertaining - I suspect that's what his employers wanted and liked about him - and that's a part of making sport enjoyable and interesting for viewers, casual or knowledgeable ones.

I don't for a moment doubt that Murray was, and remains, both an enthusiast and very knowledgeable about motor sport, but I don't think he was every likely to convey the full extent of his knowledge in his commentary. For one thing he wouldn't have had time left to describe what was going on, which was his main job after all, and also he invariably had an 'expert' (Hunt, Palmer, Brundle) alongside him to provide analysis and the drivers-eye view of what we were watching.

[IdomeoreTew]

I find it quite amazing that anyone should have a bad word to say about Murray Walker. The guy is an absolute legend and probably the greatest Motorsport commentator that's ever lived

Yes Murray used to make mistakes but that was made him so loveable. His character and enthusiasm for the sport made even the most tedious race entertaining.

The difference between Murray and the likes of Legard is that Murray had genuine passion and love for the sport. You can't really say that about Legard he's just a clueless buffoon who makes James Allen look like God. I've never heard any f1 or motorsport fan have anything but love for Murray Walker. What you've got to remember is he was 78 when he did his last commentary. 78! When my grandparents were 78 they couldn't remember my friggin name

The guy is a living legend end of