Phil Liggett and his mate

[Noodley]

Anyone know if he's still due to provide commentary for ITV4 for this year's Tour?

Or have he and his mate Nooky Bear Sherwen been binned in favour of the small but growing number of "home grown" commentators that have emerged in recent years during the tour of britain, revolution, vuelta coverage, etc?

I really hope they are never to be heard from again on British TV.

 

[rich p]

I'll happily pay through the nose to get Eurosport if only to avoid Ray Allen and Lord Charles spouting their garbled garbage
If they have any integrity though, ITV will dump the gruesome twosome. At least Sherwen has had the sense to shut the fark up during this fiasco, which sadly cannot be said of Liggett.

 

[thom]

We should order some cyclechat note-paper and start a writing campaign to ITV.

It would be nice to get some new commentators and now would be a good time - they say Liggett's ability to call a finish is unparalleled but getting it right for 2 mins a day is not good enough if you're wrong for the rest of it.

 

[Boris Bajic]

I quite like things as they are and the odd Colemanballs moment just adds a little smile.

Change is part of the television landscape, but I quite like the 'old geezers smoking pipes' image that sometimes comes with Ligett and Sherwen, even if it is not an accurate image. I know the voices and know what to expect.

It's a very personal thing with sport commentary. I can't bear listening to Alan Green on the radio, but my boy loves him.

I never liked Murray Walker on F1, but many thought him a god. They were wrong, of course. Hunt was sublime.

I just adore Stavros Parrish on MotoGP. Charlie Cox justs sounds like a funny Aussie cliche generator.

Anyone who thinks differently on any of the above is not only wrong but super-wrong.

 

[thom]

I quite like things as they are and the odd Colemanballs moment just adds a little smile.

Change is part of the television landscape, but I quite like the 'old geezers smoking pipes' image that sometimes comes with Ligett and Sherwen, even if it is not an accurate image. I know the voices and know what to expect.

It's a very personal thing with sport commentary. I can't bear listening to Alan Green on the radio, but my boy loves him.

I never liked Murray Walker on F1, but many thought him a god. They were wrong, of course. Hunt was sublime.

I just adore Stavros Parrish on MotoGP. Charlie Cox justs sounds like a funny Aussie cliche generator.

Anyone who thinks differently on any of the above is not only wrong but super-wrong.

The counter-revolutionary spake thus.

It isn't about style so much as being a stinking Armstrong apologist.
We deserve better than to have these dim-witted dinosaurs lingering on.
Give someone new a chance - long live the revolution !

 

[Hont]

I think they should be given the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past. For example they should be forced to shoe-horn references of "a certain Lance Armstrong" into the commentary with the flimsiest of excuses (just like they always did) but this time only when talking about doping, bans, being stripped of titles, sociopathic behaviour etc.

E.g.

"I think Cavendish was a bit out of order there, Paul."
"Yes Phil, just like a certain Lance Armstrong for all of his career."

 

[just jim]

"Well Phil the Peleton have just passed Château Marmosette, owned by the Brioche family since 1768, and restored in 2001 - round about the same time that Lance Armstrong tested positive for EPO during the Tour de Suisse."
"The Brioche family. what a lovely name."

 

[johnr]

The reason Liggett would have to go if he was working for an organisation with integrity is because,not only did he nail his colours to the pro-drugs caravan, but he was wlling to dissemble and fabricate stories on their behalf. Apart from one half-hearted, and self-centred, explanation/apology for his own shortcomings he has done nothing to try and make amends to the sport, honest cyclists, his employers, his colleagues, his fans or followers of cycling in general. Still, in a business run on matedom and nepotism, he'll still be there on his jollies round France with eyes firmly shut.

Are Ladbrokes giving odds on the voice of cycling regaining it once His Master has set out the new line on Oprah next week? I'm with the revolution.

 

[rich p]

...not to mention the revelation where he asserted that he'd been told by a leading scientific authority that Armstrong would be dead if he'd actually taken those drugs.
Well, not a leading scientist as such, but a fat bloke down the pub who's mate knew the cleaner of Armstrong's bikes or summink.

 

[jdtate101]

Whilst Sherwen & Liggett have a dubious support for Lance, but I must say the sound of their voices (not talking about what they say, just the pitch and vocalisation) is much preferable to Sean Kelly on Eurosport, he might know his onions, but dear god he's boring and monotone.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Even without the LA taint, they've become a parody of themselves with a daily stream of gaffes, misidentifications of riders and blather that Murray Walker would shy away from.

Whilst Sherwen & Liggett have a dubious support for Lance, but I must say the sound of their voices (not talking about what they say, just the pitch and vocalisation) is much preferable to Sean Kelly on Eurosport, he might know his onions, but dear god he's boring and monotone.

I don't think dubious comes close IMO particularly for PL, in either sense it could be taken here. If he is to have even a shred of credibility again he needs to, frankly, humiliate himself live on TV with the length and depth of his apology for the not only pro but utterly blind and deaf to reality fanboy sycophancy he has shown towards 'a certain Lance Armstrong'

 

[BJH]

I don't feel concerned either way about his commentary but PLs defence of LA was poorly judged and puts him as a pro commentator and claimed expert in a really bad position with almost zero credibility

On that basis he should just walk as it shows him to be tainted by the same omertà from the old days

 

[frayBentos59]

I'd miss Liggett just for his utter stupidity.

 

[Basil.B]

Nothing wrong with Liggett and Sherwen in my book. Been watching the Tour on tv since the early 80's.
Steve Parrish and Charlie Cox are great on MotoGP too.
I must not also forget the great pairing of Murray Walker and James Hunt on F1.

 

[Noodley]

IMO, the best commentary/analysis on the 2012 Tour came when ITV covered the entire stage, with Boardman, Rendell and Imlach providing the voiceovers prior to Liggett and Sherwen going 'live'.

There is nothing to stop ITV having their own commentators - they have a good stable of them - and dropping the International feed provided by Liggett and Sherwen.

For the first time ever I am considering finding out the cheapest way of getting Eurosport on my TV - I cannot get live online feed due to shockingly poor broadband speeds - just so I do not have to listen to the simpering cockwombles.