Sorry if writing about the Olympics is boring some people, but I am getting so wound up by the banal comments coming from Brendan Foster on the BBC.
Four years ago he made a prat of himself by announcing that the was no way Paula Radcliffe was going to pull out of the marathon (which she then did), and nearly every athletics meeting is spoilt with comments from Brendan Foster wrongly announcing who has qualified or making hopelessly wrong predictions about who will win. But for really stupid comments witness his comment about 1500m runner Andy Baddeley, who having ducked for the line, Brendan Foster said "he learnt a lot of things at Cambridge, but he learnt how to duck for the line there".
Thanks Brendan, I am pleased to know you have to go to Cambridge to learn a basic skill like dipping yourself forward to cross the line quicker.
With all the talent available to the BBC, and with the BBC dropping Roger Black a few years ago from their commentary set up, why do they employ Brendan Foster ?
7 comments:
I was actually reasonably amused by Brendan's line about learning to dive for the line at Cambridge. Much worse was his assertion during commentary on the women's marathon that the Romanian had broken too early, was notorous for such mistakes, and that medal winners were going to come from the pursuing pack including (at that time, but not for much longer) poor old Paula.
In fairness one should perhaps add that Brendan did at least get it right this time in saying that Paula would not quit again. She did finish the course, even though running on a recently broken leg and obviously suffering more than you or I would care to. And Brendan did have a distinguished running career (even if he looks a bit over-bloated these days).
I would disagree with Brendan Foster (whose brain went canoeing years ago) about the source of Andy Baddeley's line ducking skill. He probably saw it being done in Chariots of Fire - although I am glad he didn't run his race in slow motion.
Brendan was in the front line in the North of England backing the Assemblies.......my case rests.
That's nothing compared to the useless woman on the dressage commentary who left me no clearer about what was going on. A particular highlight was her repeatedly counting the horses steps - which I assume was significant in some way.
By contrast the woman commentating on the gymnastics is I think exceptional at explaining what a gymnast has done wrong and will be losing points for.
Foster is pretty poor IMO - though making predictions in a marathon is fraught with risks
No doubt Private Eye will be full of his quotes this week.
Given the recent B&B mix up...I bring you "Cambridge is a county seat of Middlesex County, Massachusetts".
I did wonder if Morgan Freeman's recent car crash was as a result of his female passenger practicing going down for the tape...
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