sports commentators, like others, can make mistakes while they report on races. The satirical magazine Private Eye, created a column called “Colemanballs” to celebrate any gaffe and named it after veteran commentator, David Coleman. Brian Johnston is credited with probably the most famous (possibly apocryphal) cricketing comment “the bowler’s Holding the batsman’s Willey”.
So we started looking out for Rowing gaffes…. this is what the week threw up.
Tim Richardson (NZ Sky TV) on the first LM4- heat
There are A lot of little men out there.
Sebastian Franke, FISA commentator
Mahe Drysdale flying the kiwi flag on his blades
Robert Treharne-Jones, FISA commentator
The coxed pairs is the slowest of the events here at the World Rowing Championships.
Martin Cross, Sky TV UK
The water’s going a bit boppley.
Kaye Gregory, Sky TV NZ on the Lwt 8 race where Australia and Italy are neck and neck
It’s great to hear all the Australians cheering in the crowd. Glen Sinclair sitting next to me responds “No it’s all the kiwis shouting for Italy!”
Sebastian Franke on the Mens Pairs semi final
The New Zealand crew, Hamish and Bond.
Robert Treharne-Jones on USA M4x
They can certainly improve on their last year’s ranking of 12th as there are only 10 countries in this event.
Marc Ventouillac, French Journalist to Caroline Searle (GB press officer)after M4- final
J’ai ecrit “Ils ont massacre les anglais!”
Tim Richardson (NZ Sky TV) to Kaye Gregory
It’s a blanket finish. Kaye Gregory replies Yes you could throw a blanket over it.
This Post Has One Comment
I got an email from Marc correcting his “Colemanball” above
Hello Rebecca,
Back at home, I’ve seen Rowperfect this morning.
The exact quote to Caroline Searle was “Germain Chardin (a french rower) said: “on a massacré les Anglais”
Personnaly, I prefer the quote of a french boxer at the end of the fifties. After his victory over a british boxer he said: “J’ai vengé Jeanne d’Arc”.
Best regards,
Marc