Jerry Hannon

Bachelors Hall

Bachelors Hall

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Apr 24, 2012
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763
Is it just me or are his commentaries excruciating?

I can understand getting a little overexcited if it is a 'once in a generation' battle or performance. Classic examples brought to mind would be Red Rum 1977, Special Cargo 1984, Dawn Run 1986, Edredon Bleu 2000 and so forth. But what made those commentaries so iconic is that while they were exceptional moments, the delivery was still measured while allowing requisite gravitas.

However, the closing deliveries for every single race at Leopardstown this weekend was shouted with painful predictability before he strained out some haphazard and bumbling "epic commentary moment" in that weird, squeezing out something especially dry and large, high pitched grunt. It is conspicuously contrived, unnecessarily gratuitous and utterly tedious.

Jerry is adequate for the first two thirds of the race but for the concluding furlongs, I am bracing myself to shudder and cringe instead of enjoying the race itself. I do not need some Saturday night television announcer to hype every race for me. I have seen plenty of racing, it does not need to be sold to me.
 
met him once and a gent

his profile has raised this year with the cult of personality that twitter generates raising his profile

I think he is a great commentator overall
 
Bachelors Hall said:
Is it just me or are his commentaries excruciating?

I can understand getting a little overexcited if it is a 'once in a generation' battle or performance. Classic examples brought to mind would be Red Rum 1977, Special Cargo 1984, Dawn Run 1986, Edredon Bleu 2000 and so forth. But what made those commentaries so iconic is that while they were exceptional moments, the delivery was still measured while allowing requisite gravitas.

However, the closing deliveries for every single race at Leopardstown this weekend was shouted with painful predictability before he strained out some haphazard and bumbling "epic commentary moment" in that weird, squeezing out something especially dry and large, high pitched grunt. It is conspicuously contrived, unnecessarily gratuitous and utterly tedious.

Jerry is adequate for the first two thirds of the race but for the concluding furlongs, I am bracing myself to shudder and cringe instead of enjoying the race itself. I do not need some Saturday night television announcer to hype every race for me. I have seen plenty of racing, it does not need to be sold to me.
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I agree. Has become self-aware and certainly doesnt nail the finish as often as he thinks he does.
 
granger said:
met him once and a gent
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I should have made the caveat that while I do not know the man personally, secondary accounts suggest that he is a decent human being. I bear absolutely no ill will towards him and hope that he and his enjoy lives full of contentment.

granger said:
his profile has raised this year with the cult of personality
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This probably exacerbates the issues I have with his work. The commentator is not the show nor even part of the show. The commentator should be a utilitarian condiment who blends inconspicuously into the medium. It is one thing to be a little bit playful while the horses are running along the back straight during a mile-six seller at Southwell or if a dog spontaneously enters a point to point. However, if I am noticing the commentator far more than the race itself during an entire weekend of Grade One action then something is going terribly wrong.
 
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In today's Weekender there is a "call" for Jerry to commentate on a couple of the Festival races

Not a bad idea as would prefer him over the likes of Ian Bartlett
 
PlaceBacker said:
In today's Weekender there is a "call" for Jerry to commentate on a couple of the Festival races

Not a bad idea as would prefer him over the likes of Ian Bartlett
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Jesus imagine him commentating on the Champion Hurdle with Hardy Eustace still on the bridle with 50 yards left.

Or the Edredon Bleu Champion Chase
 
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