How can I get Mike Tucker sacked?

Having spent a few days at Greenwich, I am only now catching up with the TV coverage, and am reading this thread with interest.

Yes MT gets it wrong occasionally, but there is good banter between him and Scotty. The images come from the Olympic Broadcasting Services and not the BBC, so the commentators are just as frustrated as we are with strange shots of trees or random spectators or cutting away from the 'B' element of a jump just as the horse was about to take off etc.

Someone commented earlier about there being no feedback re the horses/riders that fall. Remember that a) they may not have been told the uptodate situation even if the vets/doctors have finished their assesssments, and that b) they have to be discreet and respect the privacy of the horses/riders/connections - if the news isn't good, they are not going to be telling everyone.
 
He forgot to turn his mic off during the dressage today, twice. Once because their headsets weren't working properly, and again when he was trying to find out "who that woman was" in the crowd (I wasn't looking at the TV at the time, might have been either Princess Beatrice or Eugenie, or someone else entirely.

Don't they have a light to tell them "on air" or "live" any more?
 
Cappuccino said:
He forgot to turn his mic off during the dressage today, twice. Once because their headsets weren't working properly, and again when he was trying to find out "who that woman was" in the crowd (I wasn't looking at the TV at the time, might have been either Princess Beatrice or Eugenie, or someone else entirely.

Don't they have a light to tell them "on air" or "live" any more?
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"Beatrice and... what's the other one called? Beatrice and... anyway, the Royals."
 
attheponies said:
Some years ago I'm sure I remember him (Tucker) commentating on Badminton Horse Trials with Lorna Clark, she was great but he was obviously really irritating her, she ended up disagreeing with almost everything he said on principle!
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:) I remember it well! Lorna was very irritated by Tucker's comments.

I'm sure Mike must be a lovely guy, but he has always annoyed me with his equestrian event commentaries. For one thing, he hardly ever pauses to allow us to enjoy the action. The endless 'rabbiting on' drives me crazy! Is he being paid 'per word' perhaps? I say that in jest of course, but that's how he comes across to me.
 
I think the more I've listened this last week, the more I've come to appreciate him for being like a rather dappy favourite uncle :D.
 
Ah, do you know what, I LIKE HIM!! :) As has been said, the BBC weren't controlling the feed so MT and IS could only comment on what and (I believe) us were seeing which has to bea bit tricky especially when they were jumping from eventer to eventer on XC day and often putting the wrong name on the screen of who they were showing.

Mike Tucker knows a lot of people in the industry but I do think he probably is closer to the showjumoing worls than eventing as he generally seems more on the ball and has more banter with the SJers when I have seen him anyway. I much prefer the 'human' commentary and the banter and c*ck ups than the inane rubbish I have heard when I have occasionally caught equestrian sport on the likes of Eurosport. That is hideous! I like our British commentary, it makes it more fun!! :)
 
Munchkin said:
"Beatrice and... what's the other one called? Beatrice and... anyway, the Royals."
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LOL yeah something like that! Who was he looking at anyways, I didn't see!


And he's still saying "double clear" because they got round inside the time. Does he consider 4 faults inside the time a clear round then?

I've friends who are into motor racing who say Murray Walker used to drive them demented and they couldn't watch because of him!
 
attheponies said:
Just gritting my teeth through the show jumping, so far every rider AND every horse has been "very experienced"!!
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Well they would be would't they he really is an amusing dope but the sheer amount of horse coverage at the mo it's wearing a bit thin.
Thought JH kept him pretty well under control in the dressage.
 
Well I'd rather have Mr. T and the show-jumping than no equestrian sport and having to listen to that other drivel - time to switch off and go hacking/poo picking/muck out the chickens etc. etc.........
 
Mike Tucker is a really nice chap in real life but yes I agree, I'm another one who shouts at the telly when he's commentating, getting names muddled up and back to front is a sign of old age, I know because I do it !! the best one was Rosie's Best ridden by Barry Thomas at Badminton, grrr !! but amusing ...
 
I live in Canada and watched some of the BBC coverage of the cross country by downloading it on my laptop.
Yes Mike Tucker is annoying, but as has been mentioned he has a lovely voice and he had Ian Stark there to correct him on occassion and to give us a proper perpspective on things.

This morning I watched the show jumping live on canadian TV....Oh my word I would have Mike Tucker in a heart beat..... The comentary over here is terrible. They talk such utter rubbish!!!!
They don't seem to be able to articulate what is happening and when mistakes occur just have no idea....

So if you are fed up with Mike, send him over here to comentate on the Spruce Meadow jumping (cos thats all we get apart from Olympic sj).....he much much better......which gives you some idea of just how bad it is....EEEK!
 
JFTD said:
Exactly. I personally find him and his "rapport" with IS quite amusing. Yes, he seems to live in a perpetual state of confusion, but it really isn't the end of the world, and he is limited by the information available to him at the time.

It's his job to keep talking, even if it is trivial. It isn't just hardcore eventing / riding fans who watch these sports, and they has to try and make it accessible and entertaining for other viewers. If he bothers you that much, you can always mute him and focus on their equitational skills and performance.
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Exactly MT is not so bad, yes he's made some bloopers but he provides a pleasant light hearted commentary :)
 
Pennyhp said:
I live in Canada and watched some of the BBC coverage of the cross country by downloading it on my laptop.
Yes Mike Tucker is annoying, but as has been mentioned he has a lovely voice and he had Ian Stark there to correct him on occassion and to give us a proper perpspective on things.

This morning I watched the show jumping live on canadian TV....Oh my word I would have Mike Tucker in a heart beat..... The comentary over here is terrible. They talk such utter rubbish!!!!
They don't seem to be able to articulate what is happening and when mistakes occur just have no idea....

So if you are fed up with Mike, send him over here to comentate on the Spruce Meadow jumping (cos thats all we get apart from Olympic sj).....he much much better......which gives you some idea of just how bad it is....EEEK!
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Do you mean Jon Garner and Ian Allison?

I think they are fabulous and don't even make a fraction of the same mistakes that Mike Tucker and many of our other commentators make.

Garner is a very experienced rider too and here is a great article about him. Ian Allison is also a wealth of information when it comes to show jumping.

Anyway, I LOVE Spruce Meadows. It and Hickstead are my two favourite show jumping venues. :)
 
Over2You said:
Do you mean Jon Garner and Ian Allison?

I think they are fabulous and don't even make a fraction of the same mistakes that Mike Tucker and many of our other commentators make.

Garner is a very experienced rider too and here is a great article about him. Ian Allison is also a wealth of information when it comes to show jumping.

Anyway, I LOVE Spruce Meadows. It and Hickstead are my two favourite show jumping venues. :)
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I have no idea who they are. They comentate for CBC. They just don't give the kind of insite that Stephen Hadley does. I know Mike Tucker talks a lot of old Tosh...but he does sound nice and yes heb drives me nuts with his silly remarks.

I think it's probably a bit of nostalgia for the old country thats all.
 
Not sure who said this while doing the eventing dressage phase (and I dont want to start an arguement when I say this) but I was :eek: when he said something along the lines of "double bridles were the common thing to pull the horses heads in". Anyway back to the subject I've grown up with Mike Tucker commentating it would just sound wierd having someone else :p
 
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