Mike Tucker Gaffs

I think it might have been Andy Austin as opposed to MT but one thing that really started to wind me up during Hickstead and the RIHS was the number of times he used the word 'scopey'. Almost every Horse was described as either scopey or 'look at the scope'. Even my non Horsey OH commented on it. Of course they are scopey if they are jumping the Derby etc!!
 
kirstyl said:
Personally I feel Clare Balding should have been the main presenter and even perhaps commentator for the eventing. Not sure who she had upset to not be there at all. She was clearly very unhappy at not being there as were the GB team.

Ian Stark was excellent and how he didn't strangle Mike Tucker I don't know. Perhaps some of the shortlisted riders could have commentated - Piggy French for instance?
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I think fronting all the swimming is considered one of the main jobs, and actually a "better" for want of a better phrase job than the equestrian, higher profile if you like. Think I saw she is doing a bit of the showjumping/dressage when the swimming is finished. Guess it's cause she so good at what she does - my boyfriend a big swimming fan so been watching lots and you'd think she'd been doing it forever.

As for the Tuckerisms 'great day from beginning to start' was my favourite too! Did start to grate on me after a while though.
 
Maesfen said:
You've gone down in my estimation Alec; that was cruel and totally unnecessary.

I so don't want MK to replace him or anybody else for that matter, she really grates on the nerves, she should stop acting like a 15 year old.
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kerilli said:
Or, rather, talking to everyone else as if they're a 6yr old with learning difficulties! ;) ;)
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Whoa, steady people :( Don't remember Mary asking if she could commentate or suggesting she would like to :confused: Whatever anyone thinks of MT I think it is a bit uncalled for to start making personal remarks about someone who is completely irrelevant to this thread :mad:

I don't actually think Mary would make a particulary good commentator, her accent isn't ideal (despite her non-moneyed roots) and she isn't altogether fluent in front of a microphone, but she doesn't deserve these completely unprovoked attacks!
 
Fair enough TD, point taken. Her name was put forward up there and we were responding to that, but you're right.
just heard Mike Tucker do the worst one yet, just after the poor poor Canadian guy's horse threw a huge spooking strop in the GP and got the team eliminated, poor man riding out looking devastated, Mike said "this has been a very very happy games at the moment" and his co-presenter Judy said "apart from if your name happens to be David Marcus". :( :( :(
 
I was somewhat surprised to hear commentary about Morgan Barbancon-Mestres huge lorry during her test. Apparently it's the biggest in the park and has lots of pop-outs.

Painted Black (another by Gribaldi :cool:)
 
I LOVED Mike and Ians commentating for the eventing, thought they did really well together, wish they would commentate together for everything.

I think it was Badminton, he said "Ah, Mary King doing the typical Mary King position" *leaning as far back as possible and flapping arms :D *
 
Would be a lot better if he practised people's names ( and horses) in preparation. One horse has several versions of his name according to MT - actually Apollo van der Wendi Kurt Hoeve, came out with various versions of Apollo Wendy Kurta Hova. And some of the riders in todays dressage completely foxed him! When it gets really bad, and the name has more than three or four syllables, he just fades away....and yes, he did say that this was a'very,very happy Games' just as the Canadian rider was eliminated.... But i guess he is a tradition, and his has been a life steeped in equine pursuits. He just needs to make better notes as the events unfold. I would guess he might be difficult to work alongside.
 
Sam Albert has dual nationality; that means she chose from two countries to ride for... Jamaica, Canada or Britain!

Sam didn't have the option of riding for Britain, and I'm surprised he couldn't count to 3!

I have to say I think he's a good commentator, but he does make a lot of annoying mistakes now...
 
I'm afraid I'm not a fan of Mike Tucker, making some mistakes is understandable but the sheer quantity he has been making is unacceptable. Wether it is down to lack of preparation I don't know, but he comes over alot of the time as a buffoon. He clearly irritates the guest commentators who have to sit with him as their comments to him get shorter & more pointed as the day progresses. It's also the inane prattle he comes out with as well that is really annoying. Why can't the man learn to shut up occasionally. We don't need the constant gibberish commentary, we have eyes & we can see what is happening, sometimes a bit of quiet can be a good thing.
 
Wilbur_Force said:
I am sorry to say that, personally for me, equestrian commentary is not right without MT! Yes, I'm probably nuts, but he makes it what it is, regardless of the gaffs lol :)
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yeah, I agree. Besides look at all the extra entertainment people get making note of all the mis comments ;)
 
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Snowy1 said:
I don't mind listening to MT, yes he makes some gaffes, but don't they all. I grew up listening to Raymond Brookes-Ward and he was fantastic! Same as listening to Murray Walker. I absolutely hate listening to Andy Austin on Sky! He is hopeless and i for one wonder what on earth he brings to the table! In fact i listened to the Hickstead Derby with the volume on mute! At least MT brings a smile to my face!
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HaHa you'll be doing some more silent viewing then as AA is doing the SJing commentary with MT.
 
HaHa you'll be doing some more silent viewing then as AA is doing the SJing commentary with MT
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Oh no! Well that has just ruined that then. Yep volume will be back on mute. That man talks absolute nonsense. Classic line from Hickstead when talking about the speed derby "It is just like the Hickstead Derby but without the Derby fences and straighta against the clock!" Hmm so how is that like the Derby then, please do explain!
 
Snowy1 said:
Oh no! Well that has just ruined that then. Yep volume will be back on mute. That man talks absolute nonsense. Classic line from Hickstead when talking about the speed derby "It is just like the Hickstead Derby but without the Derby fences and straighta against the clock!" Hmm so how is that like the Derby then, please do explain!
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If you know him in RL you'll know he's not the brightest spark in the box. Perhaps in that example he means the course, heights, spreads, atmosphere, , arena, occasion, crowds etc etc are the same in the speed class as the Derby. Who knows.

I remember watching Olympia once and every horse needed to get its hocks underneath it, every horse was scopey and every rider rode like a german LOL. Seemed to have a few key phrases that applied to every combination LOL.
 
more amazing gaffs in the dressage!

"and that's princess beatrice judy... and judy, who's the other one?'

Amazing!

seriously though, love mike tucker, he is enthusiastic and passionate and livens it up - judy is a wee bit serious all the time!
 
Wilbur_Force said:
I am sorry to say that, personally for me, equestrian commentary is not right without MT! Yes, I'm probably nuts, but he makes it what it is, regardless of the gaffs lol :)
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Same. I love Mike Tucker, he's brilliant! Wouldn't be right without him. He's exactly the same as the cycling commentators (Phil Liggett and the other guy, Hugh Porter I think...). They talk nonsense most of the time but cycling is never the same if you listen to it with commentary by anyone else!
 
BBH said:
If you know him in RL you'll know he's not the brightest spark in the box. Perhaps in that example he means the course, heights, spreads, atmosphere, , arena, occasion, crowds etc etc are the same in the speed class as the Derby. Who knows.

I remember watching Olympia once and every horse needed to get its hocks underneath it, every horse was scopey and every rider rode like a german LOL. Seemed to have a few key phrases that applied to every combination LOL.
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Have met him in RL and agree not the brightest. I can also get him trying to explain to people who probably aren't horesy in simple terms, but even my husband says how useless he is! I am sure there must be far better commentators out there who are qualified for the job and have a better sounding voice! He seriously bores me!

Love the German comments!
 
Snowy1 said:
Have met him in RL and agree not the brightest. I can also get him trying to explain to people who probably aren't horesy in simple terms, but even my husband says how useless he is! I am sure there must be far better commentators out there who are qualified for the job and have a better sounding voice! He seriously bores me!

Love the German comments!
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If he bores you that will be entirely the fault of the BBC props department. All they have to do is put a rich blonde in the corner and he'll be as animated and lively as you could cope with.

Am lovin Mike's continued round of gaffs and am spending more time listening out for those than taking note of what JH is saying.
 
Had the pleasure (?) to be on the same flight as Mr Tucker after the europeans in Punchestown many years ago, and sitting in FAR too close proximity to him. Lets just say that he obviously gets on a high doing his presenting and takes a very long time to come down to normality.....if he ever does at all! :)
 
Honey08 said:
ps. Coming second at Badminton in 1982 leaves you a little behind the times really! Things have changed so much since them. He has only stayed as he is personable really.
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All I can say is that if I ever placed second at Badminton, you'll be hearing it for the next 200 years never mind the next 20!! ;)
 
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