Commentators using nicknames rather than real names..unprofessional or just Australian?

[mcuzzy]

Happens in cricket, footy and rugby league in Australia. Haven't heard it in other professional sports in Australia and have yet to hear it in overseas professional sports.

They refer to fellow commentators by their nickname and also refer to players by their nickname quite often. I actually forgot that Franklin's first name is 'Lance'

Is this unprofessional and a bit cringe worthy, or is it just a bit of an Aussie lick of paint?

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Rex Hunt, come on down. I remember a woman at work telling me one day she picked up a game of football on the radio, and Rex Hunt was commentating. She had no idea who the players were, and it took some time to work out which teams were playing. To me, that's unprofessional.

 

[mcuzzy]

Rex Hunt, come on down. I remember a woman at work telling me one day she picked up a game of football on the radio, and Rex Hunt was commentating. She had no idea who the players were, and it took some time to work out which teams were playing. To me, that's unprofessional.

Rex is more about making up his own nicknames for players with humour.

I meant using players current nicknames and acting like they're best mates like many have pointed out on bigfooty.

 

[JUBJUB]

Happens in cricket, footy and rugby league in Australia. Haven't heard it in other professional sports in Australia and have yet to hear it in overseas professional sports.

It does happen in Nascar with Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart.Commentators often refer to them as 'Rowdy' or 'Wild Thing' for Busch and 'Smoke' for Stewart.Actually Busch has 'Rowdy' and Stewart 'Smoke' as their name at the top of the door on their cars.

 

[The Speaker]

If it's "Australian" then Australia must've changed a bit over the past two decades.

 

[Bristol]

Yeah, but Human Meatball...

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

I don't mind it for my team because I know most of the nicknames but for most of the other teams I don't have a clue! I think it's a bit unprofessional really and, yes, it smacks of the commentators trying to be all matey with the players which is a bit cringeworthy. I think that there are a few exceptions such as Buddy who has been known as that from day 1 (although it's not the nicknmame his teammates use incidentally) but on the whole I think the commentators should steer clear of them. I notice the umpires do it too which I think undermines their authority, the umpires should be demanding respect from the players so calling them by nicknames and trying to be all matey with them doesn't help them get that respect IMO.

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

I don't mind it for my team because I know most of the nicknames but for most of the other teams I don't have a clue! I think it's a bit unprofessional really and, yes, it smacks of the commentators trying to be all matey with the players which is a bit cringeworthy. I think that there are a few exceptions such as Buddy who has been known as that from day 1 (although it's not the nicknmame his teammates use incidentally) but on the whole I think the commentators should steer clear of them. I notice the umpires do it too which I think undermines their authority, the umpires should be demanding respect from the players so calling them by nicknames and trying to be all matey with them doesn't help them get that respect IMO.

Agree. On the umpires, I think in Rugby Union, the players have to call the referees sir or Mr or something like that.

For me, it's unprofessional. It's something that hascome in of recent times to try and attract the younger crowd, ramp things up a bit, get the excitement going etc etc. For mine, it's largely crap and detracts from the call.

The actual caller should just call the game and leave the nicknames out of it. Rarely see it in other sports, and it needs to be changed.

 

[ioppolo]

BIG BOY MCEVOY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH HIM!

OH BOY!

BIG BOY! BIG BOY!

WOWEE!

 

[The Passenger]

i imagine it would be pretty annoying for those trying to familiarise themselves with the game and the players.

the umpires definitely shouldn't calling them by their nicknames, or even names imo. should be team and guersney number.

 

[Blueboiiz]

Bigshow comes to mind

 

[Partridge]

Happens in cricket, footy and rugby league in Australia. Haven't heard it in other professional sports in Australia and have yet to hear it in overseas professional sports.

They refer to fellow commentators by their nickname and also refer to players by their nickname quite often. I actually forgot that Franklin's first name is 'Lance'

Is this unprofessional and a bit cringe worthy, or is it just a bit of an Aussie lick of paint?

It's absolutely and totally unprofessional. The cringeworthy part is the "blokiness" that seemingly everyone in the football media wears as some kind of badge. It's pretty pathetic really. 700-odd players and 300-odd "journalists" that are really fanboys.

Repeat, it's pathetic.

 

[EaglesInMyBlood]

You would never see this in EPL

 

[Partridge]

You would never see this in EPL

The standard of commentating in soccer in general - English, European, whatever - is so far ahead of what we endure it's not even worthy of comparison.

 

[davesnothere]

As long as the ABC steers clear of it....Roy and HG the exception...I don't have a problem with it.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

To me it's all part of making the commentary entertaining which I don't think we need because, hello, what's actually happening on the footy field is the entertainment As I have said on another thread, ditch the TV commentary and swith on the radio. You get good commentary from the ABC radio and SEN IMO. I don't like Triple M as they tend to go in for banter and in jokes at the expense of commentary (similar to the TV). Haven't listed to 3AW for years and won't go near Rex Hunt with a barge pole.

 

[Wallaby]

Ray Warren is probably the worst (on the NRL). Continually refers to players by their Christian name, like an old mate.

 

[BlueBen]

Just as annoying is the commentators' propensity to add the letter "Y" to seemingly every second player's given name - "Scotty", "Lukey", "Matty", "Nicky", "Chrissy", "Joshy" and "Tommy" are among the ones that come up all the time. How hard can it be to just call the player's last name?!

 

[jbass002]

Happens lots in the NBA..

 

[JUBJUB]

Just as annoying is the commentators' propensity to add the letter "Y" to seemingly every second player's given name - "Scotty", "Lukey", "Matty", "Nicky", "Chrissy", "Joshy" and "Tommy" are among the ones that come up all the time. How hard can it be to just call the player's last name?!

Jeff Garlett being a good example - Jeffy
It's bloody annoying

 

[Bombermania]

I don't have a problem with a former player using nicknames for his former team mates but i think its odd for commentators like Bruce to start doing it

 

[Illinois Nazi]

I don't have a problem with a former player using nicknames for his former team mates but i think its odd for commentators like Bruce to start doing it

Bruce only does it for the ones he's fantasised about sleeping with... Oh, Cyril!

 

[Dont be a lemon]

It blows.

 

[DangerSloane]

The standard of commentating in soccer in general - English, European, whatever - is so far ahead of what we endure it's not even worthy of comparison.

Much easier game to call, considering nothing happens for 30 minutes at a time.
Plus they dont call it play by play, they waffle s**t until something somewhat interesting happens..."oh and he blasts it wide"...back to random crap until something else happens.

I like the use of some nicknames, but they have to be widely used. I will be in the minority, but I like Big Boy McEvoy. Its a bit of fun, and thats what sport is all about right?

 

[TheOz]

When fatso Brian Taylor does it it's cringeworthy. "The Human Meatball", "Big Boy McEvoy"? **** off.