FTA-TV Mark Howard

[peternorth]

Speed is an A-League/Soccer guy who has zero passion for AFL.

Depends how you define passion.

The fact that speed is not from an AFL background, yet calls the game well speaks volumes for him.

His hero is Martin Tyler, one of the worlds renowned commentators. Many AFL commentators could take a leaf out of his book

 

[freddy mercury]

Adam Papalia says hello.

Hey Adam, how's life treating you?

 

[Greenery]

Whiny voice, bad jokes, shameless sycophant. What's not to like?

 

[StillAtLarge]

Whiny voice, bad jokes, shameless sycophant. What's not to like?

I'm pretty sure if you swabbed mark howard's nose there'd be some ricky (rick) ponting fecal matter on there

 

[StillAtLarge]

Howard referring to Elijah Taylor as "Taylor...Elijah" really gave me the brace & bits on the weekend

 

[1989]

Depends how you define passion.

The fact that speed is not from an AFL background, yet calls the game well speaks volumes for him.

His hero is Martin Tyler, one of the worlds renowned commentators. Many AFL commentators could take a leaf out of his book

If there is such a thing as the perfect commentator, it's Martin Tyler. Could listen to him commentate paint dry.

 

[Feerits Elf]

If he can remove the suck up behaviour then he’s commentary and polish commentary at that takes precedence.

I didn't know Howie was bilingual.

 

[peternorth]

I didn't know Howie was bilingual.

His grandfather was

 

[Falconista]

On TV I've found him very good. Gets the names correct almost always, calls accurately and has gears. Bruce is a sycophant too but he's had a marvellous calling career- if you're genuine you can make it work.

To his credit, he has improved from when I first heard him do (radio) commentary 4ish years ago (unlike Basil, Hamish and Luke Darcy who have not progressed at all!). If he continues to improve, rather than stagnate than those previously mentioned, he will be top tier (Huddo 99/00 was not top tier but worked on it, the late Clinton Grybas the same).

 

[imadodgyumpire]

I didn't know Howie was bilingual.

I think there's footage of him trying to chat up a Miss Poland?

 

[Elite Master]

Could do without the banter and crappy jokes. Those things ruin his commentary. Tries too hard to fit in as 'one of the boys'

 

[Dogs Rule]

If he can remove the suck up behaviour then he’s commentary and polish commentary at that takes precedence.

Good, but like you said, just needs to get rid of the Brayshaw-like ‘superstar’ hyperbole and sucking up and he’s fine.

 

[apollo_creed]

Speed is an A-League/Soccer guy who has zero passion for AFL.

How do you know that? His knowledge of the game is very good.

 

[holybishop]

How do you know that? His knowledge of the game is very good.

Scroll through his twitter. Full of A-League posts/retweets with a sprinkling of AFL/NRL. Yes he knows enough about the game to commentate it but it's clear where his passion lies.

 

[Not Important]

Scroll through his twitter. Full of A-League posts/retweets with a sprinkling of AFL/NRL. Yes he knows enough about the game to commentate it but it's clear where his passion lies.

surfing?

 

[Private Hudson]

Speed is the best caller in the country. Just calls the play simply and accurately. It was jarring listening to him yesterday and then going straight into *en Dwayne Russell.

 

[peternorth]

Scroll through his twitter. Full of A-League posts/retweets with a sprinkling of AFL/NRL. Yes he knows enough about the game to commentate it but it's clear where his passion lies.

Is that an issue? Or how is passion measured?

He was I think employed to call the a league. Ergo you are immersed in it.

He is a very good caller without the sucking up, favourites. Commentators call games. Professionalism is and should be first and foremost. Look at the big commentators. Bt, Bruce.....Dwayne Russell. Unfortunately we are stuck with them given afl is a domestic sport.

 

[BuddysBiggestFan]

Have to put up with him calling the game tonight....* you Foxtel.

 

[one eyedtiger]

Have to put up with him calling the game tonight....fu** you Foxtel.

How many times have you counted him saying "Great to see people back at the footy"

 

[1989]

Not the worst, but just like Brayshaw now - every second word has to be 'footy' or 'footy club'.

 

[Godchin]

I like him and I don't buy the sycophant angle. You can tell that his colleagues like him and that he gels well with them.
Andy Maher was mentioned alongside Howard earlier in the thread but if you watch the disgust wash across Mark Waugh's face during the Big Bash when Maher is in the box with him and then contrast it to the laid back joy that's visible when he's with Howie, it paints a telling picture.

 

[TBellicious]

Doesn’t overspeak
No dumb cliches
No boys club joking
Calls it as it is

Very likeable caller

 

[Wayne Dwop]

I like him and I don't buy the sycophant angle. You can tell that his colleagues like him and that he gels well with them.
Andy Maher was mentioned alongside Howard earlier in the thread but if you watch the disgust wash across Mark Waugh's face during the Big Bash when Maher is in the box with him and then contrast it to the laid back joy that's visible when he's with Howie, it paints a telling picture.

Maher is on channel 7
Mark Waugh is on Fox

 

[Godchin]

Maher is on channel 7
Mark Waugh is on Fox

I could have sworn they all worked together on channel 10.

 

[holybishop]

I could have sworn they all worked together on channel 10.

They did