oust varsha

I love Varsha, I love the trio. So there.

I don't like how Peter gets no love in paddock. But that problem has been solved. Does anyone know who will replace him next year?

 

Varsha's coverage of motorcycle racing is much worse. Even if you didn't believe it could be worse. It can and is. And they have Greg White in the pits and grid....he makes Windsor seem like a congenial genius.

Windsor can be so pushy, it is amazing that someon hasn't socked him....

 

I like the trio too, although Varsha is the weak link.

I really like Sam Posey's occasional contributions-great knowledge and a phenomenally dramatic voice.

 

Did you hear Varsha's comment about the big watch that Lewis was wearing during the post race interview? He thought the drivers wear those big things during the race, or was he just joking? When he first started several years back on Speedvision, Hobbs would realy dig into his comments and give him a hard time. Things have simmered a bit and it now seems that Hobbs appreciates some of Bob's comments.

At least he is not bad as Freddie Spencer when his was commentator for the AMA SBK races, ARGH!!! That guy had to mention he was a 3 time world champion every frickin race.

 

We all crack up watching Spencer doing his bobble head imitation while someone is asking him a question. Now that they are using Scott Russell, reviews are mixed. Scott can mix 2 interesting comments with 3 or 4 exceedingly retarded comments.

Today's WSBK race had some color from world endurance racer Steve Martin. He actually has done several broadcasts since 2008 and he is very informed, articulate and has no problem correcting Green when he makes some absurd comment or assessment.

My wife constantly harps on me to try to get a job as an announcer, saying how good I am ad libbing to the races live. Love is a wonderful thing......and blind.

 

Brian, you DO NOT HAVE to watch Speed !!! I watch the F1 races on BBC1 on filmon on the computer - run a cable to the tv and voila.....big screen BBC1 race coverage instead of Speed.....BBC commentators are far superior (I like Eddie Jordan's candor, DC's driver insights), I agree about Varsha of late. Try it, you'll like it ! ! !

Carol

regarding Windsor, I thought he was removed from the interview room because of his involvement with the supposed us f1 team, but he was back doing the interviews....???

the only thing better on BBC for me would be to add Matchett to Eddie and DC, then you have a team owner/driver/mechanic viewpoint on matters

 

Agreed about Varsha...
Matchett is cool---always has great insight. David is ok--but I get annoyed when he starts talking about Hamilton and how wonderful and amazing and perfect and ......etc he is.

 

I have been watching motor sports on American TV all my life. As far as the American TV sample size goes Varsha is head and shoulders above anyone else. Anybody remember the year that Speed brought in Rick Debruhl to replace Varsha? Now that was bad.

 

Derek Daly is the winner of the Ultimate Worst Award.

 

oust Varsha? Are you kidding me? Bob Varsha should be the least of your F1 watching concerns. Speed channel has the worst slotted times for F1 probably due to the fact that here in the US nothing in Formula One makes the sports page of the New york times. Shows like Pinks and other crap seem to take precedent over F1. I think BV and the rest of the team do a pretty good job and not an easy one as the sport has become such a sloppy soap opera the past couple of years....

 

Would agree. I'm critical of Varsha and actually the others from time to time when they miss things that happen right in front of them. But it must be tough doing this live and having an audience of "experts" like us to contend with ;-)

Daly's only saving grace was that he was the one who started the pre-race grid walk interviews. DeBruhl wasn't as bad as that other idiot they use from time to time who now does motorcross. I think he either needs a hearing aid or someone should just tell him to stop yelling all the time. As for ousting Varsha, I would be interested in knowing who the replacement would be first. (many threads on this in the past but no real solutions)

 

It's a tough job, compounded by the fact, they do all the announcing from Atlanta. They are seeing the same TV screen that we are watching.

 

The SPEED studios are in Charlotte. And the guys arrive out there for a marathon broadcasting blitz that starts very early in the morning and requires coordination and production effort disproportionate to the very small viewership numbers. We should be grateful we have it at all. Don't like it? Don't watch it. I've been an F1 fan since 1966 and I know I could not do what Bob Varsha does. I like the guy. As for David Hobbs, he's the real deal, and was risking his neck back when racing was crazy dangerous. Additionally, he's a gentleman. I happen to like his droll, English barbs.

 

Be careful, I started a thread about the idiotic Varsha a few months ago and a bunch of people got their panties in a wad, because he's "such a nice guy". Doesn't matter, he SUCKS as a commentator.

As was stated, his timing is way off, he doesn't know much at all about F1, he makes dumb mistakes, he treats the audience like toddlers, and he doesn't shut up.

The most redeeming feature of Varsha is that he isn't Derek Daly. The next best thing about him is that he isn't Rick Da'Fool. Other than that, he really doesn't have much.

He *constantly* makes mistakes. There could be a race where lets say one of the Toyotas is out - let's say Glock. Then there will be an incident shown with a Toyota spinning, and Varsha the dim will say "ohh, big spin! Now is that Glock or Trulli?". Well which one do you think it is, halfwit?

Or, during the Hungary race, Heiki was a few places behind Hamilton, who was out in front. Behind Heiki were the Brawn's. A few times in the race you would see a shot with a Red Bull or a Williams in front of a McLaren. Varsha would make a reference to Lewis... but obviously it was Heiki, because Lewis was in P1, and it was way too early in the race for him to be lapping anyone. I'm not sure if Varsha just doesn't have good situational awareness and isn't able to keep up, or if he is just really stupid and doesn't get these most basic of details, or if he just isn't paying attention to the racing and is daydreaming about quittin' time... but whatever it is, it most definitely comes across as apathy and stupidity in his commentating.

Varsha should go. There has to be someone else out there who could lead the broadcast without showing himself as a dope on a constant basis.

 

If you recall previous open wheen announcers, you must admnit these guys are far better than those we have had before (Derek Faily, Porky Page, Bobby Unser, etc.).
Whatever happened to John Bisiginano and Parker Johnstone?

 

Been watching my GP's on BBC lately. It simply crushes the Speedvision crap just like BBC news crushes any American newscast. There is simply no comparison. When I watch Speedvision, there seems to be a premise that at least half of their audience are morons. Plus the entire crew is just unpleasant to listen to, especially Hobbs.

 

See, I think he's a retard.

You guys are spoiled. The trio on Speed is the best coverage F1 has ever had. And Varsha does get simple at times when he explains stuff but there is a reason for that. SPEED is trying to attract new views so he dumbs it down at times to appeal to the new fan.

 

In the USA maybe.

It's a shame so few people watch F1 in the states, otherwise it might have been worth it (financially) for BBC to broadcast the races in the status too.

The current BBC team is fantastic. On fridays there's Anthony Davidson who gives some of the best commentary imaginable, together with the bloke no one knows the name of (read he's called Jason last week actually). He's brilliant as well and pretty much on par with AD.

Then for practise 2 there's Jason again and a man from Force india, who gives great insight on strategy.

P3 is the same duo from P1 again

During qualifying & race we have Brundle (Excellent), DC, Eddie jordan (ok he's a pillock and lives in the 90s, but atleast he admits every mistake he makes the following weekend).

The only 2 bad ones are Jonathan Leggard (some old man who used to comment on football I think) who asks fairly annoying questions all the time. I suppose his questions aren't actually that annoying, but the tone he proposes a question with. His tone goes a tiny bit lower, asks it twice as fast as he normally talks and makes him sound like a know it all.

then there's the younger guy, forgot his name again but I swear he's the illegitimate son of Steve Rider, the old man from ITV last year. When he's done talking he pouts exactly the same as Rider does. And he treats us like toddlers just as Leggard does.

All in all its a fantastic team, I just wish anthony davidson would replace Leggard. I can live with the young Steve Rider.

 

Who would you suggest as a suitable and available replacement for Varsha?

 

And I believe they see the video feed 8 seconds or so before the viewers do.

 

Honestly, I don't know because I'm not in the TV biz. But the UK seems to get it right with really good commentators... surely we can do as well here, no?

I think Matchett is excellent. Hobbs is love it or hate it, personally I like the guy... but I know a lot of people don't like him. I think his sense of humor is great and very subtle.

Varsha is an oaf.

Speed ought to call up the guy who does casting for BBC and ask who was on their short list and ended up not getting the job, then hire that guy.

 

I used to like Varsha but after the last thread that state dhow much he sucked I started to listen to him closely and came to realize he is a always making mistakes!
I can't stand him now.
Thanks Mike.

 

Let's not rock the boat. As long as he and Hobbs are there, Derek Daly isn't...

 

Just watched a bit on youtube (spa friday practise Q&A, for those who care). Got to agree with the above. Varsha seems like a turd. I think Matchett is the tanned guy with glasses on, and some big ass spot on his cheek, he seems excellent and same goes for hobbs.