The Annual Paul and Phil Appreciation Thread

[GrooveSlave]

Have you guys noticed that Phil never misses an opportunity to slam Paul for being "off the back" when he was racing - or words to that effect.

I'm too new to the sport to have real knowledge of who did what in their heyday, and how Phil and Paul's careers compare, but it sounds like sour grapes (a bit) to me.

Also, I know what you mean about hearing their voices in your head while riding...I'm regularly "in a spot of bother".

[TrekDedicated]

Originally Posted by cheapie

btw OP, i don't think this is what you meant!


perhaps you meant they NEVER cease to amaze you!

ooops! You are correct.


While Paul and Phil do mention LA, they barely speak of him compared to Al, jeeze. I don't think he knows any other rider's name. haha

[DiabloScott]

Phil - "Today's stage ends in Caen; I think you came in last when the race finished here once, didn't you Paul?"

Paul - "Yes, but the riders today will have their tires pressurized to absolute perfection, won't they Bob?"

Bob - "That's right, absolutely, that's what Lance would have done, but today's riders won't have to worry about the best Toor Day France rider ever."

Al - " "

[cheapie]

hahaha...too funny!

[Deli]

Originally Posted by DiabloScott

Phil - "Today's stage ends in Caen; I think you came in last when the race finished here once, didn't you Paul?"

Paul - "Yes, but the riders today will have their tires pressurized to absolute perfection, won't they Bob?"

Bob - "That's right, absolutely, that's what Lance would have done, but today's riders won't have to worry about the best Toor Day France rider ever."

Al - " "

Classic, but Paul needs to restate Phil's line before making his own point.

[WarrenG]

Originally Posted by GrooveSlave

Have you guys noticed that Phil never misses an opportunity to slam Paul for being "off the back" when he was racing - or words to that effect.

I'm too new to the sport to have real knowledge of who did what in their heyday, :

Since you're new you haven't heard all of Paul's stories about how poorly he rode uphill and elsewhere. Phil is just going along with that.

[steve26]

I think they are great. They seem like great guys and they love the sport.

Of course they are pro lance/discovery but they are announcing for the American audience so that is probably why.

Bob Roll and trautwig..not so good.

[limerickman]

Originally Posted by TrekDedicated

Once again, Paul and Phil cease to amaze me. Their commentating skills are spectacular. Never a dull or useless comment made. I believe it is their 21st year together and you can tell, they feed off each other so well.

Props to them.

The Tour is even better with them!

Liggett went native many years ago : he was an average commentator then but has since gone downhill.

Sherwen can't even muster the ability to be average.

I suggest you turn down the TV volume and watch the pictures : you'd be just as informed about the race, than listening to either of 'em.

[helmutRoole]

I met Phil at InterBike in 2004. He was there just like anyone else, checking out the booths when I saw him.

For the five minutes we spoke, he seemed like a pretty nice. Hell, he signed a magazine cover to my cat, Mr. Cow, without even really batting an eye.

"Okay, to Mr. Cow it is then."

Rob Roll -- he's a nut job, but he works the comic angle well enough.

Paul -- knowledgeable enough. Gets the job done.

Trautwig -- please, to the powers that be, fire his ass. Under the commentary table, between his legs, I promise you, there's a bong down there. Him and Rob pulling tubes between commercial breaks. Rob handles it better while Trautwig is the guy wearing a lamp shade.

[El Loto]

Phil: "Slava Ekimov is of course 40 years old, Paul here stopped riding when he was 32"

[bobke]

Originally Posted by Deli

I can't agree more. Bob Roll used to be funny and irreverant, when he wrote his columns for Velonews about 15 years ago. Now he is just a moron.

The thing that gets me the most about Sherwin is that he will repeat Ligget's last comment as he begins speaking. Like we didn't hear it the first time.

Paul ALWAYS repeats what Phil sez, its hilarious.
Actually if you listen I think they may actually be doing commentaries for another station at the same tiem because you can hear one talking or commentating in the background with the mike off. Weird?

Bobke a moron.
Wash your mouth out with derailleur grease and then and the repeat twenty seven times the Hail Bobke as your penance.
Has he toned it down? Yes.
Has he porphed into a mainstream commentator. Close.
I think the idea will be for him and Paul to have a go but Phil it the guy.
No one calls a sprint better.
No one,
he is a classic.
And yes, he always gets riders names wrong as they go back for water bottles even when its obvious, just part of the charm.

Recall Paul Sherwen was PR guy for Motoroal when Lance was there.
He also saw Lance in the hospital when on his death bed and translated for Alain Bondue (Pauls former DS) talking to Lance.
So yeah, he can mention Disco as much as he wants...plus its an Amercian TV show.
Anyone notice Carmichael is gone and Floyds coach is front and center.

[El Loto]

Phil: "Tyler Hamilton comes out of each examination smiling"

Paul: "Comes out of each examination smiling, he has a joke for everyone"

This was Alpe d'Huez in 2003.

[wolfix]

As an American I like the way Phil calls a sprint for sure. I also listen to Eurosport, but I wish Sean K didn't have so thick of an accent. He has excellent things to say , but I have to really listen to understand him.
I like the female on Eurosport.


I'm not sure what to think of Bob Roll. And since it looks as if I am going to be spending some time in Durango riding I better be careful what I say.


I got to meet Phil in 1993 a few hours before he called a race. He does have a special relationship with LA. When we were standing there under a tarp[it was raining] LA showed up wearing his world's jersey for the 1st time ever. Out of everyone there at the time, LA saw Phil and rode straight over to him. Lance acknowledged my daughter and her "Don't mess with Texas" shirt.

A little bit later my daughter purchased a replica Motorola worlds jersey. We were sitting near Phil and my daughter went over to him. He took my daughter over to LA to have him sign the jersey.

I included a couple of G Watson photo's.....

[limerickman]

Originally Posted by wolfix

As an American I like the way Phil calls a sprint for sure.

I suppose you've got to take what you're given.
Unfortunately.

Originally Posted by wolfix

I also listen to Eurosport, but I wish Sean K didn't have so thick of an accent. He has excellent things to say , but I have to really listen to understand him.
I like the female on Eurosport.

David Harmon (the lead commentator at ES) has a background in MTB.
Despite that, he is very knowledgable about the road racing and he's excellent at spotting riders when they fall and identifying riders throughout the race.

Kelly brings the tactical knowledge and experience and he calls it right all the time.

We had Ligget and Sherwen for years on C4 (1981 to 1999) - but when ES started in 1989, then there was no question.
Eurosport won hands down.

ES commentate in several dozen different European languages (French/German/Dutch/Spanish/Polish/Russian to name but a few).
Most languages commentary, has former riders like Fignon/Durand/Virenque/Altig/Jaskula/Delgado doing stuff.
Millions of people throughout Europe tune in to ES for all the Pro-Tour races.

Long may that continue.

[patch70]

The Australian coverage starts with David Basheer for about 30mins. He is HOPELESS. Can't pronounce many of the names, doesn't know what's going on, and you can hear Phil L in the background saying something that David B then recites.

When Paul & Phil come on it is a relief. BUT - I can tell my wife exactly what P & P will say next. They are so repetitive. (I don't think many people still need to told daily that Lance won the Tour 7 times, yes 7 times, that is 7 times). And yes, Paul often doesn't listen to Phil and then repeats what Phil has just said.

What also annoys me is the way they make it seem that English speaking riders or DSC riders are pretty much the only ones in the Tour. Going on about what a brilliant genius is George Hincapie, about how the contenders are Cadel Evans, Floyd Landis, Levi Leipheimer and nobody else.....