NBC’s coverage continues to be atrocious. Meanwhile watching the Giro on HBO max was a dream. Thank you Netflix/Paramount for probably killing that too
I'm sure they all looked Phil in the eyes and swore they were cleans. That and a bank transfer to a tax haven someone told you about works for the UCI.
If I was this bloke, I'd retire to my farm in South Africa and watch cycling just like every other fan, instead of holding onto commentating on a sport that has left him behind. No other sport would ever tolerate his current level of commentary.
Eh, I barely listen to the prattle in races. I like it, but don't rely on it. Phil is fine. The worst are the fill ins and randos they'll switch to from time to time. Flow is all that matters.
I felt that way until I heard the Eurosport crew. Felt like I was actually learning about tactics, riders, and the racing lifestyle in a way that I previously had not. When I go back to Phil after that, it feels less tolerable than it had previously.
The few times I had to watch the English stream and this guy made me value the Portuguese commentators so much, not that they are good but in comparison they are amazing
If you go back and watch races from the 2000s or early 2010s you'll hear an entirely different commentator. Him and sherwen were great. If you ever listened to him and Bob roll together you would probably regret learning the English language
Yep. I would not be the cycling fan I am without the Phil and Paul duo. I was with them on OLN and Versus before it was NBC Sports. I loved “Cyclism Sunday.” Their voices were cycling.
But Phil doesn’t have it anymore, and I’m not sure that even Paul could have kept him in line these days. And Bob Roll (while he’s gotten much better over the years) is no Paul Sherwen.
Has Bob gotten better? I guess but as Phil gets more senile Bob seems to get growlingly annoyed by his commentary. Bob just has weird vibes for me now and Phil is spaced out.
Nah, Sherwin was straight ass. Go back and listen to those lance tours and say with the straight face that you’d take that over a guy like Robbie Mc or Millar
I've commented before about his slip-ups when he was commentating a time trial and he said " The race against the truth". Easy mistake but you're not supposed to make THOSE kinds of mistakes :)
Every once in a while he gets in the way back machine and pulls out a story of cycling lore that hits home…but other than that, yeah he’s a bit washed compared to the European commentators.
Worse is when he’s on with the other Americans who do NFL-style commentary; where every rider they talk about - advertisement - is the goat - advertisement - and how - advertisement - certain they are - advertisement- about their predictions - advertisement - which rarely - advertisement - come - advertisement - true - advertisement.
You have summed up watching NFL perfectly. I've been looking for the words for years, and you had them.
"This quarterback is brilliant, and he hast the arms, the legs, and the brains to get the ball exactly where he wants it." <gets sacked, loses 25 yards> "You see, this is expert field positioning. They have a 62% 3rd down conversion rate from within their own 10 yard line."
My continued participation in broadcasting events and NBC's continued choices to reduce cycling broadcasts to spectacle that panders to the lowest common denominator means that you will, in the US television market, be forced to continue to use a VPN to access English language cycling coverage in other nations, at least for ASO events.
I'm not sorry, I hate you all and enjoy making your suffer.
I too am a fan of Phil. He was the voice of Tour de France when I was growing up. I think his knowledge of the current peloton and professional cycling isn’t too up to date. At times he really struggles with names of riders. Perhaps he can continue in other capacities (interviewer, show host etc), but his commentating isn’t as good as what it used to be.
I think this is a fair take. Like you, he was always the voice of cycling when I was getting into it. It’s clear he has other focuses now and while I’d be sad to see him go, it may be the right time
Thankfully? He should have retired years ago. I say that as someone that considers him and sherwen as the voices of cycling. My youth was spent listening to them describe some of my favourite sporting moments growing up, one of my favourite sports broadcasters but it's well past time for Phil to hang up the mic.
So Simon Yates age 33 is retiring before Phil Ligget age 83…?
Paul Siexas will retire before Phil
Didn't expect a rhino protection message but I'm down with it.
He's the international Bob Barker
NBC’s coverage continues to be atrocious. Meanwhile watching the Giro on HBO max was a dream. Thank you Netflix/Paramount for probably killing that too
Geez, all those years running interference for Lance Armstrong and he doesn’t even rate a mention …
Or, Bjarne Riis. Or...
I'm sure they all looked Phil in the eyes and swore they were cleans. That and a bank transfer to a tax haven someone told you about works for the UCI.
If I was this bloke, I'd retire to my farm in South Africa and watch cycling just like every other fan, instead of holding onto commentating on a sport that has left him behind. No other sport would ever tolerate his current level of commentary.
The fact this this wasn’t a retirement announcement is just Phil fucking with us.
I thought for sure this was a retirement announcement. I was bamboozled.
Makes me sad to grow into a world where I can't stand watching the tour called by Phil and Bob Roll. It's awful. Give me Anthony McCrossan any day
Well Al Michaels still commentates NFL games, but his main problem is that he sounds like he's about to fall asleep.
Eh, I barely listen to the prattle in races. I like it, but don't rely on it. Phil is fine. The worst are the fill ins and randos they'll switch to from time to time. Flow is all that matters.
I felt that way until I heard the Eurosport crew. Felt like I was actually learning about tactics, riders, and the racing lifestyle in a way that I previously had not. When I go back to Phil after that, it feels less tolerable than it had previously.
Eh, tactics are simple enough to infer. Just need to know where all the riders are on the road.
Which… shocking as this is in our modern age, they don’t actually show you on the broadcast!
If you ever want to have 5 minutes out the room, you need a commentator
Do you not watch the NFL? Some of those announcers are just bad.
You're the second person saying that. The only American sport I watch or pay attention to is basketball (and the NBA and WNBA).
The few times I had to watch the English stream and this guy made me value the Portuguese commentators so much, not that they are good but in comparison they are amazing
If you go back and watch races from the 2000s or early 2010s you'll hear an entirely different commentator. Him and sherwen were great. If you ever listened to him and Bob roll together you would probably regret learning the English language
Yep. I would not be the cycling fan I am without the Phil and Paul duo. I was with them on OLN and Versus before it was NBC Sports. I loved “Cyclism Sunday.” Their voices were cycling.
But Phil doesn’t have it anymore, and I’m not sure that even Paul could have kept him in line these days. And Bob Roll (while he’s gotten much better over the years) is no Paul Sherwen.
Has Bob gotten better? I guess but as Phil gets more senile Bob seems to get growlingly annoyed by his commentary. Bob just has weird vibes for me now and Phil is spaced out.
At least he doesn’t say “Tour Day Frantz” anymore.
(And yeah, I know he had some reason for this, but it came off as so cringey.)
I think I have PTSD from him yelling OH NOOO!!
Nah, Sherwin was straight ass. Go back and listen to those lance tours and say with the straight face that you’d take that over a guy like Robbie Mc or Millar
Robbie McEwen is great but he was still racing back then haha
So was millar lol. I meant generally
I've commented before about his slip-ups when he was commentating a time trial and he said " The race against the truth". Easy mistake but you're not supposed to make THOSE kinds of mistakes :)
Every once in a while he gets in the way back machine and pulls out a story of cycling lore that hits home…but other than that, yeah he’s a bit washed compared to the European commentators.
Worse is when he’s on with the other Americans who do NFL-style commentary; where every rider they talk about - advertisement - is the goat - advertisement - and how - advertisement - certain they are - advertisement- about their predictions - advertisement - which rarely - advertisement - come - advertisement - true - advertisement.
You have summed up watching NFL perfectly. I've been looking for the words for years, and you had them.
"This quarterback is brilliant, and he hast the arms, the legs, and the brains to get the ball exactly where he wants it." <gets sacked, loses 25 yards> "You see, this is expert field positioning. They have a 62% 3rd down conversion rate from within their own 10 yard line."
I sometimes watch the PT commentary and they're low energy, compared to the Italian or french commentary 😂.
Anyone see that Phil Liggett: The Voice of Cycling documentary from 2020? Seems like they just had a few screenings
"Dear Cycling,
My continued participation in broadcasting events and NBC's continued choices to reduce cycling broadcasts to spectacle that panders to the lowest common denominator means that you will, in the US television market, be forced to continue to use a VPN to access English language cycling coverage in other nations, at least for ASO events.
I'm not sorry, I hate you all and enjoy making your suffer.
Insincerely,
Phil Liggett"
So he's NOT retiring? I can't bear to watch this as the sound of his voice triggers me. He's soooo past his 'use by' date ...
LA7 deserved a mention
bro thats clickbait
Thankfully, this is not a retirement announcement. But it is a wonderful look back on his career and what Phil’s future plans are
I too am a fan of Phil. He was the voice of Tour de France when I was growing up. I think his knowledge of the current peloton and professional cycling isn’t too up to date. At times he really struggles with names of riders. Perhaps he can continue in other capacities (interviewer, show host etc), but his commentating isn’t as good as what it used to be.
I think this is a fair take. Like you, he was always the voice of cycling when I was getting into it. It’s clear he has other focuses now and while I’d be sad to see him go, it may be the right time
Thankfully? He should have retired years ago. I say that as someone that considers him and sherwen as the voices of cycling. My youth was spent listening to them describe some of my favourite sporting moments growing up, one of my favourite sports broadcasters but it's well past time for Phil to hang up the mic.
I have refused to listen to Phil Liggett commentate on cycling for a long time.