Spot The Blunder

[Caduceus]

I hereby open as of today, 'Spot The Blunder' thread dedicated to the semi-evolved F1 commentator [b]James Allen[/b].

Seeing as we are some way through the GP circiut calendar already this year, past blunders are more than welcome to start the James Allen repertoire.

At the end of the season I shall send a letter to Bernie Ecclescake with all the info(cock-ups) gained from this thread. :readit:

As annoying as I know he is, [b]please[/b] no indepth rantings, just the offending cock-up line.

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"Ralf Schumacher, who celebrated his 30th birthday a couple of years ago"
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[groomi]

What's it got to do with the Poisoned Dwarf??? Allen works for ITV, they decide who presents their poor excuse for motor racing coverage.

[telecat]

I'm not sure but I think he is being very sarcastic. Can't forget the picture Of Jenson's Dad as "the Cock" said "There's Jenson's Dad aged 62, doesn't look a day older than 70"

[woody]

I like the fact that James Allen said that the 'infamous' turn 8 was a fast right hander in the build-up to the race .
Nice to see he knows his left from his right!

[D_Mike]

When Button passed barrichello...

[director cuts to button following barrichello]

James Allen: "that's Button following Barrichello."

[button gets alongside barrichello about 4 seconds later]

"thats, er, sato passing shcumacher! no its button passing schumacher... er no, its barrichello! Button's passed Barrichello!"

[JonRB]

Well it's obvious that James Allen fancies himself as Murray Walker, so in addition to the "GO! GO! GOOO!" (that sounded cool when Murray did it but wanky when Allen does it), he's obviously decided that he needs to throw in Murry-esque blunders in order to be the perfect F1 commentator.

[Frik]

JonRB said:

Well it's obvious that James Allen fancies himself as Murray Walker, so in addition to the "GO! GO! GOOO!" (that sounded cool when Murray did it but wanky when Allen does it), he's obviously decided that he needs to throw in Murry-esque blunders in order to be the perfect F1 commentator.

The over-enthusiam is the single most annoying thing about him I reckon. Mind you I might expect that from someone who thinks Herr Schumacher is the most exciting driver around.

[Bruce Fielding]

see sniffpetrol for the t-shirt!

[Caduceus]

I was about to give the "thats Button passing Barrichello", but DMike beat me to it.

I fell asleep not much longer after so can't supply any more of his half way to spastics dribble.
Did I miss anything?

[RedYellowGreen]

Whilst watching todays Turkish GP one noticed Mr Allen refered several times to seeing ''bits of paint blowing around the track'' when quite clearly aformentioned debris was is fact helmet visor tear offs made quite clear when Mr Raikkonen discarded one in plain view of billions of spectators watching on there television screens. This fact again made clear by the situation where ''bits of paint'' simply fall of motor vehicles (particularly Formula 1 cars) being a very dashed rare occurence indeed.

[joust]

It's funny that people were saying exactly the same thing about Murray 20 years ago when I started watching F1.

As the old saying goes, if you think you can do better, then get the job. But, oh! You don't have the job do you.

[rubystone]

"nice graphic - you can see how he (the guy in front) brakes much earlier than him (the guy behind)" That'll be because he gets to the corner first you numbskull!

[flemke]

rubystone said:

"nice graphic - you can see how he (the guy in front) brakes much earlier than him (the guy behind)" That'll be because he gets to the corner first you numbskull!

Yes, that was a classic.

[tonyhetherington]

While I agree that James Allen should not present ITV F1, and that he does annoy me, I think with respect to his mistakes during a race that they are entirely acceptable.

What we don't see is the mass of information that's being fed to him at any one time - whether it's in his ear from the director, on screen from one of the many monitors, what the live TV coverage is etc. etc. For him to get mixed up is understandable and, in fact, it's one of the things that made Murray famous. He would get mized up for exactly the same reason.

HOWEVER...the mess ups that James Allen does do, such a the John Button comment...well, it's open season chaps. Carry on

[flemke]

joust said:

It's funny that people were saying exactly the same thing about Murray 20 years ago when I started watching F1. As the old saying goes, if you think you can do better, then get the job. But, oh! You don't have the job do you.

The whole point is that this guy has sufficiently ingratiated himself with persons at ITV that the job was not awarded on merit. On that basis, how could someone else "then get the job"?

Beyond that, no PHer, so far as I have seen, has said that he could do better.
James Allen holds himself out as a professional broadcaster. He has had years of experience supplemented by coaching and support. He gets paid quite a lot of money to do a proper job.
The critique is not that one of us could do better. It is that there must be professionals - and we know that there are - who could do better. We want him replaced by one of them.
Even if there were no one in the world who could do as good a job as Allen , I for one would prefer Martin Brundle's colour commentary alternating with silence.

[gadgit]

The fiasco of button passing barrichello, or was it button passing schui..... or was it sato.......or... errrrr?

Dont think i am being funny but were all watching it on the box and notice straight away ( well i did anyway). He has only got a bl88dy screen in front of him with all the positions on!!!!

I will accept that commentry is not as easy as it sould seem, i think i would run out of things to say.

I reckon that the best commentators are ex-participators.

Same with football and tennis.



>> Edited by gadgit on Monday 22 August 12:36

[andyps]

The usual comment when the Cobbler went out for qualifying on Saturday - here comes the Maestro - then of course the amazement that he spun. If only he would get his head out of Schumi's a**e he might be able to commentate better because he could see what was happening.

[bobski]

Can;t recall the detail but even Slim Jim Rosenthal was making mistakes. Normally happens when you are rudely awaken from a sound sleep

Rosenthal also claimed we witnessed a terrific/stupendous/amazing GP, I did fall asleep for quite a few laps and kept an ear open for 'action'.

Remember Murray was one of the original commentators and wasn't his dad a pro biker? Anyway, give Allen 50 years and he might be a legend, plus he has to get excited to sell the product, which we know is a tad ropey.

Bring on A1GP/GP Masters etc etc

[travelsveryrapid]

The most aggravating thing for me is Jim Rosenthal who insists on calling Juan Pablo Montoya "Wan"


Steve.

[steviebee]

His biggest cock up?


I think you'll find it's is haircut!