Professional Cycling - Outst Kirsten Gum

Call me a heartless yellow ******* but does anyone else watching the Tour want Kirsten Gum replaced like I do? I don't know if I can handle another 24 days of her useless banter. uhhhhh - z

She seems harmless enough...... She does look better in a sweater than Bobke. :D

She seems harmless enough...... She does look better in a sweater than Bobke. :D

And she's light years better than last year. Last year, she was really raw, but showed an almost overwhelming enthusiasm for the TdF that I didn't mind. Just think, she could be some bimbo who mispronounced every name in the peloton and didn't give a cr@p about the sport.

And she's light years better than last year.

This is true. I have to give her credit for trying.

Last year, she was really raw, but showed an almost overwhelming enthusiasm for the TdF that I didn't mind.

I like her especially for this reason --she's not just another talking head. She seems to enjoy every second of cycling coverage.

And if she doesn't know as much as Bobka, mores the better cuz then she'll ask the questions I want answered.

Call me a heartless yellow ******* but does anyone else watching the Tour want Kirsten Gum replaced like I do? I don't know if I can handle another 24 days of her useless banter. uhhhhh - z

I think she's there to stay...
Plus if you remember from last year, Phil couldn't keep his eyes off her and that's got to be worth something in her favor. The interaction with Phil and Paul was a never ending source of amusement and I'm sure that won't change.
For the record, she doesn't both me at all. I'm just glad I'm getting live coverage for the fourth year running.

I've said it before, but can't OLN find a women who knows something about racing? How hard can it be to find a female ex-racer who can host the show?

It's sad that cycling is no different than any other sport in that OLN producers feel that a good looking talking head is an essential part of their broadcast team.

After watching the hoopla on the vids that Nam provided, I'm going to have to go with Zeego on this. That woman is painful to listen to. Having said that, she's better than Bob who needs a solid punch in the face if you ask me. I'll take a boozed-up, crack-smoking Phil over all of them.

She seems harmless enough...... She does look better in a sweater than Bobke. :D

I really don't want her to talk, but it would be great if she would wear tight sweaters all the time. Oh who am I kidding, I just want her to take it off!

I like the fact that there is a woman behind the desk to balance it out but all I wanted was someone with a little bit more knowledge. Thankfully her enthusiasm is there, plus, she IS better to look at ;-)

I think she also needs to get the "tour de france" right, she always messes up the pronounciation.

C'mon, she is stupid!! OLN should take the sport seriously and put on credible announcers that can add to the coverage. Do you see someone as inept as her covering other sports like tennis? NO! You get credible, interesting commentators that add to the enjoyment of the sport without playing down to the lowest common denominator.
How can anyone take cycling seriously when they see that kind of commentator covering the sport? Why does OLN think the audience for cycling is THAT stupid?

C'mon, she is stupid!! OLN should take the sport seriously and put on credible announcers that can add to the coverage. Do you see someone as inept as her covering other sports like

It probably boils down to $$'s. You think your gonna get top shelf commentators on some two bit network? Working QVC would probably be a step up.

But I'm glad for the coverage. A DVR makes it easy to blast past the gab-fests.

C'mon, she is stupid!! OLN should take the sport seriously and put on credible announcers that can add to the coverage. Do you see someone as inept as her covering other sports like tennis? NO! You get credible, interesting commentators that add to the enjoyment of the sport without playing down to the lowest common denominator.
How can anyone take cycling seriously when they see that kind of commentator covering the sport? Why does OLN think the audience for cycling is THAT stupid?

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think she also needs to get the "tour de france" right, she always messes up the pronounciation.

She's a lot closer than Bobke's "Tour DAY France". His commentary is certainly amusing, but, PLEASE, Bob, let's get it right this year.

I must say that Gum does seem a little more polished this year. I don't mind her quite so much anymore. Last year, I found her to be really annoying. (It's just nice to have comprehensive TDF coverage at all.)

I like her. In fact, I think she's outstanding.

You don't need a crew of wall to wall experts. They already have experts, they need someone to ask the experts the questions.

Now, this Trautwig guy is going to get on my nerves, I can tell already.

Kirsten is better that last year, and I'm sure she has had some coaching from Phil and Paul. Her enthusiasm can be a little much, but she's "hangn' out at the tour" ...
I'd be enthusiastic too.

Bobbke's "tour day france" is working for him. His charector is supposed to be a bit on the edge, so it works for the network. He creates an "edge" to balence everyone else. They did tone him down a little from last year though

I like her. In fact, I think she's outstanding.

You don't need a crew of wall to wall experts. They already have experts, they need someone to ask the experts the questions.

Ditto! :)

To be critical, I think we need to establish what her job is. She is not there to analyze the racing. That's why they have all of the others. They have added quite a few extra "field reporters" that are (ex) racers for analysis. Her job is to keep the show flowing and keep it within time constraints. Cycling analysis is very secondary to her main job. With that said, you could argue that she needs to leave all analysis to the "experts".

Personally, I like her this year. She is enthusiastic and she doesn't seem to be trying to comment on things she doesn't know much about. An ex-racer (female or male) could NOT do her job without a decent background in being a TV anchor, and that would be hard to find that combination.

Give me a break; she's the "talk show host" not the expert and her job is to keep the discussions on track and interesting. If you put a world-class female cyclist in her role it wouldn't work UNLESS that female cyclist also knew how to "host" a talk show. That she is easy on the eyes brings out some interesting character traits from Bobke, Paul & Phil that none of her male predessors could... thus, the pre-race shows are now far more entertaining than they were before.

I think your efforts to oust a personality from the OLN cycling line-up would be better spend on Al Trautwig who ads absolutely no value to the programming. BIO Is here. http://www.newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/broadcasters.asp?Broadcaster=Trautwig

Al is a tall utility announcer with an overly dramatic voice who knows nada about cycling and reads prepared scripts -- a character ripe for Scott Adams treatment in a Dilbert-like cartoon about OLN. His last gig broadcasting for cycling events was at the Olympics in Sydney and Atlanta and it was painful to listen to, not unlike the over-the-top crap narrated by Trautwig on OLN about Lance's past five TdF wins.

And, while I'm ranting here, what friggin' committee approved the also over-the-top "Cyclism" marketing package that OLN is airing? Is this what they think will attract the outdoor hunting and fishing and Pro-Bull Rider segment to cycling? Give me a break.

Thank goodness I'll be able to "read" the tour on the Internet live and then fast-forward through all of the OLN & Lance, Subaru & Lance, Nike & Lance, Trek & Lance, and Lincoln ads, Al Trautwig's over-the-top narrations, and what I'm sure will be more of that ranting idiot with the Cyclism crap that will have more air time than the actual racing. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Lance, but the TdF somehow was interesting sport for the 95 years that preceeded Lance's domination of the event (any remember a guy named Greg Lemond?, Big Mig?) and not even Al Trautwig saying so can make Lance is the greatest cyclist of all time; that spot is unquestioningly held by Eddy Merckx.

Bottom Line: There are too many other things at OLN and now Discovery Channel with regard to cycling that need to be fixed that are a lot worse than Kirtsen Gum.

So, why is she really there? T&A value only? She's not needed. Paul, Phil and Bob did a fine job at the Giro. They kept things moving, asked each other questions and managed to make even boring stages fun. Throw in a couple good field reporters and you're set.

She's only there to give some people something to drool over.

The Giro didn't air in Prime Time; different audience in the minds of the OLN programming and producer brain trust.

You, me and many other cycling afficianados could probably listen to Bobke, Phil & Paul all day every day and not grow weary or lose interest -- even those who are polarized to like either Bob or Phil, but not both. OLN apparently thinks new viewers who are not necessarily cycling zealots need more programming and packaging, hence the Tour de France circus act with it's three rings -- the talk show -- the race call -- and the special packages.

She'd be a really good parade host this winter, but I just don't like her. I'm not sure why, though. She's nice enough, just a little annoying.

The Giro didn't air in Prime Time; different audience in the minds of the OLN programming and producer brain trust.

You, me and many other cycling afficianados could probably listen to Bobke, Phil & Paul all day every day and not grow weary or lose interest -- even those who are polarized to like either Bob or Phil, but not both. OLN apparently thinks new viewers who are not necessarily cycling zealots need more programming and packaging, hence the Tour de France circus act with it's three rings -- the talk show -- the race call -- and the special packages.

Perfect analysis. Good job.

She'd be a really good parade host this winter, but I just don't like her. I'm not sure why, though. She's nice enough, just a little annoying.




Ditto...for me she just plain doesn't work. I understand the added perspective and all the other crap but it ain't working

i just checked out the preview show now as a result of seeing this thread.

i see what you guys are saying - and i can see where somebody who followed racing would find her lacking in depth as an interviewer and host.

my guess is that somewhere in OLN land somebody thinks that Bob is for the more race heads and Kirsten is for the little ppl. She pretty, she has good energy, and is good with the prompter.

did you know george w. bush was the first time a shorter president was elected since the invention of the television? hard to fault OLN for putting somebody like her up front - appearances are more important than they should be and tv is more beholden to that than anything.

i was watching lance chronicles in the background while working at my computer and i got a nickname:

The Kirsten Windtunnel

Bobke's Tour DAY France is a poke at the French,
he does it just to pissthem off, said as much in his book Bobke II.

Marty

The only thing this shows is how little credibility cycling has as a sport in NA. Every other sport finds a way to make analysis, commentary and play-by-play exciting and fun to watch without resorting to T&A and talking down to the fans. Meanwhile cycling has this half-wit with "lots of spunk"...

Say what you will about Bobke but he has cred because he's been there and done that. Something only 1% of the audience can say. Just as football has Terry Bradshaw, we have our colorful commentator.

...

Say what you will about Bobke but he has cred because he's been there and done that. Something only 1% of the audience can say. . . .

Anyone who was there "The day the Strong Men Cried", and finished the stage
can say whatever the hell he wants in my book.

marty

C'mon, she is stupid!!

Most of the time, Pretty=Stupid!! I see it all of the time! But hey, that's what sells! It's sad but true!

She'd be just fine if she just would NOT TALK!

Most of the time, Pretty=Stupid!! I see it all of the time! But hey, that's what sells! It's sad but true!

Wow! I'll bet you get lots of hot chicks with that attitude!

C'mon man, there are plenty of attractive women that are also inteligent. Besides, she's not even that hot. So she's not all that familiar with cycling, so what. She's the pre-game talk show host and doesn't even call the actuall race.

Now that Trouthead guy - he's really really f***ing annoying - sounds like he should be calling womens gymnastics or maybe figure skating. It's sickening! I wish they would can his arse pronto - or at least let Bobke take him out back and smack him around a little.

Bobke adds great charcter and insight to the team, and Phil and Paul are the bomb.

I personally like the "cyclism" adds (except for the Lance-centric one).

Speaking of which, Lance is way over-exposed IMHO. The mystery is gone - too bad.

Whatever - this is going to be one GREAT tour!

Go Tyler!

She seems very....happy? She doesn't bother me. She's been on so much now, I would miss her if she weren't there.

Bob is great, and makes me chuckle with every "Tour day France". I think it's hilarious. It's not ignorance. Can't he speak Italian, or just fake it really, really well?

Trautwig, hmmm. Where did he come from, and why?

Wow! I'll bet you get lots of hot chicks with that attitude! C'mon man, there are plenty of attractive women that are also inteligent.

I agree there are a lot that are both attractive and intelligent, but I have rarely run into any. It's like last weekend, one of the most attractive girls in the bar joined us at the table, and what an idiot she was. I was like, see ya! I need someone that is intelligent and active, not so much being hot.

I agree there are a lot that are both attractive and intelligent, but I have rarely run into any. It's like last weekend, one of the most attractive girls in the bar joined us at the table, and what an idiot she was. I was like, see ya! I need someone that is intelligent and active, not so much being hot.

Yup, you're right. That does happen a lot doesn't it? Sometimes I wonder if (or maybe hoping) they're just acting that way. Don't flame me for posting this, but I prefer the "Law and Order" type. Quality over quantity, eh?

It's not ignorance. Can't he speak Italian, or just fake it really, really well? Trautwig, hmmm. Where did he come from, and why?

I believe Bobke (pronouned boob-ka, not bob-key) speaks Italian, French, a bit of Spanish, and a bit of Flemish.

Trautwig: http://www.newyorkrangers.com/pressbox/broadcasters.asp?Broadcaster=Trautwig

Bobke pronounces "Giro d'Italia" correctly. I'm positive he could say "Tour de France" properly if he wanted to. You know he's putting us on because he pronounces "France" in the French way.

Back to Kirsten. I'd rather have Kirsten asking naive questions than Al Trautwig saying stupid things any day.

Bob Roll has earned the right to say Tour Day France any way he wants.

Yup, you're right. That does happen a lot doesn't it? Sometimes I wonder if (or maybe hoping) they're just acting that way. Don't flame me for posting this, but I prefer the "Law and Order" type. Quality over quantity, eh?

I know for a fact that some fake it. One of my friend's mother is a very attractive older woman and has a very high IQ. Her daughter has told me that she fakes being stupid.

A couple of my racing buds went to the Tour of Georgia this year and actually met her at a local restaurant.

They said she was very nice, knowledgable and extremely interested in the sport of cycling. They had conversation with her and Bob for over an hour.

Give her a chance. She's definetly nice to look at and brings something new to the cycling world.

Nobody will ever replace Phil but Kirsten Gum is here and learning.

I know alot of pretty girls I'll spend the day with talking about cycling- does that make them eligible for the spot too? Gimmie a break, she's there for T&A factor and that kind of crap doesn't fly in football, b-ball, baseball, tennis or even golf. Maybe because fans actually take those sports seriously which makes the programmers actually have to work and make intersting content or hire good PROFESSIONALS.

I know alot of pretty girls I'll spend the day with talking about cycling- does that make them eligible for the spot too? Gimmie a break, she's there for T&A factor and that kind of crap doesn't fly in football, b-ball, baseball, tennis or even golf. Maybe because fans actually take those sports seriously which makes the programmers actually have to work and make intersting content or hire good PROFESSIONALS.

What about Lisa Guerrero, Melissa Stark, Dennis Miller (not T&A for him, but to inject "humor"). I don't think they were there for their vast knowledge of football. I can't speak about the other sports, since I don't watch them.

Outst all the idiots here that can't handle a good looking woman doing a job. I guess these people can't stand that really good looking girl that talks to the football coaches back to the locker rooms either. ESPN?

Get a life, shut up, watch the tour and do something constructive. Oh, maybe OLN should hire your lame butts since you all appear to be racing experts as well as journalism majors.

Now back to the Prologue! Commercial is over.

Did anyone catch the pre-race show?

Could you jump me right now? :D

nice :D

since we're having this tribal meeting, i vote she stays on the island.
But with a caveat, she hosts in a swimsuit. LLBean makes 'em! i've seen
their catalogue..

My favorite quote from her--ok, she didn't actually say it, but i can
imagine her saying it last season:

" I hear they're going to be doing it on bicycles this year..."

Did anyone catch the pre-race show?

:D

Yes, I did see that. My wife was sitting @ the computer when Kirsten made that comment & I thought my wife was going to fall off the chair. It's obvious Ms. Gum is going to be around for awhile so we should just accept it. Heck it makes watching an adventure because you just don't know what she's going to spew out next. Go Hans!!!

i have to say i like her sweater....

what happened??? where are all the stupid tour commercials with bob saying "tour DAY france"????
Bob is so frikkin funny

My god... she is so fugly how can you even *think* shes remotely good looking :P