DMF 

I was set to give this kid Hummer some extended audition time -- until this morning's pre-race fiasco. Four guys trying to talk nonsense over the top of each other.

Bob's half out of control anyway, but he's allowed - he's Bobke! Phil and Paul have been at this long enough they can take a cue, but someone needs to give the cue. Big Al, whatever you think about his race commentating, is a solid professional broadcaster who can control a panel of sleep-deprived characters. He knows how to bracket segments, and that personal fun and games aren't interesting to the audience. The past few years the pre-race was often the best part of the show. This year it isn't working.

Okay, Al's off to the Olympics. But I sure hope he's back after that.

Suzie Green

He was at the Olympic gymnastics trials the other night. I guess that's why they couldn't squeeze him into the TdF before the Olympics.

Richard_Rides

I like Al.

veloGeezer

so that's what's behind this new guy in the commentary booth!

it all makes sense now...sort of

free_jazz

sense? you mean like, "let him ruin the Olympics instead" ?

bac

Bring back Kirsten Gum!



... Brad

Gabbo

Not a huge fan of Trautwig, but seeing Hummer goading Sherwin and Liggett in their daily stage picks competition makes me want to put my first in his stupid, toothy grin. Trautwig was ignorant, but at least he showed some respect/deference to the smarter guys in the room.

mikey71469

" Bring back Kirsten Gum! "

complete agreement!

markjenn

I haven't seen today's broadcast, but I think the kid is doing Okay. I liked Trautwig and would still prefer to see him back, but each day, I've missed him less. He's doing Okay. I say we give him the benefit of the doubt until another week or so. And I think Versus does such a great job overall (mostly because of Phil and Paul) that I think we can cut them some slack if the chemistry needs a little tuning with a new group.

Of course, I always have my trigger finger on the skip-30-seconds button on the ReplayTV. No way I'd watch this thing live for three hours each day, watching 90 minutes of the peleton following 5 minutes behind the breakaway on a flat stage and enduring the same commercials 100x over. I generally skip through it in 45 minutes or so. At this pace, it's a great show.

- Mark

Suzie Green

You guys don't know how good you have it. I started following European bike racing in 1975. And the word "follow" is really a stretch. My brother, my Dad and I would listen to an evening recap of the day's stage by tuning in to the BBC on the radio at 6:45 PM when there would be a 5-10 minute rundown of the results. Packed into the radio broadcast were also highlights from Wimbeldon, along with other British sports news.

I'll gladly take Craig Hummer, Al Trautwig, Bobke, or just about anyone else for that matter.

popeye

Dump the kid!!!

miater

He's a little too excited to be there for my taste.I miss Al

rat_factory

+1 - thats the smartest thing I've heard all day.

SSP

I was at the Tour in 2004, and walked by the OLN booth about an hour after the Alpe d'Huez finish. It was a hot day, and while I was looking up at the booth, I saw Al Trautwig remove his shirt. I still have nightmares about that...

sykerocker 

Amen. I can remember back into the early 70's when you finally found out about the Tour after the three weeks were over, and then you got a quick synopsis of all three weeks in one magazine article. Usually two pages or less.

Sci-Fi

Many feel Craig Hummer is better at calling the rodeo/bull riding at Versus. He comes off as a frat boy in cycling and for many it's annoying (to be nice). Hummer is as bad as Tanner Foust is on 'Supercars' for SpeedTV.

isuffer

NOOOOoooooo!!!

Suzie Green

Wooo hooo! Let's go have a beer together and talk about the old days! I'd read about the Tour in Velo News. My brother had a subscription and it was just a small newspaper back then, black and white, hardly ever any photos. You mention "Tour de France" to anyone and you might as well have asked about the golf tournament results from the Phillipines.

lotek 

hey I want in on that beerfest. and by the way they'd probably know more about
that Philippine golf tournament then the tour.
then there was the CBS 1 hour a week segments. better but not by much.

I lost all hope for Hummer when he mentioned 'Ricco Riccardo' as a rider for Saunier Duval.

DogBoy

My wife likes the new guy...thinks he's cute. I think he an Al are on par for annoying level. I've never understood why Vs feels the need for an additional person for the TDF.

DMF 

Well that show I *****ed about was the worst. Hummer has been downright okay at times. But I still miss Al.

One thing Al did that isn't widely appreciated (apparently) is to make Bobke a star. Every great clown needs a great straight man and Al is all of that. This year it feels like the Versus head office has Bob's wife and kids as hostage, while Hummer tries to be the cute one. If that's intentional I fear for the future.

fhall1

Another vote for Al over Hummer.....and what's with Bob this year...did he attend Politically Correctness 101 over the off-season? EVERY time Hummer asks him a question, he starts the reply with "That's an excellent question......" even when they aren't excellent questions

MDcatV

I dont understand the complaints about hummer, I find him signficantly more tolerable than the trout, and he doesnt mis-pronounce rider names or incorrectly identify riders any more often than phil/paul.

I've enjoyed the Vs. coverage this year, I like andreau, am lukewarm on robbie ventura, and have enjoyed johan being on the team to add real insight to the tactics, how he would do things differently at times, etc.

Although I prefer just watching the race and could do without all the "television show" aspects of the primetime coverage, I give kudos to Vs. for the job they've done this year. Plus, if you play the "lance armstrong", "garmin-chipotle", or "team columbia" drinking game on any given broadcast, you'll be sauced before the 1st commercial break!

collegeskier

I recommend you toss in "Every Second Counts" ever since LA's book.

Suzie Green

You used to be able to get that way by playing the "schlooge" drinking game.