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Melanie Smith-Taylor

Archives 2018 World Equestrian Games
#121

[QUOTE=Sannois;6489037]
But I think it is such a sad state of affairs when people are more concerned about a commentator than the fact that Our US equestrian teams walked away with Zip medals this year.[/QUOTE]

How do you get that out of this conversation? This topic is solely about MST’s lack of ability as a commentator for dressage and eventing (and I guess jumping, based on posts made by others out here).

The teams missing out on medals is because we sucked this year. Even our better riders on top horses just weren’t putting it together. Not that they CANNOT put it together, it just didn’t happen at the Olympics.

In this country, with the way we operate and have only professionals competing and the people need to make or find a fortune to go, it’s bound to happen that it’s not always the top riders who get to go. It’s more about those who have the money to go overseas and buy horses. It’s not ALWAYS the case, we do have some great riders, but when the field is mixed with so-so riders on great horses and some really talented riders who have a horse that’s just not there for them during the Olympics or are still learning, then we’re bound to have an off year.

Make that another topic. This one is about MST and her inability to recognize her own short comings. Must be nice seeing the world through her rose colored glasses if she thinks she can be an expert in all things horse.

#122

[QUOTE=Sandy M;6489058]
You win some, you lose some. Sad that the US Team (and our Germans G) didn’t do better. Shouting “We’re No. 1!” doesn’t make it so. But having a poor commentator spoils the experience, win or lose. Frankly, in all the other Olympic sports, even when the commentary is completely educated, I am annoyed by the U.S. slant on EVERYTHING…as if other competitors are just an obstacle to get through so we can watch the 'murricans WIN!! I enjoy watching ALL the competitors and applaud ALL the efforts, and it’s just that much better when “our guys” do well, but if they don’t, well, them’s the breaks.[/QUOTE]

I’m with you, but the Brits were leaning that way, too. Especially the one guy that was literally cooing at the end of Charlotte’s ride. :lol: He was over amped for his country. It’s going to happen.

#123

[QUOTE=chancellor2;6487329]
What amazes me is that my non-horsey husband can hear how bad her comments are.[/QUOTE]
My non-horsey husband noticed it, too. We were watching the show jumping the other day. After about 5 minutes, my husband said “God, that woman is stupid!” :lol:

#124

[QUOTE=Sannois;6489037]
But I think it is such a sad state of affairs when people are more concerned about a commentator than the fact that Our US equestrian teams walked away with Zip medals this year.[/QUOTE]

Personally, I think it is a sad state of affairs that despite the majority of people on this thread in agreement, a few people have to keep coming back here and telling us we are wrong!

It’s a shame that the US didn’t medal this year at all. But I am pretty sure that has nothing to do with Melanie Smith Taylor (who I might add is the subject of this thread)

#125

My understanding is that those who are for her are her friends–or students, or some such. And they feel we are being unjust. That we are attacking Melanie on all levels. I think they need to realize that we are looking at her ONLY from the angle of being a person paid by NBC to give commentary on Olympic equestrian sports. That is different than attacking her as a person for her other skills/abilities.

As I’ve stated, over and over…ad nauseum, the problem is that she is NOT good as a commentator at the Olympics and she’s been doing it long enough that if she ever were going to get better at it, she would have by now. She’s only now being allowed to hear (due to these boards) that people have been writing complaints about her to NBC for years.

I’m sure that is a bitter pill to swallow, but she really needs to give up the ghost. It’s sad when people don’t know their own weaknesses or think they can turn them into strengths. MST should know that she had a natural strength in her jumping abilities (that were made more apparent by the super abilities of her horses). She should know enough from teaching that some people will be great, some good, and some never good at all. And that those who are never going to be good should never become teachers and trainers.

It’s the same with what she’s doing by providing commentary for dressage and eventing. She needs to own up to her own short comings, be VERY happy that she has awards of her own to show that she is GREAT at something else, and give up doing Olympic commentary. She’s not helping any of those sports. She’s hurting (my ears for one, but I digress) the sports she has no first hand experience with at the Olympic levels of competition.

That is the problem. No one out here has said she’s a horrible human being. That she can’t do anything. That she sucks at riding, etc. We’re saying she sucks as a dressage and eventing commentator. Once again, is her ego SO large that she cannot recognize this fact? Or is she in such dire straights that she needs the money? If it’s the latter, then she should just continue to ignore the opinions of the people who watch and keep on going until her contract runs out or NBC gets tired of her, too.

It’s too bad her “good friends” are not using their reading comprehension skills out here and then listening to her during the Olympics and trying to understand what it is that she’s doing that drives everyone nuts. They are friends, they should be able to either give her constructive feedback, or tell her to give up the ghost and not waste her energy on it because it’s just not worth the headache.

#126

Really?? She’s “hurting” those sports?!?

The people who always follow those sports are going to watch them (with or without using the mute button) regardless of who is doing the commentary. The people who are casual observers won’t know the difference. Perhaps NBC recognizes this fact, and would rather pay the salary and expenses for one expert rather than three.

For the record, I am not a friend or student of hers, but I respect her accomplishments in the horse world.

Most of all, I’m amazed and impressed that dressage got two solid hours of TV airtime today. I would think any dressage fan would be thrilled and excited about that, and would be profusely thanking NBC for the coverage, not criticizing it.

I also wonder if they should be thanking Stephen Colbert for raising the sport’s profile. Maybe that had something to do with the extensive coverage. :wink:

#127

[QUOTE=MHM;6489441]

Most of all, I’m amazed and impressed that dressage got two solid hours of TV airtime today. I would think any dressage fan would be thrilled and excited about that, and would be profusely thanking NBC for the coverage, not criticizing it.[/QUOTE]

2 Hours! 2 Hours!!! You are THANKFUL for that?! We were able to see EVERY ride, from EVERY test, on EVERY day they were competing. That goes for SJ and Eventing. Anything less would not be acceptable.

#128

[QUOTE=snoopy;6489459]
2 Hours! 2 Hours!!! You are THANKFUL for that?! We were able to see EVERY ride, from EVERY test, on EVERY day they were competing. That goes for SJ and Eventing. Anything less would not be acceptable.[/QUOTE]

Yes, those with computer access could watch every minute.

Those without computer access could watch the finals for both dressage and show jumping on TV. Isn’t that a great thing?

Thank you, NBC!!! :slight_smile:

#129

It was GREAT to have such a long span of coverage, on an accessible channel! (I admit, we’ve been watching everything streaming until today). And they lengthened the camera cuts so we were watching a movement from end to end, for the most part. AND the commentators weren’t talking endlessly. AND when they did talk, they weren’t drowning out the music.

I say, Hooray!!! :yes:

#130

Well if you are happy with bad commenting and poor coverage then ENJOY.

#131

[QUOTE=War Admiral;6486655]
I dunno, he was very knowledgeable for sure, but he took plenty of cheap shots at the USA for “lowering the standards of dressage w/ [their] helmet campaign” and plenty of REALLY cheap shots at the KSA showjumpers by bringing up how much they paid for their horses every time one came in the ring. :rolleyes: Credit where due, though, after the BBC received complaints he backed off both of those positions.

ETA: I was watching the BBC coverage, you may not have heard those parts on NBC.[/QUOTE]

:lol: :rolleyes:

Mmm, yes, the BBC commentator was SO right. After all, that dumb blond (her own words) who won a couple of dressage gold medals was WEARING A HELMET. She really was going out of her way to lower the standards of dressage…dressage will never be the same again. Really. :rolleyes:

#132

Poor coverage?!? It was fantastic coverage online, and probably the most tv coverage ever for horse sports.

Didn’t you yourself say they showed every round in every discipline?? How is that “poor coverage”?!?

Man, oh man. :rolleyes:

#133

Discobold, I think I love you.

#134

I get what you are saying Velvet…

[QUOTE=Velvet;6489074]
How do you get that out of this conversation? This topic is solely about MST’s lack of ability as a commentator for dressage and eventing (and I guess jumping, based on posts made by others out here).

The teams missing out on medals is because we sucked this year. Even our better riders on top horses just weren’t putting it together. Not that they CANNOT put it together, it just didn’t happen at the Olympics.

In this country, with the way we operate and have only professionals competing and the people need to make or find a fortune to go, it’s bound to happen that it’s not always the top riders who get to go. It’s more about those who have the money to go overseas and buy horses. It’s not ALWAYS the case, we do have some great riders, but when the field is mixed with so-so riders on great horses and some really talented riders who have a horse that’s just not there for them during the Olympics or are still learning, then we’re bound to have an off year.

Make that another topic. This one is about MST and her inability to recognize her own short comings. Must be nice seeing the world through her rose colored glasses if she thinks she can be an expert in all things horse.[/QUOTE]
I guess I just don’t see how she was that big a deal, Maybe because I could care less what is said, I just watch the ride!
:D;)

#135

[QUOTE=MHM;6489441]
At one time the majority of people agreed that the earth was flat. Luckily, there was no pesky internet at that time that would have enabled others to contradict their beliefs.

Really?? She’s “hurting” those sports?!?

The people who always follow those sports are going to watch them (with or without using the mute button) regardless of who is doing the commentary. The people who are casual observers won’t know the difference. Perhaps NBC recognizes this fact, and would rather pay the salary and expenses for one expert rather than three.

For the record, I am not a friend or student of hers, but I respect her accomplishments in the horse world.

Most of all, I’m amazed and impressed that dressage got two solid hours of TV airtime today. I would think any dressage fan would be thrilled and excited about that, and would be profusely thanking NBC for the coverage, not criticizing it.

;)[/QUOTE]

Good enough is I guess Good enough for some posters on Chronicle Forums.

#136

Snoopy, where do you live? I’m glad that you had better tv coverage than we didl, but I’m also glad that I could see all the rides on line.

As for commentating, I’m very biased: I’m married to the guy who many here think would be the right person to do the dressage commentary. (Hint: 5* judge, initials A.S.) :wink: So … I know good commentating when I hear it, but today I was just pleased at the small improvements I heard in the broadcast team that we had.

#137

Regardless of whether or not the commentators were good, I still wanted to reach into my TV today and clamp a hand over their mouths! There were freestyles. I want to hear the MUSIC…not their chatter! But I guess this complaint is for another thread.

#138

Well, gee, Now that we have such experts in sports commentary/play-by-play such as Velvet to tell us who is acceptable and who is not, I guess we can demand only those who meet our lofty standards (such as the eventer who made a hash out of covering . . . Rolex several years ago). Certainly a bunch of posts on an anonymous BB are the gold standard of criticism!

For the record, I’ve never met MST let alone been able to list her as a “good friend.” I’m just a person who realizes that broadcasting jobs are a helluva lot harder than they appear and that world-level show jumpers are not ignorant of other disciplines to the point they cannot comment on them. BTW, if you dislike her eventing knowledge, blame Pony Club (she was a B level graduate).

Okay, hammer away. Call me and those who agree “stupid” so that there will be no voices of dissent. I’ve been called worse by better. :wink:

#139

Pardon if this is a redundant post-I didn’t read everything.

I was one who dislikes MST commentating dressage, but she’s good with SJ, understandably. She gives insight that could only come from a peer. And that’s the problem with her working the dressage. She has certainly improved, but she is not an Olympic level dressage rider or judge.

Imagine Robert Dover commentating show jumping or eventing! The outrage would be extreme.

That said, I was lucky to watch today’s rides sans yapping, and the music piped through the TV in stereo…thank you, NBC! It was incredible, and IMO, the only way to watch freestyle.

#140

[QUOTE=tm;6489900]
Snoopy, where do you live? I’m glad that you had better tv coverage than we didl, but I’m also glad that I could see all the rides on line.

As for commentating, I’m very biased: I’m married to the guy who many here think would be the right person to do the dressage commentary. (Hint: 5* judge, initials A.S.) :wink: So … I know good commentating when I hear it, but today I was just pleased at the small improvements I heard in the broadcast team that we had.[/QUOTE]

Terri, I LOVED Axel’s commentary at Gladstone, and hope that perhaps something can be worked out for 2016. :yes:

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