Melanie Smith-Taylor

[chancellor2]

[QUOTE=BAC;6491091]
We are happy with that because for most of my lifetime we got absolutely no coverage whatsoever. Can you imagine what it was like during the Pan Ams one year to hear the announcer state “and Buddy Brown just had the ride of his life to win the gold” and then they never showed one minute of his ride much less any of the other competitors? I sat in front of that TV for hours until the show was over, I just could not believe they would tease us like that and not show us BB’s ride if nothing else.[/QUOTE]

Oh I see. So, good enough is better than nothing?

[snoopy]

[QUOTE=BAC;6491091]
We are happy with that because for most of my lifetime we got absolutely no coverage whatsoever. Can you imagine what it was like during the Pan Ams one year to hear the announcer state “and Buddy Brown just had the ride of his life to win the gold” and then they never showed one minute of his ride much less any of the other competitors? I sat in front of that TV for hours until the show was over, I just could not believe they would tease us like that and not show us BB’s ride if nothing else.[/QUOTE]

Yes, but as consumers you should not settle for anything less than good coverage. You say to NBC (and others) that the limited coverage fed to you is good enough and quite clearly it is not. You are basically saying that you will be happy to take what you can get.
Using your example, did you “put pen to paper” and voice your disappointment? This is why one of my posts stated “complain” to NBC universal". Tell them you expect coverage and would be grateful for more coverage. If they knew the demographics and numbers they could more likely be able to sell the air time to advertisers.

[Carol_Ames]

I, too, thought she did a good job; she pointed out when Wizards’ back tightened; also; that pushing through a tight back is difficult; now if only our competitive riders/ trainers/ judges would acknowledge this:yes:! I tell you honestly, this was the first time in 41 years:eek: I have heard this said in the US!

[Sandy_M]

[QUOTE=Zevida;6491074]
I pay quite a lot for the privilege to watch cable. On what planet do you get MSNBC and NBCSportsNet free?[/QUOTE]

Exactly. I do get MSNBC free - but I DVR’d everything and no equestrian appeared at the times listed in the schedule. I saw a few seconds of Zara Phillips and a few seconds of Rafalca. I gave up.

NBCSports - definitely NOT free and I already pay way too much for cable. I’ll just wait for the DVD, I guess.

[Carol_Ames]

I resent this!

She tried as much as possible to point out what the riders’ were dealing with; even the emotional component:cool: with the dressage riders:yes:

@Velvet;6481282

She is horrible and yet, for some reason there ARE people out here who will defend her. Crazy, uneducated people (in their sport) to be sure, but they do exist. :rolleyes:

:mad:

[findeight]

Oh, I had everything on DVR due to other committments. Just watched it back. She is not bad, has actually been there and done that and is far better then the one that used to handle the commentary on the long gone GP broadcasts (a Busch IIRC). That one used to come up with things like “Oh, bad luck” for every dropped rail or time fault and ignore a sloppy ride to the water or overriding…or come out with “Oh, he put one in there” to which I once had a non horsey friend say “One what”?

Least MST gets enough in there to explain some of it to casual observers but she does not let mistakes go unnoticed.

I don’t think there are a ton of more glib ex elite level International riding stars lined up for her position.

I got a REAL problem with the main NBC boradcast hosts who rolled their eyes and sniggered thru the breaks in the “Equestrian” during the team competition. Their response to Ian Millars 10th Olympics at the age of 65 was to speculate on how the Synchronized Swimmers get their make up to stay on. Then have a short feature on how some NBA star was visiting other sports (with free tickets) and fawning over LeBron James-which is fine when basketball is the subject.

Then they say “:rolleyes: but now back to Equestrian:sleepy: (snigger snigger)”

And yeah I shared that sentiment with NBC Unversal but they can’t afford to say anything to those overpaid, overcoiffed talking heads.

I will take MST and her expertise even if she is a little rough around the edges. Gladly.

Overall, I am pretty pleased with what we got of “Equestrian” compared to what we got in the past. Particularly that Jump off for the team and the one for Silver in the Individual…now that was exciting and worth sitting thru the dreck and drivel of some of the rest of it.

[BAC]

@findeight;6491185

Oh, I had everything on DVR due to other committments. She is not bad, has actually been there and done that and is far better then the one that used to handle the commentary on the long gone GP broadcasts (a Busch IIRC). That one used to come up with things like “Oh, bad luck” for every dropped rail or time fault and ignore a sloppy ride to the water or overriding…or come out with “Oh, he put one in there” to which I once had a non horsey friend say “One what”?

Liza Burke Horkan, (her mother was the late Elizabeth Busch Burke) am I glad I haven’t seen her doing any commentating recently. I didn’t get to see much due to work and other technical difficulties, and generally I don’t care for MST’s commentating. But I just got a chance to watch the highlights videos of the 3 individual dressage medalists and found her comments to be spot on, in fact I actually enjoyed her.

[jonesy]

I just think Velvet is one of those posters that will always see the glass half-full. Looking back at Velvet’s Chronicle interests demonstrate a chronic complainer that considers what everyone does to be horrible, incompetent, and beneath him/her. Heck, Velvet is an expert in everything from Buck Davidson’s hat, wintec saddles, a helmet expert, Dressage expert (I bet Velvet has mastered riding at the Grand Prix Dressage level), the passagey trot (yep they used that), commentating, netflix, movies, TV shows, book reviews, you name it. As my dad used to say, one of those people who have seen it, done it, been it, and lived it, and if so, should be well over 100 years old for that experience.

MST did a very good job and while she probably had a few “oops” moments, she is not perfect nor would she think she is.

I will say in looking at the Horse n Hound site the folks there are ripping to shreds their commentators too so MST is not alone with a handful of critics.

We won’t change Velvet’s comments or opinions but it is nice to see on other website forums people are very happy with MSTs work and will continue to support her.

[snoopy]

Hey, it could have been worse! You could have had those two dreadful women from the today show…:lol:

[CruisingforGold]

Spot on Jonsey! Perhaps our beloved Velveeta can do the commentating for the next Olympics.

[fooler]

Some back story:
ABC carried the Olympics through 1984 - R. Arledge, supposedly, didn’t care for horses so very, very little coverage of OG Equestrian. In 1984 ‘we’ of the US Equestrian community paid US to provide all day, real time XC coverage. I think they were surprised at the reponse.
Commentators were Chris Scheckel (sp?) a lovely man who covered the ‘non-traditional’ US sports, William Steinkraus and MTS. This may have been one of her 1st gigs. She was great for SJ - insulting for Eventing.

In 1977 I spent 6 months just outside of London and was astonished to find full coverage of White City HS, Badmington, Burghley, etc. All on BBC.

Different countries - BBC government owned and/or funded - ABC/NBC privately owned - viewed directed.

I was thrilled to have as much coverage as we did in the US. No doubt due in part to Zara Phillips and the recent publicity of Boyd Martin plus the Romney’s Rafalca.

Agree the with sneering and snickering of some of the commentators. Right up there with Bryant Gumbal, in 1988, wondering why Princess Anne (Pres of FEI) couldn’t OK Mark Phillips getting another horse to complete Speed and Endurance when his horse tied up at the Vet Box. :eek::eek: No effort to learn anything about the sport, must less the rules.

So I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the coverage.

Like I said on another thread - we need Dick Button’s. He was ‘the’ figure skating commentator for 30+ years in the US. He called out people for bad skates, ooohhed over the really good skates and helped us to root for the skaters who did their best even though they did not have the coaching or financial backing like so many others. I don’t watch skating like before because the current commentators only say nice, sweet things - even when the skater is falling down. . .repeatedly.

[jonesy]

Maybe I misunderstood your post Fooler but MST was IN the 1984 Olympics for Show Jumping so I hardly think she was commentating at the same time she was picking up her Gold Medal.

[Carol_Ames]

tone it down guys!

I just watched the freestyle from start to finish and thought MST did an excellent job; She clearly defined the requirements in the freestyle; especially emphasizing the relationship between horse and rider;) She was able to point out slight bobbles while, also mentioning the difficulty of execution in laymans’ terms;)

[Carol_Ames]

RIGHT ON!

they ARE MOST DEFINITELY[ looking for reasons to be unhappy:yes::sadsmile::mad: quote=Discobold;6481662]Oh, please, I would rather listen to Melanie Smith for ten hours than to ten seconds of the irritable incessant complaining on this board. Do you people ever just sit back and enjoy life :(?
[/quote]

[Crockpot]

I pay quite a lot for the privilege to watch cable. On what planet do you get MSNBC and NBCSportsNet free?

On my planet I watched all that I wanted to watch for free on the internet:cool:

[Velvet]

[QUOTE=snoopy;6491293]
Hey, it could have been worse! You could have had those two dreadful women from the today show…:lol:[/QUOTE]

Now THAT would be scary! :lol:

[MHM]

@jonesy;6491424

Maybe I misunderstood your post Fooler but MST was IN the 1984 Olympics for Show Jumping so I hardly think she was commentating at the same time she was picking up her Gold Medal.

Same thought here.

Unless she was outfitted with a very early helmet cam and microphone. I would LOVE to see that footage.

[lauriep]

Yes, Melanie was absolutely otherwise occupied. Although she didn’t qualify for the individual (Calypso had had a hot nail which almost took him out of the Olympics completely), but she would have been expected to be around for it to support the two who were in it. You know, the gold and silver medalists!

[fooler]

Ugh - I knew she was on the SJ team, but didn’t have to ride since the team medal was already decided.

She started with NBC at 1988 and so it could be my memory is off. I do remember OG coverage where a female voice stated more than once that the eventing jumping position on XC was nothing like the “proper” jumping position of SJ’rs. Well duh - different disciplines.

For the record his name is Chris Schenkel. I really appreciated the way he treated all sports and athletes with respect.
He was joined by Bill Steinkraus and Tad Coffin, according to Wikipedia

[lauriep]

[QUOTE=fooler;6491662]
Ugh - I knew she was on the SJ team, but didn’t have to ride since the team medal was already decided.

She started with NBC at 1988 and so it could be my memory is off. I do remember OG coverage where a female voice stated more than once that the eventing jumping position on XC was nothing like the “proper” jumping position of SJ’rs. Well duh - different disciplines.

For the record his name is Chris Schenkel. I really appreciated the way he treated all sports and athletes with respect.
He was joined by Bill Steinkraus and Tad Coffin, according to Wikipedia :)[/QUOTE]

She had to jump the first round, and they nursed Calypso around to help the team. But he didn’t have to jump in the second round as the US had already won.