ch 5's coverage of WSM

[gauze]

what did i do to deserve this shit? the commentary never fails to patronise me and the competitor's. nick halling even had the cheek to say a competitor had "a lot to learn about this strongman business" - just terrible. and it's obvious Colin Bryce is head ref, so why have him commentate too and not have him mention anything worthwhile? and perhaps the most disgusting thing of all - not having the final on NYD. jan 2nd, who gives a shit? i remember watching strongman when i was younger and being amazed by everything, i just can't see channel 5's coverage having the same effect on anyone.

[Phil2]

Yeah it was funny how you could see Colin Bryce on the screen yet he was also doing commentary as if it was 'live'.

To be fair on c5 at least they picked WSM up when BBC didn't want it any more. Shame they also did the same with Neighbours

[JP]

The main show from TWI (production company) WSM and BSM are pretty poor in comparison to some stuff thats made from the superseries and then what the eastern europeans put out.

I dont quite understand their target market - but many workmates and random people always talk about how they saw a show and talk about the weights in amazement. So i guess it does sell?

[gauze]

hey JP, did you hear about Arild Haugen giving up strongman for boxing? seems crazy, but i guess he's chasing the $.

[JP]

i didnt hear that he went to boxing - just that he stopped strongman! Imagine receiving a jab from him

Oli Thompson did an amateur wrestling match recently:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2-siW0n31QE

imagine signin up to a nice and relaxed amateur submission wrestling thing and then hearing that you will face him

[Centinal]

what did i do to deserve this shit? the commentary never fails to patronise me and the competitor's. nick halling even had the cheek to say a competitor had "a lot to learn about this strongman business" - just terrible. and it's obvious Colin Bryce is head ref, so why have him commentate too and not have him mention anything worthwhile? and perhaps the most disgusting thing of all - not having the final on NYD. jan 2nd, who gives a shit? i remember watching strongman when i was younger and being amazed by everything, i just can't see channel 5's coverage having the same effect on anyone.

The Guy he was referring to about 'not knowing the strongman game' was Brian Siders. He's a damn fine powerlifter and competitor at The Arnold Classic. He's one of my favorite squatters.

The commentators really annoyed me too. They say the same old thing over and over. They have no idea of the pain everyone who qualified went through to get there.

But then i am also grateful that Channel 5 televised it at all. Not everyone has satellite do they?

[ninearms]

The commentators really annoyed me too. They say the same old thing over and over. They have no idea of the pain everyone who qualified went through to get there.

Hmm...I think Colin Bryce might have some idea...

[JP]

have to remember, they are not interested in commentating the events to people like us!

This is one of the differences between strongman and other "real" sports: any other sport commentating would be aimed at people who are interested in that sport in its own merits - not just as a freak show spectacle.

The commentating in finland is touch different, more focused on the sport itself. The shows are usually aired quickly after the comp, last time it was on the next day, and the commentating was done by that channels sports journalists.

WSM and BSM is a freakshow, aimed to create awe and wonder among the spectators. From that point of view they do their job ok IMO.