Draft PT!... for the broadcast booth

[MDS]

I think PT should be able to race as long as he likes, but once he retires I think he should replace Robby Buhl in the broadcast booth. Robby is a nice guy, but he isn't the most energetic guy, and I don't think he's ever said anything notable in the booth in anyway ever.

Paul, whether you love or hate him, is quick on his feet, not afraid to speak his mind and has come up with some pretty interesting stuff on his twitter feed. Also he brings a driver's perspective to the booth. Unless he moves into team ownership Tracy is the perfect choice for broadcast. If you look at NASCAR they have Rusty Wallace and Darrell Waltrip in the both, but outspoken former champions. Paul is our version of them and should be in the booth.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Oh PT would be perfect for TV MDS, but the problem might be they may not be able to keep him away from libelling or slandering someone at some point. Paul shoots from the hip so often, that people would be scared of what might come out. I don't think he would get himself into legal trouble on air, but lets not mince words, PT could be a loose cannon. He could also be the Don Cherry of Indycar racing though too and I do think I want him on TV, but Man, if I am one of his bosses, I am nervous until I am sure he can know where the line is and not step over it.

(BTW, for those outside of Canada who has not seen Don Cherry's rants on Hockey Night in Canada, well lets just say he doesn't follow the rules too often, speaks his mind, defends tradition, and is old school. HE is immensley popular, even if he is seen as wrong. IN short, what he is to Canadian TV and hockey coverage, PT has that potential for Indycar fans.)

[MDS]

Actually the word you're looking for is defamacast since it would be broadcasted.

I don't think this would a problem. Pretty much every one involved in the ICS is considered a public figure, and in order to win any kind of defamation lawsuit you have to prove malice and damages, and I think anyone would Paul would go after would have a difficult time proving either.

If he went after some anonymous fan, that would be one thing, but so long as he stays to the public figures of the sport he can say pretty much anything he wants about Randy Bernard, Tony George, Terry, Robin Miller, NASCAR officials whomever. I can't really foresee a situation where someone would have a successful lawsuit against him.

[Easy Drifter]

PT might give a new meaning to 'colour commentator'! :D
Certainly would be more exciting than his fellow Cdn. Scott Goodyear.

[Scotty G.]

I'd take a mute over Scott Goodyear. Goodyear hasn't had an interesting or fresh thing to say since I think 2004.


The thing that puzzles me, is that NASCAR's minor league series (the trucks) have a much better and more interesting TV team then Indy Cars can come up with. Is that difficult to find a few good people for that job?

Reid, Goodyear, Cheever, Todd Harris (whose idea was that???), Jack The Root, the pit guy on Versus who knows nothing about racing, Bre Pedigo, Gil De Ferren (good racer but was lousy to listen to), Arie Luyendyk (ditto), Calvin Fish (this ain't sports cars), Michelle Beisner (huh???), Jason Priestley (are you effin' serious???) some more I probably have forgotten who also sucked. What a bunch of crud.


Still can't figure why Davey Hamilton is not a part of the TV team. He is great on the radio. Even makes Mike King tolerable. Hinchcliffe has a good future down the line as well, if he wants to go into that.

I still think the best Indy Car driver anaylist of the past 15 years was Tom Sneva. Kendall wasn't bad either, but seemed too much into himself and trying to be part of the story.

Beekhuis is a geek, but he is competent. Buhl is OK, but probably should stick to running his race team full-time. Jenkins is at the end of his career, but still has a dominating voice and a passion for the sport.

Who is on the broadcast doesn't really mean a hill of beans on why folks do or don't watch. But it sure makes it harder to watch, when you have ABC's guys putting you to sleep 15 minutes into the broadcast (in between the endless commercials and Danica Patrick updates).

[garyshell]

PT and Tommy Kendall in the booth with Jan Beekhius (spelling?). Perfection!

Gary

[Mark in Oshawa]

I'd take a mute over Scott Goodyear. Goodyear hasn't had an interesting or fresh thing to say since I think 2004.


The thing that puzzles me, is that NASCAR's minor league series (the trucks) have a much better and more interesting TV team then Indy Cars can come up with. Is that difficult to find a few good people for that job?

Reid, Goodyear, Cheever, Todd Harris (whose idea was that???), Jack The Root, the pit guy on Versus who knows nothing about racing, Bre Pedigo, Gil De Ferren (good racer but was lousy to listen to), Arie Luyendyk (ditto), Calvin Fish (this ain't sports cars), Michelle Beisner (huh???), Jason Priestley (are you effin' serious???) some more I probably have forgotten who also sucked. What a bunch of crud.


Still can't figure why Davey Hamilton is not a part of the TV team. He is great on the radio. Even makes Mike King tolerable. Hinchcliffe has a good future down the line as well, if he wants to go into that.

I still think the best Indy Car driver anaylist of the past 15 years was Tom Sneva. Kendall wasn't bad either, but seemed too much into himself and trying to be part of the story.

Beekhuis is a geek, but he is competent. Buhl is OK, but probably should stick to running his race team full-time. Jenkins is at the end of his career, but still has a dominating voice and a passion for the sport.

Who is on the broadcast doesn't really mean a hill of beans on why folks do or don't watch. But it sure makes it harder to watch, when you have ABC's guys putting you to sleep 15 minutes into the broadcast (in between the endless commercials and Danica Patrick updates).

Only thing I can say is most people fight and hate half the people on NASCAR too. I think it is the nature of the beast.

As for your assertion who is on the broadcast doesn't mean a hill of beans, I say au contarie! I couldn't STAND anyone on the ABC broadcasts of the IRL until Page was finally sent packing, and I still dislike most of the coverage. I like Scott Goodyear as a guy, I have met him before in his Mosport days, but he is awful. He doesn't stop me from watching, but the old ABC crew did, and when they had Rusty in there, the broadcasts were painful.

Let me put it this way, the race in question really has to interest me for me to put up with a bad broadcasting team. IF they didn't have Mike Joy on FOX's NASCAR coverage, I probably would destroyed a TV by now on just Larry and Darryl. Even with that said, they are better than putting anyone of the 3 guys we had in the booth at Indy...

You need a good play by play, and I like Jenkins. He just has a great way about him, and I think he stilll has it. I would love PT, but I can tell you Tommy Kendall was excellent in the role as well. Hinchcliffe still wants to race, and I don't blame him. Maybe in 20 years when he has his career behind him he will be there. I cant stand most of the ESPN/VS pit reporters, and I reserve as special place in hell for Gary Gerould and Jack Arute some days but at some point, my interest in the race overcomes how frustrated I get with the generic dumbing down of the race for the great unwashed.

The best racing coverage in North America in my mind is the guys doing the Speed coverage of IMSA/ALMS sports cars and their crew at LeMans.....and how they treat the racing and the subject matter would be a template I would carry over to the IRL. PT would be perfect in the role of the seasoned and outspoken veteran, much like a Dorsey Schroader...

[jimispeed]

PT and Tommy Kendall in the booth with Jan Beekhius (spelling?). Perfection!

Gary


Gary....sometimes I could sware........ we must be related!!!

[GRW1983]

As a viewer of IndyCar in the UK, I miss the international feed commentary of Gary Lee & Larry Rice. They were last used at the end of 2008 when Versus took over from 2009 onwards. They seemed to have a great rapport with each other, knew what they were talking about and didn't fawn over any particular driver. I know that Larry Rice died of cancer, but I still think Gary Lee could do a better job than both Marty Reid & Bob Jenkins. If I could choose the commentary team, I'd have Gary Lee & Jon Beekhuis in the booth with Jack Arute, Vince Welch & Jamie Little (plus Dr.Jerry Punch at Indy) in the pits. I think you only need two people in the booth, even at Indy, because the commentators are always talking over each other, especially on Versus. Also, Arute, Punch, Welch & Little seem to me to be pretty good in the pits, so that's who I'd go for.

[nigelred5]

PT and Tommy Kendall in the booth with Jan Beekhius (spelling?). Perfection!

Gary

That's called Night at the Improv.!

[Marbles]

I like Jan B. (spelling?) and Buhl is one cheerleader too many -- plus he's a car owner and too close to a Kenny Wallace type for my liking. PT or Kendall would certainly make things interesting. Gidley did a race with Page in Edmonton and was pretty good as well.

[Jag_Warrior]

PT and Tommy Kendall in the booth with Jan Beekhius (spelling?). Perfection!

Gary

Now THAT would be fun to watch/listen to! :up:



I'd take a mute over Scott Goodyear. Goodyear hasn't had an interesting or fresh thing to say since I think 2004.

What?! Scott Goodyear said something interesting as recently as 2004???!!! Darn, sorry I missed that. Him saying something interesting is like Haley's Comet passing through. Shoot, I'll be dead by the time it happens again.

_______________________________

When I think of great truly announce teams, I think of the SpeedTV F1 team of Varsha, Hobbs and Matchett. They have the perfect balance, IMO. I get immersed in a broadcast and can almost imagine these guys sitting in my living room while I'm watching a race... and I'm happy to have them. I also get a kick out of DW on the Fox NASCAR races. Kendall and Tracy have similar personalities - might be tough to get them both in the booth, but worth a try if they'd go for it. But I'd prefer to see either one (or possibly both) if they'd take the place of A-root and/or Jenkins. I wouldn't allow A-root or Jenkins in my yard, much less my living room.

The announcers can't make or break a broadcast, but I think they're a big part of it (especially if they're truly great or truly horrible.)

[libra65]

Oh PT would be perfect for TV MDS, but the problem might be they may not be able to keep him away from libelling or slandering someone at some point. Paul shoots from the hip so often, that people would be scared of what might come out. I don't think he would get himself into legal trouble on air, but lets not mince words, PT could be a loose cannon. He could also be the Don Cherry of Indycar racing though too and I do think I want him on TV, but Man, if I am one of his bosses, I am nervous until I am sure he can know where the line is and not step over it.

(BTW, for those outside of Canada who has not seen Don Cherry's rants on Hockey Night in Canada, well lets just say he doesn't follow the rules too often, speaks his mind, defends tradition, and is old school. HE is immensley popular, even if he is seen as wrong. IN short, what he is to Canadian TV and hockey coverage, PT has that potential for Indycar fans.)

I am sure PT can dress better then Cherry ;)

I like the idea of PT, Kendall & Jon Beekhuis. That would be a great team!!

[00steven]

Versus coverage is pretty good, Bob Jenkins is my favorite to this day. I just hope T.V. coverage does not become like NASCAR's. Fox had great coverage for a long time and now DW has to talk over everyone to make a point thats obvious to everyone. It's ashame when one person ruins an otherwise enjoyable experiance.

[Redstorm]

Mark I can remember disliking Page as well. The week leading up to the 500 I watched old races on YouTube and generally sat back and daydreamed of the good ol days. All I can say is that after listening to old videos and then listening to the current crop, I would gladly pull Page out of the fire and put him back in the booth for now. Goodyear has GOT to go! My four year old knows more than what he touts as knowledge. And PS Scott, you screwed up and lost! Get over it.....

The Speed F1 crew is the best followed closely by the ALMS boys. Shoot, pull Gary Thorne from baseball and grab Bill Clement and throw my favorite NHL crew in the pagoda at Indy. Even wihout any knowledge of the sport they could do WAY better play by play than the four stooges now.

[BT46B]

Now THAT would be fun to watch/listen to! :up:




What?! Scott Goodyear said something interesting as recently as 2004???!!! Darn, sorry I missed that. Him saying something interesting is like Haley's Comet passing through. Shoot, I'll be dead by the time it happens again.

_______________________________

When I think of great truly announce teams, I think of the SpeedTV F1 team of Varsha, Hobbs and Matchett. They have the perfect balance, IMO. I get immersed in a broadcast and can almost imagine these guys sitting in my living room while I'm watching a race... and I'm happy to have them. I also get a kick out of DW on the Fox NASCAR races. Kendall and Tracy have similar personalities - might be tough to get them both in the booth, but worth a try if they'd go for it. But I'd prefer to see either one (or possibly both) if they'd take the place of A-root and/or Jenkins. I wouldn't allow A-root or Jenkins in my yard, much less my living room.

The announcers can't make or break a broadcast, but I think they're a big part of it (especially if they're truly great or truly horrible.)

I couldn't agree more. The Speed team is right on point and have hilarious comments ir you're paying attention. PT and Kendall would be a dream team for me I've been bored ####less by the current broadcasters for Indy.

[Mr. Mister]

For the people asking about the spelling...it's Jon Beekhuis. You guys weren't too far off. ;)


The thing that puzzles me, is that NASCAR's minor league series (the trucks) have a much better and more interesting TV team then Indy Cars can come up with. Is that difficult to find a few good people for that job?

Reid, Goodyear, Cheever, Todd Harris (whose idea was that???), Jack The Root, the pit guy on Versus who knows nothing about racing, Bre Pedigo, Gil De Ferren (good racer but was lousy to listen to), Arie Luyendyk (ditto), Calvin Fish (this ain't sports cars), Michelle Beisner (huh???), Jason Priestley (are you effin' serious???) some more I probably have forgotten who also sucked. What a bunch of crud.

Still can't figure why Davey Hamilton is not a part of the TV team. He is great on the radio. Even makes Mike King tolerable. Hinchcliffe has a good future down the line as well, if he wants to go into that.

I imagine it pays a lot better to do commentary in NASCAR. There are a lot of play-by-play guys who can swing between NASCAR or open-wheel (for example, Mike Joy has called NASCAR on FOX, CBS, and TNN; F1 on FOX Sports Net; and IndyCar for CBS and TNN over the last fifteen years or so and did a solid job even if he's a predominantly NASCAR guy).

It is sad how much better the NASCAR broadcasts are; everyone in NASCAR world loathed Bill Weber with such a passion, yet when Weber, Wally Dallenbach, and Jon Beekhuis called Champ Car for NBC in 2007, I found them to be the best team since the 90s.

Cheever and Beisner aren't/weren't that bad. Beisner was a bit generic, but better than Jamie Little, Brianne Pedigo, etc. Lindy Thackston, of course, is the best of the female pit reporters and I'm glad VERSUS selected her. Cheever, well, if he weren't paired with Reid and Goodyear, I think he'd be a bit better. It's hard to be with those guys.

I like Davey Hamilton's commentary a lot, too, but I think it's easier for him to be at IMS Radio Network than on television. He still races part-time and and perhaps IMS Radio Network are more accommodating with that than VERSUS would be. Just a theory.

I'm hoping Hinch makes it as a driver but yes, he is a good commentator.



As for your assertion who is on the broadcast doesn't mean a hill of beans, I say au contarie! I couldn't STAND anyone on the ABC broadcasts of the IRL until Page was finally sent packing, and I still dislike most of the coverage. I like Scott Goodyear as a guy, I have met him before in his Mosport days, but he is awful. He doesn't stop me from watching, but the old ABC crew did, and when they had Rusty in there, the broadcasts were painful.

Let me put it this way, the race in question really has to interest me for me to put up with a bad broadcasting team. IF they didn't have Mike Joy on FOX's NASCAR coverage, I probably would destroyed a TV by now on just Larry and Darryl. Even with that said, they are better than putting anyone of the 3 guys we had in the booth at Indy...

You need a good play by play, and I like Jenkins. He just has a great way about him, and I think he stilll has it. I would love PT, but I can tell you Tommy Kendall was excellent in the role as well. Hinchcliffe still wants to race, and I don't blame him. Maybe in 20 years when he has his career behind him he will be there. I cant stand most of the ESPN/VS pit reporters, and I reserve as special place in hell for Gary Gerould and Jack Arute some days but at some point, my interest in the race overcomes how frustrated I get with the generic dumbing down of the race for the great unwashed.

The best racing coverage in North America in my mind is the guys doing the Speed coverage of IMSA/ALMS sports cars and their crew at LeMans.....and how they treat the racing and the subject matter would be a template I would carry over to the IRL. PT would be perfect in the role of the seasoned and outspoken veteran, much like a Dorsey Schroader...

Agreed...the broadcast team can make a difference for me. If there's a race at a track I'm indifferent toward, I might choose not to watch if it's painful to listen to the commentary. Obviously, commentary won't stop me from watching Indy or Watkins Glen or Toronto or any of the others I really like, but a race like Kansas...if it's Reid and Goodyear, well, no thank you. I also agree on your dislike for Paul Page...never liked the guy. I preferred Varsha when they used him for CART on ABC/ESPN, and preferred Ben Edwards of Eurosport (not on ITV for BTCC and still great) above all.

I wish NASCAR would take Mike Joy from FOX, Wally Dallenbach from TNT, and Ricky Craven from ESPN and make the perfect team. That would be too logical. The whole commentary situation there...I don't know. It's hard to tolerate any of it when you've heard Jenkins, Jarrett, and Parsons call a race the way it should be done.

I love the sports car coverage on SPEED, too. Even when nothing was happening in the 24 Heures du Mans, I was enjoying the telecast because of their team. They do a great job with Formula 1, too.


Versus coverage is pretty good, Bob Jenkins is my favorite to this day. I just hope T.V. coverage does not become like NASCAR's. Fox had great coverage for a long time and now DW has to talk over everyone to make a point thats obvious to everyone. It's ashame when one person ruins an otherwise enjoyable experiance.

VERSUS are a step up from ESPN, for sure, but I'd like to see someone a bit younger than Jenkins. I respect Bob's work and he's undoubtedly a fantastic commentator, but he's lost a bit of enthusiasm and makes a lot of errors in his older age. It would be nice to refresh the team with someone new...though I'm not sure who they could get to do it who would actually do the job properly.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Someone up there ( forget who ) said Kendall and PT wouldn't get along? I say are you nuts? They are buddies and partners in all sorts of Sh!t stirring in real life. The trouble the two of them get into would be a great reality TV show!

[BT46B]

Someone up there ( forget who ) said Kendall and PT wouldn't get along? I say are you nuts? They are buddies and partners in all sorts of Sh!t stirring in real life. The trouble the two of them get into would be a great reality TV show!

Mark, I agree they'd be a dynamic duo - but the censors WOULD be all over them like stinkon "Sh!t" as you put it. That said, it would certainly bring some life back to the series!