Why can't Ricky just say it??

Let’s get rid of Hubbard and Will C first.  They are intolerable.  I watch the entire race day live on mute. 

Maybe I focus on the race itself, more than the commentary? I thought RC has been pretty good up there , especially when he's in the booth with Blair. I think they make a really good team. In the sport , he pretty ruled it going on a decade , and his insight is something I actually enjoy listening to.  He fumbles now and then.....but so does the other guy ( no matter who's in there with him ).  I have to admit , I miss a lot of what they are talking about , because I'm focused on watching the race. 

The Purple Ape has won this thread.

So fashionable for some vitards to criticize the TV commentating...it's so old.

Be F'ng grateful we get to watch racing at all, it's not as bad as you think if you have unreasonable standards.

We're just calling a spade a spade. James has insight and is easy to listen to. Ricky is not the right guy for the job. He can't articulate anything.

People are paying for a product. They are in their rights to be critical. 

You guys bashing Ricky need to shut the hell up. I’m learning all kinds of new vocabulary. My favorite thus far is “morementum”.

“Jett carried morementum through that section and was able to make the pass.”

If y’all would quitcher bitching and pay attention you could learn something too.

I don’t think he’s vanilla at all, he definitely calls things out all the time, I don’t know what people are talking about that say that. I always hear him critiquing left and right.
It doesn’t matter if he is the goat or not, if he starts having a big mouth, these racers are going to tell him to STFU

Great thread glad I clicked on it.

At this point, I really don't know what to think about the vitriol some of you fellas are spewing about Ricky.  

Any REAL fan of the sport understands that Ricky Carmichael is synonymous with MX/SX.  Like DeCoster, Hannah, McGrath, Everts, Stewart and the other legends.

How many of you would rather hang out with a silver tongued talking head than a guy that strapped on a dirt bike and destroyed ALL comers?  He "hangs" with us every Saturday and I dig it.

I'll take RC for as long as he wants to keep the gig.  And for the record...when he says, "Oooohhhh"...I'm usually saying it in sync.  What do you say when someone eats shit?

I do not care how fast he was on a bike, it has zero to do with his announcing ability. He is just not good at calling play by play. He cannot even describe simple scenarios without firing out a word salad that might as well be in Spanish.

Time to give someone else a shot... 

To each their own pardner.

He's come a long way from "preperated"

I like having RC in the booth. He offers a great perspective as a guy who has seen it all, times ten. When Sexton faceplanted he said he's "looking for lateral traction that just isn't there." That's some good insight. I feel like that's what Ricky would be telling himself while picking up the bike after having that kind of crash. Tell me this isn't a guy who knows how to learn and analyze....

"to your point" x100

The problem i have with Ricky is the same i had with Emig, they're not very good at articulating words. Nine times out of ten Ricky will start a sentence, get lost midway, start over or push through repeating something his brain thinks is safe already said a hundred times.

To be a commentator you need to be good with words, having 1498 titles don't mean shit if you're not good at commentating.

I think Ricky does a fine job. You should’ve heard his 1st win victory speech. Everyone was like say some more words, it’s ok. 

I cringe every time Ricky speaks, it is painful to hear. 

I still think it's crazy that we have RC in the booth at all. The dude could be doing so many other things with his time. He stumbles over some words and clearly didn't focus on school what with being one of the most impressive athletes in sports history. I'll gladly put up with it for the years that he's willing to add his voice to the broadcasts. 

It does crack me up sometimes when he gets halfway through the word uncharacteristic before realizing that shit is like a tongue twister for him. Seems to happen just rarely enough that he forgets about it and then it catches him off guard lol. 

My only complaint is the “WOOOOOAAH!” you get when something happens. Just comment on whats happening instead of exclaiming at 2x volume 

I'm that way with Wil C. 

They just need to loosen up a little and call it like a couple moto heads discussing the race having fun rather than a professional, uptight broadcast. 

JAB JAB

If you’re bagging Ricky here, do yourself a favour and have a listen to Vital’s latest Inside Line podcast. RC describes racing scenarios and tells stories for two full hours. He articulates what was happening and speaks so naturally that you’re transported back to those magical mid 2000s SX seasons like it was last week. At least that’s how I felt listening.

It’s obvious after listening to the podcast that it’s the broadcast commentary that he struggles with. Either because of the extra pressure or what he’s told to deliver doesn’t align with what he wants to say.
It’s not because he can’t speak without stumbling.

You are right on the money. I don't know RC personally and have nothing but respect for what a determined. focused, full of heart racer he was. That being said he is not very good at the announcing gig.

Well, the pic of Ella May confirms my straightness.