Why I hate TVG

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by Tor Ekman

That's B.S. My father was awarded the Bronze Star in WWII as a sarge in the Big Red One . . . Do I get to take credit for that?

You must lead a charmed life if you get worked up over something minor like this. We seldom pick our nicknames; they are usually thrusted upon us, for a variety of reasons...and we play up to them just to appease others. Sarge is not an uncommon nickname...and it's a modest one at that. Some have been nicknamed "General"...even though their military service (if any) has proven to be decidedly undistinguished.

[jballscalls]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

You must lead a charmed life if you get worked up over something minor like this. We seldom pick our nicknames; they are usually thrusted upon us, for a variety of reasons...and we play up to them just to appease others. Sarge is not an uncommon nickname...and it's a modest one at that. Some have been nicknamed "General"...even though their military service (if any) has proven to be decidedly undistinguished.

our racing secretary at work is called the General and he's never served. just someone started calling him that and it stuck

[cj]

Originally Posted by Tor Ekman

This so-called "Sarge" with his on-screen salutes and his "OORAH" shout-outs got me wondering about his military bona fides. From what I can see, the guy never served. Now, not having served, standing alone, is no basis for criticism, but I find it offensive when someone who has not served cloaks himself in military honor, as this guy "The Sarge" seems to be doing. Here is his official TVG bio, which makes no mention of military service, and the stated chronology would seem to rule out his having served in the military:

As a retired Air Force guy, I say who cares? I have no idea how the nickname came about, but I sincerely doubt it was meant to belittle those that serve. He's a good guy and always pro military.

[ronsmac]

Originally Posted by cj

As a retired Air Force guy, I say who cares? I have no idea how the nickname came about, but I sincerely doubt it was meant to belittle those that serve. He's a good guy and always pro military.

As a veteran I agree with you.

[lamboguy]

the boss did a good job today closing a useless thread, he should pull the trigger on this one as well.

its pretty sickening to read negative post's over and over again where someone is getting belted over the head for no good reason.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

the boss did a good job today closing a useless thread, he should pull the trigger on this one as well.

its pretty sickening to read negative post's over and over again where someone is getting belted over the head for no good reason.

Wait, Bruce Springsteen is a mod here?

Lets get back to topic...our distain for TVG.

[Stillriledup]

TVG doing everything in their power to make you not want to watch.

If you want to have "Fancy" camera angles, at least have a cameraman who wasn't hired yesterday.

[johnhannibalsmith]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

TVG doing everything in their power to make you not want to watch.

If you want to have "Fancy" camera angles, at least have a cameraman who wasn't hired yesterday.

Are you talking about the new gate cam thing?

I think the cameraman may be one of the starters wearing it on his head.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by johnhannibalsmith

Are you talking about the new gate cam thing?

I think the cameraman may be one of the starters wearing it on his head.

This would make sense, thanks. I thought it was someone who was hired yesterday just holding the camera in very shaky fashion. I can't watch that, bothers my eyes.

[johnhannibalsmith]

I gotta say, the TVG version of Sarge may wear me down, but I remember about a half-dozen years back when he shipped in to Turf for one of the stakes. Usually everyone in Phoenix mutters and stammers when those damn out-of-towners come take the money - compounded by the fact that often the actual trainer never even bothers to show up and nobody seems to really even care that they won a race at Turf.

Sarge was in full entertainer mode, not only made the trip but was holding court and at least giving the vibe that he was happy to be there and having fun. He won the race as I remember (it wasn't Ms. Minton, had to be a stake) and the place was packed and fans were actually cheering. He walks up the ramp to the track apron and does the ole' salute in about seventeen different directions, happier than shit to win the race and hamming it up.

It was a really nice sight and he won me over that day just with his enthusiasm for the sport at a time in that long meet where people just lose that happy-go-lucky mindset until May.

[johnhannibalsmith]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

... I can't watch that, bothers my eyes.

I like it. That's probably as intense a moment in a race as the finish and I like being in the midst of that combustible moment.

They had some jocks at TuP slap on some of those helmet cams a few years ago and I thought it was fantastic. Considering TuP wastes 14 minutes between races telling us about the Kentucky Derby Buffet Special beginning in November since there's nothing else to put on the screen, it amazes that me that they won't do that with one rider each race or something and play it between races. Everyone claims it's boring between live races since they never go near the paddock, and that few minutes of camera work is highly entertaining.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by johnhannibalsmith

I like it. That's probably as intense a moment in a race as the finish and I like being in the midst of that combustible moment.

They had some jocks at TuP slap on some of those helmet cams a few years ago and I thought it was fantastic. Considering TuP wastes 14 minutes between races telling us about the Kentucky Derby Buffet Special beginning in November since there's nothing else to put on the screen, it amazes that me that they won't do that with one rider each race or something and play it between races. Everyone claims it's boring between live races since they never go near the paddock, and that few minutes of camera work is highly entertaining.

The problem i have with "odd" angles is to me, they're random. If you see a close up of a helmet cam at the gate, that could be any race on any day, if they save some of this footage and show it again in November, you wouldn't know if its live or not, its just a closeup shot of random horses, is no help whatsoever in helping make betting decisions.

[Marshall Bennett]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

the boss did a good job today closing a useless thread, he should pull the trigger on this one as well.

Which thread was that?

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by Marshall Bennett

Which thread was that?

Probably the Andy Serling thread in the handicapping section.

[taxicab]

Originally Posted by johnhannibalsmith

I gotta say, the TVG version of Sarge may wear me down, but I remember about a half-dozen years back when he shipped in to Turf for one of the stakes. Usually everyone in Phoenix mutters and stammers when those damn out-of-towners come take the money - compounded by the fact that often the actual trainer never even bothers to show up and nobody seems to really even care that they won a race at Turf.

Sarge was in full entertainer mode, not only made the trip but was holding court and at least giving the vibe that he was happy to be there and having fun. He won the race as I remember (it wasn't Ms. Minton, had to be a stake) and the place was packed and fans were actually cheering. He walks up the ramp to the track apron and does the ole' salute in about seventeen different directions, happier than shit to win the race and hamming it up.

It was a really nice sight and he won me over that day just with his enthusiasm for the sport at a time in that long meet where people just lose that happy-go-lucky mindset until May.

http://youtu.be/yhCQ82lTLyo
[yt=""]yhCQ82lTLyo[/yt]

http://youtu.be/VsqtiEw8598
[yt=""]VsqtiEw8598[/yt]