There can't be a worse announcer than the Tampa guy

[Valuist]

Maybe track announcers are like athletes. I used to think Wallace was good but in the last few years, he just lost it. He started making mistakes he didn't use to make. Athletes can lose it quickly, and apparently track announcers can as well.

[therussmeister]

In five years they will all be obsolete. All the tracks will use computerized voices tied into the TRAKUS system.

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by therussmeister

In five years they will all be obsolete. All the tracks will use computerized voices tied into the TRAKUS system.

I'm just imagining the voice of Siri: "INTO the turn and GAINING GROUND from the OUTSIDE...."

[v j stauffer]

Originally Posted by andicap

I think your loyalty to your colleagues is commendable BUT are you saying that people should never bash anyone on the Internet? We should never be allowed to criticize A-Rod even though he has given his entire life to the game of baseball? We never be allowed to criticize jockeys for poor rides? Oorr baseball managers for poor decisions.

If some dictator of sports decreed that athletes or anyone involved in sports -- track announcers included for they are part of sports -- could NOT be criticized, sports would die in a day. Controversy and disagreement make sports go round.

I'm not saying what people should or should not do. I'm saying it hurts when they criticize a friend and colleague. I understand about rights and how the internet works.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

I'm not saying what people should or should not do. I'm saying it hurts when they criticize a friend and colleague. I understand about rights and how the internet works.

I know this is neither here nor there, but maybe that friend wants and feels he deserves the critique? Maybe when he hears the criticism he says "they're right, i was bad, i need to improve, it doesnt hurt my feelings, i deserve the shots, i'll try and get better, its not fair to my employer if i'm not up to snuff, i gotta work on that"

Wouldnt that be the right thing to say and feel, that he needs to work on getting better..? Or, do you think because he's a friend and nice guy, its ok to just to do a below average job and just hide from the critique while doing nothing to get better?

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by cj

Ever notice on the biggest days at CharlesTown they ship in a caller?

The guy at CT is still there? Over the years, he has been the #1 worst REGULAR announcer I have ever heard at any track...ever.

I thought someone posted here recently that he had been replaced....and I thought to myself...FINALLY!

If he's still there, then it further proves my theory that he is a relative of someone in management or he has pictures locked away in a safe of someone in management...

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

The guy at CT is still there? Over the years, he has been the #1 worst REGULAR announcer I have ever heard at any track...ever.

I thought someone posted here recently that he had been replaced....and I thought to myself...FINALLY!

If he's still there, then it further proves my theory that he is a relative of someone in management or he has pictures locked away in a safe of someone in management...

I don't always stay in Charles Town WV, but when i do, i stay at the Inn at Charlestown.

[v j stauffer]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

I know this is neither here nor there, but maybe that friend wants and feels he deserves the critique? Maybe when he hears the criticism he says "they're right, i was bad, i need to improve, it doesnt hurt my feelings, i deserve the shots, i'll try and get better, its not fair to my employer if i'm not up to snuff, i gotta work on that"

Wouldnt that be the right thing to say and feel, that he needs to work on getting better..? Or, do you think because he's a friend and nice guy, its ok to just to do a below average job and just hide from the critique while doing nothing to get better?

IMO you guys are reading waaaay too much into all this. I'm an announcer. He's an announcer. It hurts when someone knocks me. I feel for others when they get knocked. Simple as that.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

It hurts when someone knocks me..

People sometimes knock Vic? I'm shocked. I'm shocked....

[cj]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

The guy at CT is still there? Over the years, he has been the #1 worst REGULAR announcer I have ever heard at any track...ever.

I thought someone posted here recently that he had been replaced....and I thought to myself...FINALLY!

If he's still there, then it further proves my theory that he is a relative of someone in management or he has pictures locked away in a safe of someone in management...

Which guy? Surely you don't mean Costy? Those would be fighting words....

[v j stauffer]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

People sometimes knock Vic? I'm shocked. I'm shocked....

I was too until I found out my boss and wife post here.

[Greyfox]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

I was too until I found out my boss and wife post here.

Or hear?

IMO - You do an excellent job of announcing. Keep up the obviously scrutinized calls.
(P.S. Racetracks have more losers than winners. Self-blame is the last in line behind rider, horse, gatemen, trainer, and race caller.)

[iceknight]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

IMO you guys are reading waaaay too much into all this. I'm an announcer. He's an announcer. It hurts when someone knocks me. I feel for others when they get knocked. Simple as that.

People on the "internet" also praise many of your colleaguges (and you) for some great calls. So some criticism can be taken and acted upon.

In this case the Tampa caller (now i know his name is R Grunder, it's good to put a name to the voice), his 27 years not withstanding, needs to work on understanding that there are more than 4 horses that start out on most races. Most races, he will mention the first 3 when they start running and then he jumps to mentioning whoever is the trailer. He completely misses all the others that are mid pack (and crucial to the race), and I feel that is a serious omission.

YOUTUBE LINK

This is one of my favorite calls..when [YT="Arazi passes Bertrando in the BC Juvi 1991"]mYIQttbYOOs[/YT]

[v j stauffer]

Originally Posted by iceknight

People on the "internet" also praise many of your colleaguges (and you) for some great calls. So some criticism can be taken and acted upon.

In this case the Tampa caller (now i know his name is R Grunder, it's good to put a name to the voice), his 27 years not withstanding, needs to work on understanding that there are more than 4 horses that start out on most races. Most races, he will mention the first 3 when they start running and then he jumps to mentioning whoever is the trailer. He completely misses all the others that are mid pack (and crucial to the race), and I feel that is a serious omission.

YOUTUBE LINK

This is one of my favorite calls..when [YT="Arazi passes Bertrando in the BC Juvi 1991"]mYIQttbYOOs[/YT]

I was in the announcers booth at Churchill Downs sitting about 5 feet from Tom when he made that call. I remember thinking to myself I could never make as good a call with all the pressure and the racing world watching. No matter how much I practiced, prepared or studied.

I was right.

[iceknight]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

I was in the announcers booth at Churchill Downs sitting about 5 feet from Tom when he made that call. I remember thinking to myself I could never make as good a call with all the pressure and the racing world watching. No matter how much I practiced, prepared or studied.

I was right.

I am sure he practiced for that (sarc!! It was just an extension of his natural passion. Of course, in some cases, I have also found his calls a little over the board.. but it was sublime in this one! You are SO LUCKY/Fortunate (and well deserving i guess, since you earned your way there!) to have seen that happen live!