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06-26-2009, 08:24 PM
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#1
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Deftly Rated
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,103
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Mark Johnson observations...
With about 2 months now under his belt, I'm curious how the public is adjusting to the race calls of the new track announcer at Churchill Downs, Mark Johnson?
Every time I listen to a call from Churchill these days, I find myself somewhat conflicted. Mr. Johnson is an accomplished race caller... professional and polished, so why do his calls leave me squirming in my seat? Accented callers such as Denman, Gellar, and Wrona don't have that effect on me.
Maybe such calls from the bluegrass just don't seem to fit the landscape. Maybe Luke set the bar at a height difficult for others to scale. Maybe I don't need to be told a race is official twice in every race.... "the 5th race is official, its official," or perhaps the pronunciation of Shine Ola as Shine Ahla just doesn't resonate the same to me as Shine O La.
I want to like him, I really do, as he appears to be a genuinely capable announcer, a strong handicapper, and a very knowledgeable individual, in fact he may be too good.
I guess I'll be patient with my assessment going forward. If Tiger Woods started wearing a red Kilt on Sunday, I imagine I would eventually get used to it.
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06-26-2009, 10:12 PM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: St Louis burbs
Posts: 1,257
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As most folks know .. I do not care for the announcers from :
UK * and South Africa. What does it say for the sport ..if
one of theee oldest tracks in the world ( CD ) has to hire
a bloke from across the seas. It makes no sense. Of course
Jackson is awful in his own right
__________________
My Kingdom for a good Spot Play
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06-26-2009, 11:35 PM
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#3
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Easy Goer
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Tampa,Florida
Posts: 3,440
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Hajck Hillstrom
Every time I listen to a call from Churchill these days, I find myself somewhat conflicted. Mr. Johnson is an accomplished race caller... professional and polished, so why do his calls leave me squirming in my seat?
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Really Doug? 
Completely subjective but I think he’s clearly one of the best in the country already. 
__________________
Dan G
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“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” ~ George Bernard Shaw
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06-27-2009, 12:12 AM
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#4
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Deftly Rated
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,103
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No argument as to his skills.... maybe it is just a geography issue, although his oft used reference of "debutants" is for some reason off-putting for me.
What is looked upon as a West Coast Aussie/South African accent trend with Denman, Gellar, and Wrona has long proved enjoyable for me, but for some reason a British accent over the Louisville loudspeakers is out of balance with my senses.
Don't get me wrong.... as he is good, very good, but maybe I am looking for a grittier sound from Churchill. Perhaps it an ingrained sound of pretentiousness of the British accent, but what is crazy is that it doesn't bother me at all while listening to it from the likes of Newcastle or Ascot, in fact it adds to the experience.
Maybe I view Churchill as a part of Americana, and listening to Johnson's calls almost Britishsizes the fabric. I'm not saying it is a bad thing, but just that it taking some getting used to for me.
Last edited by Hajck Hillstrom; 06-27-2009 at 12:14 AM.
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06-27-2009, 12:46 AM
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#5
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@TimeformUSfigs
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Moore, OK
Posts: 46,828
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I could take him or leave him, but since he is in America, it would be nice if he spoke American English instead of the British version.
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06-27-2009, 04:50 AM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,556
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don't know why this is but I love his calls on the big races but day in day out not so much.
jb
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06-27-2009, 05:40 AM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 422
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by cj
I could take him or leave him, but since he is in America, it would be nice if he spoke American English instead of the British version.
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There's an Okie response.
Boomer Sooner!
Ugh.
__________________
"A foolish man tells a woman to stop talking, but a wise man tells her that her mouth is extremely beautiful when her lips are closed."
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06-27-2009, 09:22 AM
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#8
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Easy Goer
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Tampa,Florida
Posts: 3,440
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Hajck Hillstrom
Maybe I view Churchill as a part of Americana, and listening to Johnson's calls almost Britishsizes the fabric.
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Are we still fighting the Red Coats Doug? Lol
If we take your view to its logical " authentic Americana" conclusion then we might have to announce in my fathers native tongue…Cherokee.
__________________
Dan G
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“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” ~ George Bernard Shaw
Last edited by DanG; 06-27-2009 at 09:27 AM.
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06-27-2009, 10:04 AM
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#9
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Registered BSer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 1,075
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He doesn't belong at Churchill. That's yer problem.
Fix it.
The old-fashioned way.
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06-27-2009, 10:15 AM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 491
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Maybe he's an acquired taste to some but I fine him accurate, interesting, and observant. Speaks the King's English which is, to my ears, classier than our substandard version. I would love to sit in on a room full of proper Englishmen in a gentlemen's club!
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06-27-2009, 10:22 AM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: massapequa park ny
Posts: 2,164
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by strapper
Maybe he's an acquired taste to some but I fine him accurate, interesting, and observant. Speaks the King's English which is, to my ears, classier than our substandard version. I would love to sit in on a room full of proper Englishmen in a gentlemen's club!
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i think churchill made a big mistake.their were so many accomplished racecallers to choose from.I think Trevor Denman flies on the west coast...A proper englishman in the heart of american horse country?At its oldest most prestigious track!Another shining example of racetrack executives marketing genius!  ....... 
Last edited by fmolf; 06-27-2009 at 10:24 AM.
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06-27-2009, 10:27 AM
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#12
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The Voice of Reason!
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Canandaigua, New york
Posts: 112,887
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I don't care what country he comes from, he is the worst I have ever heard, bar none. Glad CD is not a track I ever look at. He would drive me away for sure.
__________________
Who does the Racing Form Detective like in this one?
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06-27-2009, 10:32 AM
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#13
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Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,908
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The Aussie or South African accent is preferable. Having said that He's just OK!
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06-27-2009, 10:54 AM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: On The Bay
Posts: 9,857
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IMO - He stinks !!
Job should have gone to am American, preferably Larry Collmus.
__________________
I wouldn't say I drink too much but my mother did tell me that my first words were" when does happy hour start"?
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06-27-2009, 01:19 PM
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: new jersey
Posts: 522
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Does anyone know if there are any American racecallers working in other parts of the English speaking world?
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