Henri Leconte is a legend
February 1st 2010 13:48
I'll remember the 2010 Australian Open for the birth of the brash Frenchman, who sounds like he is on crack at a strip club.
Was my highlight of this year's Australian Open Roger Federer winning another grand slam title?
Sure but in the years ahead I wouldn't be able to differentiate the years he had won because of his continued excellence.
Henri Leconte?
Hell yeah.
I'll remember the 2010 Australian Open for the birth of the brash Frenchman, who sounds like he is on crack at a strip club.
Henri was a breath of fresh air and a delight amid the usually staid and droll commentary.
His commentary (or was it screaming) of Joe Wilfried-Tsonga's fourth round match victory was, in his own word, unbeeeeeeliiabblleeeee!!!!
Every epic shot was met with screaming and orgasmic type sounds, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, which would have impressed Jack Horner.
Channel Seven, attempting to cash in on their new prized recruit, stupidly decided to pair him with Jim Courier and John Alexander during Tsonga's quarter final clash with Novak Djokovic.
Three man booths for a tennis match don’t work and Henri's eccentric style doesn't mesh with that structure anyway.
He came across as stupid (really we don't match him analysing player's strengths and weaknesses), rude (he kept interrupting one of the other commentators) and awkward.
But I lay the blame at Seven, who were trying to win a few more ratings points instead of forming a better product.
It's like taking a popular and funny supporting character and making him the star of the show (wait, crap that happened with the woeful Cleveland Show).
Henri, should really be a main commentator in week one, when the matches are pretty mundane and which nobody really bothers paying too much attention to.
The same theory applys to doubles tennis. He would certainly create some extra spice to those snooze fests.
And he should definitely commentate the French matches.
I love a biased call. Who really gives a shit if he is barracking? Go JOE, JOE, JOE, YESSSSSS!! He's commentating from a fan's perspective. I love it.
Henri reminds me of Kerry O'Keefe, who started commentating on the ABC to a national audience during the Australia v West Indies Sydney Test Match in 2001.
His distinctive laugh and wisecracks made him an instant hit.
I remember me and my mate listening and being awestruck by him.
It was like we were hit by lightning.
Who the hell was this guy?
He's freaking funny. Will he commentate again? If he is, I'm listening, even if the game is dull.
The ABC even packaged a Kerry montage at the end of a day's play, due to his growing popularity.
Of course he needed some fine tuning. His laugh (while infectious at first could become grating after awhile) was toned down as were the jokes.
As the years have rolled on, Kerry established himself as one of the most astute judges of the game, while still maintaining doses of his trademark humour for the appropriate moments.
Along with Peter Roebuck, Kerry is the only commentator I will keep listening to regardless of the state of the game.
Kerry has found the right balancing act.
But of course Seven have to nurture Henri, like how the ABC have effectively managed the unique talents of Kerry.
Henri brings flair to commentating rarely seen in tennis broadcasts.
I remember watching Andy Murray produce a series of scintillating, god did that really happen, shots against Tsonga in the semi-final and wishing Henri was commentating.
He brings a smile and a laugh to the broadcast. Is that really such a bad thing?
Sure there a few cringe worthy moments.
Like Kerry, he has the rare ability to entertain non-sport lovers.
Example: My girlfriend knows nothing about sport. Tell her Gary Ablett was the world number one player and she would believe you.
Yet even she took note of Henri.
"Wow, who is that guy? Why he is making those noises?"
It may not sound like much but that is the most interested she has ever been in tennis.
All thanks to Henri.
I hope Henri's talents will be effectively utilised and he will be brought back for next year's event.
And for everyone who doesn't like him, maybe you should get off your high horse before you get hurt.
Was my highlight of this year's Australian Open Roger Federer winning another grand slam title?
Sure but in the years ahead I wouldn't be able to differentiate the years he had won because of his continued excellence.
Henri Leconte?
Hell yeah.
I'll remember the 2010 Australian Open for the birth of the brash Frenchman, who sounds like he is on crack at a strip club.
Henri was a breath of fresh air and a delight amid the usually staid and droll commentary.
His commentary (or was it screaming) of Joe Wilfried-Tsonga's fourth round match victory was, in his own word, unbeeeeeeliiabblleeeee!!!!
Every epic shot was met with screaming and orgasmic type sounds, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, which would have impressed Jack Horner.
Channel Seven, attempting to cash in on their new prized recruit, stupidly decided to pair him with Jim Courier and John Alexander during Tsonga's quarter final clash with Novak Djokovic.
Three man booths for a tennis match don’t work and Henri's eccentric style doesn't mesh with that structure anyway.
He came across as stupid (really we don't match him analysing player's strengths and weaknesses), rude (he kept interrupting one of the other commentators) and awkward.
But I lay the blame at Seven, who were trying to win a few more ratings points instead of forming a better product.
It's like taking a popular and funny supporting character and making him the star of the show (wait, crap that happened with the woeful Cleveland Show).
Henri, should really be a main commentator in week one, when the matches are pretty mundane and which nobody really bothers paying too much attention to.
The same theory applys to doubles tennis. He would certainly create some extra spice to those snooze fests.
And he should definitely commentate the French matches.
I love a biased call. Who really gives a shit if he is barracking? Go JOE, JOE, JOE, YESSSSSS!! He's commentating from a fan's perspective. I love it.
Henri reminds me of Kerry O'Keefe, who started commentating on the ABC to a national audience during the Australia v West Indies Sydney Test Match in 2001.
His distinctive laugh and wisecracks made him an instant hit.
I remember me and my mate listening and being awestruck by him.
It was like we were hit by lightning.
Who the hell was this guy?
He's freaking funny. Will he commentate again? If he is, I'm listening, even if the game is dull.
The ABC even packaged a Kerry montage at the end of a day's play, due to his growing popularity.
Of course he needed some fine tuning. His laugh (while infectious at first could become grating after awhile) was toned down as were the jokes.
As the years have rolled on, Kerry established himself as one of the most astute judges of the game, while still maintaining doses of his trademark humour for the appropriate moments.
Along with Peter Roebuck, Kerry is the only commentator I will keep listening to regardless of the state of the game.
Kerry has found the right balancing act.
But of course Seven have to nurture Henri, like how the ABC have effectively managed the unique talents of Kerry.
Henri brings flair to commentating rarely seen in tennis broadcasts.
I remember watching Andy Murray produce a series of scintillating, god did that really happen, shots against Tsonga in the semi-final and wishing Henri was commentating.
He brings a smile and a laugh to the broadcast. Is that really such a bad thing?
Sure there a few cringe worthy moments.
Like Kerry, he has the rare ability to entertain non-sport lovers.
Example: My girlfriend knows nothing about sport. Tell her Gary Ablett was the world number one player and she would believe you.
Yet even she took note of Henri.
"Wow, who is that guy? Why he is making those noises?"
It may not sound like much but that is the most interested she has ever been in tennis.
All thanks to Henri.
I hope Henri's talents will be effectively utilised and he will be brought back for next year's event.
And for everyone who doesn't like him, maybe you should get off your high horse before you get hurt.
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