OLN: Is Bob Roll A Hack?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mysilver70sekai
I need some clarity on an issue. I am really sick of listening to Al Troutwick ask Bob Roll Stupid questions on the Tour de France Coverage on OLN, but i am more sick of listening to Bob's Answers. Does Bob know what he's talking about? Why are they asking him? and Isn't there someone else who is more knowlegable that OLN can hire as the cycling "funnyman"?

I may just be venting, but i can't imagine that i am alone on this one

Does Bobke know what he's talking about? Are you serious?

You decide:

Quoted post said:

ob has written three books, including the newly released Tour de France Companion. His cycling experience includes:

· Member of the Cycling Hall of Fame as part of the original 7-Eleven Cycling Team
· Former member of the Motorola Cycling Team
· 4-time Tour de France racer, 3-time Giro d'Italia racer, 8-time Paris-Roubaix racer, 3-time Tour de Suisse racer
· Won stage 3 of the 1988 Tour de Romandie
· Won stage 11 of the 1985 Coors Classic
· Won the 1997 & 1998 San Franciso Hill Climb
· Raced in eight World Championships

....looks like he knows something....

He might be annoying but he knows his sport. Simple as that.

He knows. He just doesn't give serious responses to questions. Sometimes he serious sometimes its pure [censored]. An attempt at humor I guess. If a person of little knowledge were to take all his responses seriously they could be mislead tremendously.
He is plenty goofy! No doubt!

Bobke definitely know his stuff. You may or may not like his style but the guy raced in Europe for years and competed in (and finished) the Tour de France four times. Personally I think Roll is great. It's nice to hear from someone who doesn't take the race so damn seriously (like Liggett and Sherwen). If you like Bobke, I recommend reading his book Bobke II. Pretty funny stuff! It's kind of a diary of a lot of his racing in Europe as well as his training with Lance during his comeback from cancer.

I watched bob roll do a s,mall race in northern California in 84'. He won this road bike criterium on a stumpjumper Mtn bike. [censored] alot of guys off. One of the guys i ride with now was on the same team as bob for a little over 5 years says he was one of the most unpleasant people to ride with or be around. I enjoy his style on the OLN shows now.

Thanks for clearing that up for me, i had no idea about his credentials...i feel stupid for putting this poll up...
He just reminds me of the american commentators for international soccer, they just talk about stupid stuff the whole time the event is going on and spit out useless facts and take the attention away from the match at hand.
I can respect Bob for being a good racer, but i just can't stand his antics...i guess i'll just have to get over it, and i'll only have to deal with it for another couple weeks.

Thanks again.

Aaron

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mysilver70sekai
I need some clarity on an issue. I am really sick of listening to Al Troutwick ask Bob Roll Stupid questions on the Tour de France Coverage on OLN, but i am more sick of listening to Bob's Answers. Does Bob know what he's talking about? Why are they asking him? and Isn't there someone else who is more knowlegable that OLN can hire as the cycling "funnyman"?

I may just be venting, but i can't imagine that i am alone on this one

I can handle him better than when Bob Costas covers the Olympics for NBC.

I'm still wondering where I can get a cycling computer that plays Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera's newest music videos like he said all the pro's were using.

Personally I can deal with Bob Roll ok...actually he does provide some very good insight into the sport from time to time.

I do appreciate the fact that he's a Lance fan. Having said that, I wish he would tone down his enthusiam for Lance just a little bit. I'm a Lance's fan too as well, I just don't think it's very appropriate for someone in his position to display that much enthusiam for one rider, albeit it's Lance.

What I can't stand about Bob is his pronounciation of "Tour DAY France" and his unwillingness to change that redneck pronouciation.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by SilentGTboy
I'm still wondering where I can get a cycling computer that plays Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera's newest music videos like he said all the pro's were using.

Yeah, and where can you pick up one of those cathotores that lets your [censored] just evaporate, ouch. When Bob gave his response to these questions I swear that Al trautwig dude believed him for a second.

You know you do have a choice. You can watch the pre-race and get your dose of Bob and then tape and watch the live covereage which Phil and Paul comment on. I've watched both and its interesting sometimes I think Bob has more incite than Phil and Paul.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by SilentGTboy
I'm still wondering where I can get a cycling computer that plays Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera's newest music videos like he said all the pro's were using.

LMBO! Or one those evaparative catheters! Bob Roll rules!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by davidbod
I've watched both and its interesting sometimes I think Bob has more incite than Phil and Paul. [/B]

Yes, he obviously has a lot more incite than Phil & Paul, judging from the level and number of replies here. Did the school (i.e. English Language teaching) system stop working in the US before Bob graduated, or after? What sort of INSIGHT can you get watching 8 TV screens in the commentary booth, looking for the best angle?

I think Roll is hilarious and brings a welcome bit of craziness to the Tour. I also think he and Trautwig play off each other quite well. My favorite thing is to watch his hand gestures. He nearly always starts speaking with his hands together - fingertips touching. His other gesticulating rarely fits and it's obvious he's been to see an image consultant. 😄 More power to Bobke...

Bob roll rocks, Even though I want to chop off his hands everytime he moves them. Other than that, he is the perfect man for the job.

I like Bobke, though the tour DAY France bit does drive me nuts. And he tends to get a little long winded when he gets into an answer. It's Trautwig who I don't care for so much. His opening little speeches that start the recap coverage are really, really silly!

Oh, and who's the really excited young guy who does the commentary from the starting line? He looks like he had a couple too many cups of coffee all the time.

tcklyde said:

Oh, and who's the really excited young guy who does the commentary from the starting line? He looks like he had a couple too many cups of coffee all the time.

Are you talking about Frankie Andreu? He's a former american cyclist who probably has more Tour de France experience than any other american cyclist. He's finished the TdF something like eight times and ridden for both Lance Armsrtong and Jan Ullrich. You might not like his style as a commentator but his cycling credentials can't be denied. 😄

If that's even who you're talking about... Can't think of who else it might be. 😕

meehs said:

Are you talking about Frankie Andreu? He's a former american cyclist who probably has more Tour de France experience than any other american cyclist. He's finished the TdF something like eight times and ridden for both Lance Armsrtong and Jan Ullrich. You might not like his style as a commentator but his cycling credentials can't be denied. 😄

If that's even who you're talking about... Can't think of who else it might be. 😕

Yep, that's the guy. I shouldn't be too hard on him... he's just really excited. I think my girlfriend probably says the same about me. I haven't been this awake at 9:00 am (when the live coverage starts in boston) since I was a baby.

He may not be the smoothest commentator on the TdF, but he does know what he is talking about. His voice is partially annoying and he pronounces some words incorrectly, but whatever, I am just glad OLN is bringing people on to give us the pedal by pedal play.