Fire up Bruce!

Seven Sport ace Bruce McAvaney has come under heavy criticism from fellow race callers and the general public because of his ‘underwhelming’ calling of the swimming at the Beijing Olympics.

His commentary has been described by Channel Nine sports commentator Andrew Voss, as “to cool for school” on 2UE’s Mike and Sandy Breakfast Show. Voss’ comments have summarised what the general public are feeling.

McAvaney is an excellent commentator and was Channel Seven’s face of the Olympics until this year when his younger, fresher faced colleague, Matthew White replaced him. Bruce is synonymous with the Australian broadcast of the Olympic Games, his knowledge is unrivalled and Billy Birmingham even created a special tribute to the Olympic voice under the guise of The Twelfth Man’s “Bruce 2000”. McAvaney calls the Athletics brilliantly but his lack of animation is not doing swimming any justice.

Arguably swimming would be one of the most animated and exciting sports to watch on television or live, second to the 100M athletics final. Channel Nine’s Ray Warren has been the voice of swimming for the Commonwealth Games and the Australian Championships as well as being heard on Foxtel but with the Olympic Games on Seven, we cannot hear the best caller in the business call the sport.

We barely knew that Stephanie Rice broke the world record, won GOLD and became the Olympic Champion in the 200m and 400m individual medley because of McAvaney’s hapless call.

Poolside interviewer Daniel Kowalski has also disappointed by forgetting important facts about the person he is interviewing, like the fact that the interviewee, Stephanie Rice or Eamon Sullivan just broke the world record.

Overall Seven’s swimming commentary has been poor. Luckily Duncan Armstorng is a member of the team but he and McAvaney have not developed a good synergy and he is also not the most animated character.

Swimming commentary needs to compliment the visual excitement by getting you sitting on the edge of your seat and raising the hairs on the back of your neck but this is not happening with McAvaney’s call. The network has obviously left incumbent, Dennis Cometti at home to call the AFL. He has called the swimming for Seven at previous Olympic Games and does an excellent job, so why is he at home?

At least the next Olympics will be on Nine so swimming can be called by Ray Warren. Having said that, Warren commented at the Olympic Swim Trials earlier this year that he is no guarantee for London 2012 as he is not the best traveller.

Come on Rabs... Go for Gold. You know you want to be there – just push through. At least Nicole Livingstone and Gian Rooney will be able to lend a hand and hopefully Armstrong returns to that team because they are the best swimming callers in the country.

But for Bruce, it is time to fire up and call the 100M freestyle in about an hour’s time because this will be fast and it will need a champion call. You can do it Bruce...

If you’re not confident in Bruce McAvaney however then you can hear Nicole Livingstone as she is partnering Ray Hadley and they can be heard on 2GB and the Macquarie Radio Network, now there is a good race caller who is excited and animated.