- This topic has 140 replies, 51 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 10 months ago by
.
- Posts
Oh a fight!!!! can I come
The Gunfight at the OK Coral comes to TRF
Barry Earp and Seagull Clanton
Thing about big John is the man is a complete and utter bafoon but a very loveable and clever bafoon if that makes sense.
They put Pansy Potter in his place to do his job and she’ll last a week.
I will never forget the day he was at Ayr races and more than a few crazy Glaswegian started jumping in front of him one actually kicked him and he just went nuts with them.
On and off screen he gave them as good as he got and they all sauntered off and it quickly died. The rest of the day went without incident
I don’t know who will fill in for him but he/she better be as crazy as the big man.
He’s been part of the team for years and someone has made a dreadful decision IMO……..I wonder if they consullted Francome and Co before the decision was made
This thread has taken off like a rocket which tell you everthing…….people love him or hate him but either way he creates interest everywhere he goes…hope they see sense and reverse the decision….do know harm to swamp them with complaints through the Chanel 4 website for those who think it’s a bad decision.
Does anyone remember the skinny guy with the straggly, dyed, jet black long hair, wearing the bright yellow shirt (he never had it off) who used to appear on screen just about everytime big mac did his piece to camera?
He seemed to stalk McCririck as he cropped up at a host of different courses. Whatever became of him, I wonder. Did he get barred from racecourses?
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
" John McCririck’s whole C4 career has been predicated on the principle of being as controversial, objectionable and unloveable on-screen as he can, and he’s admitted as much on countless occasions. That’s behaviour that doesn’t strike as especially free of artifice. ": gc
Although I’m no expert on the entertainment industry, I’d say that grayson’s column above has summed up one of the key factors for scoring a hit in show business.
" Make a splash; cause conflict; get known; get public reaction."
An age old formula that works even better now that the bulk of the populace are glued to the box on the wall that so dominates modern life.
As it happens, the
"controversial,
objectionable,
unloveable"suits the racing game down to the ground.
Just a quick glance at this forum, for instance, will prove that!
And, yes, I’m no different myself. It’s par for the course.
Anybody who takes it too seriously will end up a screwball; then you can really join my club.Listen only to the horses and the cash, imo.
one wonders if he will dare to make a coment when he is on next time.and why dont we who can stand him send an e mail to ch4. on behalf of the racing forum
The fact this thread has provoked so much heated debate for and against McCririck shows his influence on racing. No other racing personality would have sparked such a wide ranging spectrum of opinion. Whether he’s genuine or not, he’s good for racing. Who entertains me on a saturday afternoon? Tom Lee or John McCririck? – No brainer.
Whatever his faults, he engages my interest. Always has done. I can’t offer value judgements on his character as I don’t know the bloke.
Plus I’m easily entertained…..
Good last few posts, chaps. And an excellent post from JimF. I’m having a look round to check that one out.
I hope someone is sending this thread off to Channel Four. Feedback works: recently RUK listened to concerned viewer comments about the snide denigration of Kempton races by the very presenters who were supposed to be taking us through the card.
The last few meetings have been mercifully free of the spoilt and unnecessary comments which marred one particular broadcast. Thanks RUK!
Smaller organisations survive on viewer veedback, whereas some bloated monolith like the BBC can afford to ignore the vox populi – as they have done for years – because the astounding government subsidy enables them to create an organic and narcissistic culture which thrives in a vacuum of self-regard. Hence the winding down of racing on Teletext and the dropping of “non-premium” meetings despite vocal licence payer indignation.
I’m sure Channel Four may see sense if enough people comment. Bring Back Big Mac! – has a pleasant rhythym, imo.
why dont we who can stand him send an e mail to ch4. on behalf of the racing forum
Bring this thread to their attention, by all means, but don’t presume to represent The Racing Forum in any other way with an e-mail.
Not in my name etc.
…narcissistic culture which thrives in a vacuum of self-regard.
Just want to check that you are referring to the BBC and not to Channel 4 Racing with that remark.
Before any e-mail is sent should we not have a vote on it?
Bring back Big Mac.
or
Let’s Lose The Baffoon
Ginge
Value Is EverythingI’ve no idea what Tom Lee (McCririck’s mooted replacement) has to offer, but if just a little of father Richard’s knowledge, geniality and openness has rubbed off on him, then he will be very welcome. I may even bite the bullet and watch C4 Racing again
Rather than instigate a fatuous ‘Bring Back Big Mac’ campaign (sorry Max) why not contact C4 congratulating them on their refreshing decision to experiment with a new, young and potentially well-qualified face.
This young fogie who’s initial attraction to racing was enhanced by the dulcet tones of O’Sullevan, Rickman, Oaksey and Wilson has now matured into a boring old fart who very much hopes Lee has graduated from the Luck/Neesom/Fremantle school of the drole and understated.
If you watch the programs which follow The Morning Line on a Saturday morning, you’ll soon see that the people behind Channel 4 think the way to appeal to the ‘yoof’ demographic is to have blandly good-looking, characterless, hairgel-models doing the links. Unfortunately this notion is seeping into their thinking about all kinds of programs, and soon even the news will be presented by a smug guy in a rock T-shirt being ironic.
Anyway, I don’t like Tom Lee at all. Not for anything personal (probably a nice guy) but for what he represents: the most blatant case of nepotism that I’ve witnessed. He’s so awkward on the camera and never gives an opinion on any horse-racing issue and yet he’s got that job…
McCirick does us a service just by mentioning things like SPs, the overrounds, etc; even if its during a blustering rant which is utterly ineffective – at least he mentions them. When he was having a go at Thornton for overusing the whip – it was great to see say something which stirred up the cosy, lazy atmosphere. I doubt Francome (‘I’d rather build a wall than goto Cheltenham’) or Tom Lee will bring up these things in the future.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.