OBIT:Harry Carpenter 1925-2010 UKSportsCommentator

Subject: OBIT: Harry Carpenter 1925-2010
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 10:04 AM

Just heard that Harry Carpenter passed away at the age of 84. One of the great voices of British sport. RIP, 'arry. Know what I mean?

Subject: RE: OBIT: Harry Carpenter 1925-2010
From: open mike
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 10:25 AM

for those who do not know here is more info
he was a t.v. boxing commentator in U.K.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Harry Carpenter 1925-2010
From: Alan Day
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 10:55 AM

A great commentator with a lovely sense of humour.
Sadly missed "Arry"
Al

Subject: RE: OBIT: Harry Carpenter 1925-2010
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 01:15 PM

Harry seemed to be a nice chap but he was a dreadful boxing commentator! He just couldn't "read" a fight to save his life.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Harry Carpenter 1925-2010
From: bubblyrat
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 02:57 PM

You were better,then ??

Subject: RE: OBIT: Harry Carpenter 1925-2010
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 04:31 PM

I was never a boxing fan, but could recognise a highly professional broadcaster when I saw one. Harry was a consummate professional. R.I.P Harry.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Harry Carpenter 1925-2010
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 05:18 PM

Dave Robert, if you're not a boxing fan - and, I pressume, have never boxed - how could you possibly tell if Harry was good at his job? The BBC have had some dreadful sports broadcasters over the years. I remember David Vine being the chief Winter Sports chappie. Anyone who has skied down a hill could tell that he didn't know what he was talking about.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Harry Carpenter 1925-2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 06:51 PM

Sounds as though Harry was well-loved and respected by a lot of people, so let's let him RIP and send our condolences to his family, friends, and fans.

kat

(*sigh* I hope this is not going to be another UK thread which devolves into a slagfest.)

Subject: RE: OBIT:Harry Carpenter 1925-2010 UKSportsCommentator
From: Alan Day
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 05:23 AM

I was very much a boxing enthusiast and a keen watcher of amateur boxing going to the yearly finals at The Albert Hall.
I never formed the opinion that Harry Carpenter could not read a fight ,but I always enjoyed his presentation and his personality.
David Vine was like Claire Balding taking on events in the Winter Olympics and things like Crufts Dog Show when she hasn't a clue about what it is about. Some of the radio football commentators in the old days were a disgrace.
Al

Subject: RE: OBIT:Harry Carpenter 1925-2010 UKSportsCommentator
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 05:34 AM

"Some of the radio football commentators in the old days were a disgrace."

Some of the modern TV ones are a bloody sight worse, don't understand the rules and clearly have never kicked a ball in their lives. Loving the sound of one's own voice seems to be the main qualification required for the job nowadays, a knowledge and understanding of the skills and strategies of the game seemingly being totally unnecessary.

But we digress and, to keep to the subject of the thread, 'Arry was a great personality with a unique style, and will be missed.
RIP.

Subject: RE: OBIT:Harry Carpenter 1925-2010 UKSportsCommentator
From: nager
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 05:38 AM

Sad to hear of Harry's passing. I always thoroughly enjoyed his commentaries when I lived in the UK many years ago. Sure there were times when he got it wrong and didn't "read" it right - just like many boxers who thought they were winning their fights only to be ko'd unexpectedly. Even the greatest sometimes don't read a fight properly. It is very easy to be an "expert" while watching a fight from an armchair at home. RIP Harry.

Subject: RE: OBIT:Harry Carpenter 1925-2010 UKSportsCommentator
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 05:46 AM

I don't know if Harry always 'read' a fight right or not but half the fun, surely, is when it all goes tits-up in a way you didn't expect. Do you remember how gobsmacked and excited he was at the end of the Ali-Foreman fight in 1974? Now, there was a man articulating the public mood if ever there was one.

Subject: RE: OBIT:Harry Carpenter 1925-2010 UKSportsCommentator
From: Alan Day
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 07:10 AM

I would love to have heard his commentary on the Amateur Night to beat all UK V USA at The Albert Hall. I was lucky enough to be there and as usual USA sent over a very strong team. The one everyone was waiting for was the clash between Billy Walker and an enormous fighter from the USA who was being tipped by everyone to be a future World Champion. As the evening progressed we were winning every fight and it was six nil to the UK. There was no way it would be a whitewash, the seventh and last fight was the heavyweight and when Billy Walker entered the ring he looked tiny in comparison to the USA fighter.Billy Walker was not a clever boxer, but was a fighter. He had a job even getting near to the American who was scary ,even to those not in the ring.By sheer enthusiasm Billy got him on the ropes and knocked him out as he bounced off them.A night to remember.
Al

Subject: RE: OBIT:Harry Carpenter 1925-2010 UKSportsCommentator
From: Rasener
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 09:28 AM

RIP Harry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB2zqkFtFNE

The affection shown by Frank Bruno to arry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhFvr2psiYk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WOEW7D2FfU

Subject: RE: OBIT:Harry Carpenter 1925-2010 UKSportsCommentator
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 11:00 AM

Of course, the story goes - but it's hard to believe - that way back when, the BBC were looking for a boxing commentator, and someone mentioned a certain Harry Carpenter who wrote on boxing for some newspaper. Anyway, they got Harry in and said that they'd like to hear him commenting on a clip of some boxing action, but unfortunately they couldn't find a boxing clip and so they got him to comment on a football clip. And he got the job! Say no more!

Subject: RE: OBIT:Harry Carpenter 1925-2010 UKSportsCommentator
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 11:07 AM

It would be interesting to hear two sports commentators commentary on the same event for comparison reasons. For example, I clearly remember David Coleman's ( BBC) and Adrian Metcalf's ( ITV) commentary on David Hemery's famous 400m hurdles victory at the 1968 Olympics. Adrian ( the greatest ever athletic commentator) commentary is terrific but David's is not! And, of course, David included one of his famous "Coleman Balls" mistake when he said at the end of the race " Hemery wins, the German is second and who cares who's third!". Unfortunately for David, the third place finisher was British athlete John Sherwood!

Subject: RE: OBIT:Harry Carpenter 1925-2010 UKSportsCommentator
From: fat B****rd
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 01:11 PM

He was great. Nuff said. RIP Mr. Carpenter

Subject: RE: OBIT:Harry Carpenter 1925-2010 UKSportsCommentator
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 09:18 AM

Of course, Harry Carpenter was also famous for his ability to pronounce the word 'Wimbledon' without sounding any of the vowels. Go on. Try it.

Subject: RE: OBIT:Harry Carpenter 1925-2010 UKSportsCommentator
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 07:46 PM

I had decided to keep away from this thread after it looked like turning into a discussion on commentators in general rather than a chance to pay tribute to a fine broadcaster, but I can't resist adding this classic, often attributed to Frank Bough, but actually spoken by Tim Gudgin:

...'your carpenter is Harry Commentator....'

- and no, I am not interested in the relative merits of Frank Bough and Tim Gudgin as boxing or any other kind of commentators.