The thing I can't handle, being a Taipans fan, is they talk about the same things every game. Clint Steindl's athleticism and length, Fearne's ability to over perform and attract young talent.
Even though there are only a few teams, but seriously... you could script their commentary.

Dont forget about Steven Weighs potential

I agree completely! Its like each team has a generic profile that always gets re used every game. We get it. How about they do some research and come up with something new.

Weigh is 28 now isnt he? Carfino has been calling his potential for 4 years now...

I totally agree with all said about Carfino. I totally enjoy listening to Sapwell on the Streeming channel.

I dont mind Tom King on the streaming either, he and Sapwell together would be a decent combo on Ten.

I can only assume Carfino is on a very low salary (for a sports commentator) as he wouldnt be in demand. Therefore its not worth his while to invest extra time into research and improving to become a better commentator. Low ratings for the NBL, hes on a contract, so why bother?

Im sure 10 and the NBL would love to dump Carfino and sign a better commentator such as a Stephen Quartermain for example, but im sure his asking price is too much to justify 10 doing it when only 30k are watching.

Well i havent been commentating for 20 years, so I doubt i would be anywhere near as good as Carfino. I will give Rosen a chance as hes new to commentating, and i do like his enthusiasm.

Im just a fan craving some long overdue better coverage, thats all.

Rosen definitely has potential to be good. Knows what he is talking about and has passion... Much better than the Calvin/Trevor Roberts duo up in Townsville - shocking

Your not exactly going to find a Kevin Harlan, Marv Albert or even Mike Breen type out there to replace him though, so why bother?

From memory Carfino was ok as the secondary caller a few years ago on Fox Sports. He really struggles as a host and primary play-by-play caller though. Rosen I agree has potential but needs to calm down a bit. He seems to be almost brimming with anxiety as he over explains and over analyses every minute detail.

We obviously don't have someone like Kevin Harlan or Marv Albert, but the thing that separates them from our substandard callers isn't really their in depth knowledge or level or research, it's how concise they are. They don't fill every moment with meaningless blather, nor do they call every possession in detail. Their commentary complements the game coverage rather than dominating it with self-evident descriptions and over-analysis (If you can call what Carfino says analysis).

No problem with any of the commentary teams. They're usually good for a laugh and occasionally they add some value in terms of interpreting what's going on at a strategic level. As Anon says above, I can see what's going on so why listen to someone else describing it? It's just like being at the game and having an annoying spectator next to you reciting what's going on every play. I tune it out.

I don't pay much attention to commentators on most televised sports. The exceptions are stop-start sports with opportunities for true strategic analysis and commentary - cricket, gridiron, baseball, road and track cycling etc. Basketball, AFL, rugby and similar spend too much time with play-by-play and lack as many breaks and slow periods to have that exchange between informed and thoughtful commentators that provides insight into the contest as it's unfolding.

What ever happened to john casey on fox a few years back? I dont mind carfino so much.. at least he has a good elevated voice when theres some excitement. Problem is there isn't much excitement going on at a lot of the games and it isn't easy filling in the time.
Much prefer him to the perth duo of lacky and bear with their constant banter and in jokes instead calling the game.

Couldn't agree more!! He is soooo unbearable to listen to! Even my wife said last night how annoying he was, he over-commentates everything. He has to go.

Glad it's not just me that can't stand Rosen/Barfs.

Rosen is intelligent enough, but way over-talks most things and quickly becomes intolerable. The Sydney games he's called with Barf have turned in to hand shandy parties, Kings this Kings that. Yes we know both of you played for the Kings, good on yas.

Someone made a valid point and acknowledged that even though there wouldn't be a larger budget to attract a better mainstay, something really needs to be done for the betterment of the league and presentation of games.

I like when Van Groningen has done a few games. Knowledgable and impartial, so you know you're never going to get BS tied to one team.

Bradtke I've actually liked also. He's not as polished, but he calls things as he sees them and you're always going to get a truthful insight/opinion. Unlike Gaze, who will never give you a straight answer on anything.

Don't mind the calls on the Cats games either. Lachie/Bear is it?

Maher/Joyce I could both happily go without.

I get that some people don't like Lachy Reid & Tony Ronaldson at Perth. They can have their moments where they are frustrating to listen to and probably joke around a bit too much at times. However I would take those two (especially Lachy Reid, who is a professional sports commentator in his own right) over Carfino any day of the week.

I love his passion for basketball. I know he's a "Wildcat person" at heart, but he also has a lot to say about the opposition and he knows his stuff considering he's not a former player or coach. In fact his background is football commentating I think, though basketball is a huge passion of his.

He may not be everyones preferred commentator, and thats fine, though I find his style to be engaging and entertaining. Ronaldson complements this nicely, and they have a good chemistry together. I think Lachy Reid also has the "non-basketball" audience in mind when he's commentating, so new fans can understand whats going on.

Agree with Mr Ben - JVG is another one I like and wish he called more games.

Carfino was off his dial yesterday for the Tigers game. The start was riddled with mistakes.

Bradke, Gaze, Maher, Sapwell, etc.. Surely there is enough retired players in each state to pick up the coverage.

I don't mind Lachy Reid either. At least he's enthusiastic. Watching Tigers-Taipans, I kept switching back to the cricket. Was struggling to care with barely any players showing passion until Ballinger's fist pumps.

Once the new TV deal's done I'd rather see more focus on getting decent replays happening than the commentary. But for the record I think Jeff Van Groningen is the best commentator as he speaks well, has good knowledge both technically and for the layman and is also very neutral in his call.

It could be worse, we could get Brian Taylor. He did a few games and he was awful.

Dwayne Russell was good, BT not, although at least he was enthusiastic, he at least ticked that box.

I agree with you said about Carfino.

Jesus Christ, imagine giving BT the call at a Wildcats game. His go-to exclamation of WOWEEE would make me wish Ennis didn't even know how to throw it down. I mean, I know we get that crap from Lachy Reid but BT's guttural offering...jeez. Sorta works in AFL though. You'd probably even take the Matt McQuade "Ennis going up for the one-handed dunk shot. Gawt it!" Over BT's "woweee"

I once knew someone who would always listen to the first few sentences somebody spoke, then always say."You're a genius."
One time he met Carfino who began to speak about a certain players potential.
Later, Carfino was in a little bit of excitement and he said to Rosen."I been told I'm a genius!"

Rejoice, O Radeladians, for The Carfino hath tipped thee for the Championship!

http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/1l3nkh4wvtsri15c2mwzb81cv2

Be inspired or alarmed at your discretion.

Who cares? People that care about the game's growth will.

The TV aspect of the NBL's rebuilding phase is one of the most important to get right. At the moment its failing with low ratings and an uninspiring coverage. Who can help lift that? A good commentary team for a start.

Being a part time job shouldn't be relevant.

To suggest something can't achieve better ratings with better promotion and providing a better experience for those watching seems off the mark.

If someone doesn't care and switches over, is uninspiring commentary that sounds bored likely to keep them on the channel to develop a liking for the product? I doubt it.

The old saying goes "it's the little things that count" and the NBL broadcast doesn't get many little things right.

That's why you get the situation semi-regularly with the NBL where more people in a city are attending the game than watching, and as far as I know that's not the case with other national sporting leagues.

The commentating, among a myriad of other things, does matter. All of those other alternatives (shack, etc) work against every other sport, but they offer a more polished package. And commentating is part of that.

Its very subjective really and is all a matter of who you prefer. Personally, I like Gaze, but don't like Carfino. There might be people who like both, or don't like Gaze, but prefer Carfino, or maybe even hate both!

The general feeling on this forum is that Carfino is not very popular in A) enticing new fans (eg being exciting, and making the game understandable to new followers, which I feel he doesn't do) and B) keeping old fans happy (constant little mistakes, telling the same scenario over (eg Weigh's potential)) things like that, which frustrates me and no doubt others.

To people saying I should give it a go and see how I do - then of course I would be up for criticism, which is fair enough. No doubt I would suck at it too, given my fear of public speaking, and shyness of being in front of a camera :) But then, I'm not a pro at this, where some people are, and therefore warrant a bit of criticism.

Anon, no majority criticised JVG, Casey or Lachie. Rosen is suggested to calm down a bit and Carfino fire up. That's pretty easy feedback in each case.

And of course fans new to the sport could get a vibe from Carfino - it's the first thing they'd notice.

It's not so much that new viewers would be able to assess the quality of Carfino's commentary, as that they might make the mistake of listening to him when he goes on and on about how terrible the game is.

They won't care.

I think the NBL would get a quicker result paying Carfino for some sort of role that reinvigorates him, and that requires a bit more time spent following all results, keeping up on all players, adding some diversity to his commentary, etc. That is assuming they don't have some existing direct link with him and can provide an increased incentive for him to step up.

I don't mind some of his silly moments if he's at his enthusiastic best. He used to do a good job narrating the top ten plays of the week, for example. But I imagine that the broadcaster having cut back the role (including finding no involvement for Mark Slocombe doing stats) might have knocked the wind out.