Who the heck is Paul Pace and why was he commentating on ESPN ISU coverage?

[7302005]

Was anyone else offended by this guy? He couldn't pronouce names, he said some of the dumbest things I have heard! I think he introduced himself as Paul Pace - but after 2 minutes, I had had enough of his voice (sounds like he was shouting - even tho the rest of the commentators i.e. Susie, Paul Wylie and Petter, were speaking in a normal level of voice)

Anyone have any clue?

What are your thoughts about him?

[7302005]

well, I sent in my thoughts about this guy to eskate@espn.com
I must say there were not too flattering.
Terry Gannon has been assigned to do announce football games, so I am hoping that he really was unavailable and not reassigned to football/basketball (although he is good at both of those too, some people are born announcers - but not Paul Pace)

[icedancer2]

Gee, I actually liked him. He had that "sports-guy voice" which made the whole event seem more like a sport and less kind of creamy-drippy. I also really appreciated Paul Wylie and Susie Wynne's commentary. Paul is really good at articulating the nuance of the COP system and what it will do for skating!

[valuvsmk]

Gee, I actually liked him. He had that "sports-guy voice" which made the whole event seem more like a sport and less kind of creamy-drippy. I also really appreciated Paul Wylie and Susie Wynne's commentary. Paul is really good at articulating the nuance of the COP system and what it will do for skating!

His name is Paul Page, not Pace, and he normally does the Indy car race broadcasts on ABC.

[7302005]

I guessed correctly, that he had the gravelly type of voice that was either boxing, horserace, or car race announcing. If he truly is to announce the rest of the ISU events, send him to school to learn to pronouce skaters' names and to understand skating anouncing.

As you can tell - he really, really came across badly to me. I found myself even wishing for (gasp, gasp) Dick Button.

[Oracle]

I disliked his voice & his style of commentating. Usually, I don't jump on the bandwagon of disliking any commentator but this guy rubbed me the wrong way!

[NJSk8Fan]

Can't say I truly liked or disliked this guy, but it certainly wasn't a voice I was used to hearing.....I miss Dick Button.

[Peter_K]

The voice was certainly jarring, but I didn't find it particularly disturbing. I could certainly imagine him doing racing coverage. (hearing his voice I was invisioning an Oscar Madison type with a cigar dangling out of his mouth. :))

Here's the thing, he did add a "sports" feel to the broadcast. I suppose if we really want FS to be considered by the masses a "sport", then maybe we should make the commentary sound like one. I really don't know how to feel about this.

As for mispronunciation of names, that's the job for the production assistants. They should, at the very least, be giving him a pronunciation guide for him to practice with.

Of course, none of this explains Terry Gannon's excuse for saying "FAWN-OOOF". (it just drives me nuts!)

--Peter

[Julia]

Hi Folks-I'm new to this board. Here's my 2 cents...
Seems like everybody is talking about Paul Page. Another forum suggested posting at ESPN's in hopes of drumming up interest in skating so there'd be more TV coverage. Here's link- http://www.espnviewerzone.com/
Well, when I finally got in to the "Players Bench" as the forum is called, there was a neat discussion going on about Page. Check it out. :D
Julia

[A.H.Black]

Paul Page was also the announcer for the Swimming World Championships in Intdianapolis in October. He was paired with Rowdy Gaines. During those broadcasts he started out sounding very unexperienced and mis-pronounced many of the names. To his credit, by the last broadcast he sounded much more seasoned. He developed a good announcing relationship with Rowdy and noticeably improved on pronouncing names.

If this is indeed his first time with Figure Skating, many of his blunders are very understandable. I believe he is professional enoungh to make great improvements if he continues to be the announcer for the Grand Prix events.

With ESPN having the contract for Grand Prix and Worlds, I don't think we can expect the same level of commitment to quality that we have received in the past. If there is a higher ratings event in conflict with a Grand Prix event, the higher rated announcer will be assigned accordingly.

The more we support figure skating the better coverage we will get. If we just keep complaning and complaining and complaining. (not this thread particularly, but many threads on many boards), the networks may begin to see Figure Skating as more trouble than it's worth. Especially if the ratings continue to be low.

When Grand Prix coverage began - as an entity - on Fox, the coverage was horrendous. I sincerely hope we won't have to go back to that.

[loveskating]

I didn't mind him...did wonder where Terry was. I don't recall anything awful he said? He asked questions but I think that is good...the viewing audience probably has similar questions.

I also love Paul Wylie's commentary...SOOOOO good!

[viennese]

I thought this Page, Pace, whoever he was, was dreadful, with an annoying droning voice. He sounded as though he was reading crib notes off index cards. No, not reading. Shouting! Like they made him stand far away from the microphone because they didn't like him.

Terry Gannon is a terrific announcer who sounds knowledgeable and spontaneous no matter what sport he's working on.

[7302005]

I figured he was shouting because his hearing was gone from being on the race car rounds. After I found out about the race car connection :roll:

I was extremely relieved that Paul did not make an announcement at the last televised event (Monday evening)