Is Jay Helfert rooting for Europe?
- Thread starter cashin
- Start date
Didn't notice any such thing.
I have not picked up on this bias. He knows all of these guys and it will not make him any less patriotic IMHO.
I would doubt that seriously.
I havent picked up on it myself. I think hes done a great job commentating.
His voice goes up way higher when team Europe does well and he swallows the microphone when team USA does well. That's how it sounds to me.
Jay's cool-
Jay did stick up for the USA in a correct call on a close 5 ball hit- where jay commented on the forward direction the 8 ball moved - and Jay was spot on. Hatch beat himself shooting a risky 5,9 combo instead of the 5 straight and . and Hatch had it all to win and DOGGED his brains out. You could blame the ref-(for stopping play with 4 balls left . but Hatch was slow playing it too much. Bring it home Jesse- at the hot seat match at Big Dogs. mark
Jay did stick up for the USA in a correct call on a close 5 ball hit- where jay commented on the forward direction the 8 ball moved - and Jay was spot on. Hatch beat himself shooting a risky 5,9 combo instead of the 5 straight and . and Hatch had it all to win and DOGGED his brains out. You could blame the ref-(for stopping play with 4 balls left . but Hatch was slow playing it too much. Bring it home Jesse- at the hot seat match at Big Dogs. mark
Ill pay more attention tomorrow.
Could it be possible that he doesn't want to seem overly biased towards the USA team? I didn't notice anything except one of his broadcast partner seems to be talking over him much more today. Maybe an ego thing. There could be pressure from Sky Sports too.
Yeap, alstl - the WAR is over for today.
And yes, Europe is leading 8 - 6 :thumbup:
Eric"h" ----- things Jay is an awesome guy and great commentator
I think Jay is trying to do what a good commentator is suppose to do, stay in the middle. Is that wrong? No it isn't.
I would love him to stay in the middle. That's not what I hear.
It is what it is. In your ears, he's for Europe.
Maybe he did bet on them. That's his choice.
I'm enjoying the play. I'm not really listening to who they are rooting for. The Europeans announcers have made it very clear.
Maybe he did bet on them. That's his choice.
I'm enjoying the play. I'm not really listening to who they are rooting for. The Europeans announcers have made it very clear.
To answer the first question, I'm not betting on either team. But as I said earlier I have made a small wager on the "over". If the final match result is 11-8 or closer I win this bet. It doesn't matter which team wins.
I do have friends (all of them) on both teams, and I have no favorite that I want to see win. I want the best team, who handles the immense pressure of this event and performs the best to win, as it should be.
I'm thoroughly enjoying the great pool and the fantastic matches we've seen so far. If I get a little more emotional sometimes, it's because of something that's happening during the course of the match. This could happen while either team is at the table.
I will admit I like the unbounded enthusiasm of Team Europe, and feel it's my job to report on that. And the vociferous crowd is unlike anything I've ever seen at any pool tournament, and I likewise feel the need to talk about that. By the same token, when members of Team USA have supported their partners I have mentioned that as well. This is a very difficult atmosphere for the members of Team USA to perform under, but they have been fighting hard all three days to hold onto the Cup. I've felt all along if they fall behind they will be in trouble. Being behind 8-6 going into the final day puts them in a big hole imo.
A couple of other things that could have made the OP feel that I'm leaning toward Team Europe. I've talked about Dennis Hatch voluntarily playing the "villain" role for Team USA. But he seems to relish this role, and he and the fans are having fun with it. If you watch carefully, you will see the same guys who are booing Dennis, giving him high fives when he comes out to play. This is kind of the "English" way of having fun, similar to what goes on at many football (soccer) matches over here. Believe me these fans respect Dennis and his ability and his willingness to mix it up with them when he shouts right back at them.
This is a country where the most rugged athletes (rugby players, footballers, boxers) are the most admired. Dennis is their kind of guy, a fighter and a warrior. He would be the first guy they invite to the pub after it is all over!
I do have friends (all of them) on both teams, and I have no favorite that I want to see win. I want the best team, who handles the immense pressure of this event and performs the best to win, as it should be.
I'm thoroughly enjoying the great pool and the fantastic matches we've seen so far. If I get a little more emotional sometimes, it's because of something that's happening during the course of the match. This could happen while either team is at the table.
I will admit I like the unbounded enthusiasm of Team Europe, and feel it's my job to report on that. And the vociferous crowd is unlike anything I've ever seen at any pool tournament, and I likewise feel the need to talk about that. By the same token, when members of Team USA have supported their partners I have mentioned that as well. This is a very difficult atmosphere for the members of Team USA to perform under, but they have been fighting hard all three days to hold onto the Cup. I've felt all along if they fall behind they will be in trouble. Being behind 8-6 going into the final day puts them in a big hole imo.
A couple of other things that could have made the OP feel that I'm leaning toward Team Europe. I've talked about Dennis Hatch voluntarily playing the "villain" role for Team USA. But he seems to relish this role, and he and the fans are having fun with it. If you watch carefully, you will see the same guys who are booing Dennis, giving him high fives when he comes out to play. This is kind of the "English" way of having fun, similar to what goes on at many football (soccer) matches over here. Believe me these fans respect Dennis and his ability and his willingness to mix it up with them when he shouts right back at them.
This is a country where the most rugged athletes (rugby players, footballers, boxers) are the most admired. Dennis is their kind of guy, a fighter and a warrior. He would be the first guy they invite to the pub after it is all over!
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You figure by some inflection you think you hear (although nobody is yet to agree with you) in Jay's voice that Jay is pulling for Europe and then you take that further to lead you to the belief that Jay has a bet on Europe? Does that sum it up?
Just trying to understand.
Thanks
Kevin
Jay
It is a tough situation playing against that very vocal crowd. I think I understand what Hatch was doing trying to "fight back", but he might have gotten himself a little over-amped. You got to find a balance there and its a delicate balance and that's a tough situation to feel delicate or balanced in so I don't blame him.
I envy you over there seeing that stuff first hand. It sure seems exciting and I'll bet it is.
Thanks
Kevin
I like that the Mosconi Cup has grown to be such an emotionally charged event. When it first got started I kind of wrote it off as a made-for-tv exhibition with trumped up excitement. Now in my eyes it has become a truly prestigious event with a lot of pride mixed in.
And the competitors fight hard and take it seriously. Throughout the year their thoughts are getting onto the Mosconi Cup team and that in itself is a great thing to have professionals having such a goal in mind.
Jay is a consumate professional when it comes to the commentary. He will comment on any aspect of the competition as he sees it without reservation. He is also a highly respected member here. He has no obligation to root for America or for Europe. In Jay's heart he is always rooting for POOL and for anything that grows pool.
And the competitors fight hard and take it seriously. Throughout the year their thoughts are getting onto the Mosconi Cup team and that in itself is a great thing to have professionals having such a goal in mind.
Jay is a consumate professional when it comes to the commentary. He will comment on any aspect of the competition as he sees it without reservation. He is also a highly respected member here. He has no obligation to root for America or for Europe. In Jay's heart he is always rooting for POOL and for anything that grows pool.
I've been watching all three days and I have not heard any bias by the announcers. I have heard a few 'catch phrases' that are getting a little tiresome (ie. "he couldn't have placed that better with his hand") but other than that it has been great!