Billy Incardona - Short Rant

JCIN said:
There are several threads that have Billy I as the best commentator in the game. For every person that says Ken or Bobby sucks there is one who says they are great. What would you do? Who would you listen to?

The valid criticism I have seen is that the commentators are not getting out the info on standings and match implications that are needed in this format. We are working on that for the 8 ball.

If a commentator says something dumb that happens. It happens with guys who are paid millions to talk into a mic. I have never understood the idea that pool streams being watched by a few hundred people and produced on a budget equal to that of a low end used car are held to standards of network television. Yet some people love to rail on how on how guys making less than the dude who serves them their coffee at Starbucks is an unprofessional hack who is killing the magnificent game of pool.
Click to expand...


Some feedback has merit, some does not. Some criticism is legitimate while others BS. Some issues are easy to fix others nearly impossible. I am certainly not expecting a network level production for a stream that generates a fraction of the revenue. However, many of these issues are easy to solve with a five minute conversation between you (or the producer) and the commentator. Other issues can be solved with just a little extra effort...e.g. providing your commentators with a one page player profile sheet complete with name pronunciations.

But I get it, all of this takes additional resources. And resources are always limited. So if you and CSI truly believe that you are producing the best possible product for the available resources, then enough said.
 
Most all pool players that are or were great players think they would be a Great color commentator. But until your in the booth and under fire, like a stand up comic (or in match play with Efren so to speak), you'll never truly know your skill, we all learn ''under fire''. If this job paid well, and the business model was able to hire talent like they did during the Camel Pro series....matters would be completely different. But remember, these players are playing for Cash, not History like the evolution of other sporting events, so it is what it is. If this part of the production was THAT important, the business model would at least' pre test it's commentators with a voice over of some match play and then pick who's best, but there's no money. If there was, an educated/schooled/career minded commentator would be in place.
 
Last edited:
Billy is my favorite commentator in the business. And I'm sick and tired of all this PC crap. Bottom line if you don't like the show, don't watch it. The market will settle itself. I'm just sick and tired of people making a mountain out of a mole hill with words. I didn't see the Asian players falling over from the indignanty of this terrible insult. Get a life.
 
BJTyler said:
Some feedback has merit, some does not. Some criticism is legitimate while others BS. Some issues are easy to fix others nearly impossible. I am certainly not expecting a network level production for a stream that generates a fraction of the revenue. However, many of these issues are easy to solve with a five minute conversation between you (or the producer) and the commentator. Other issues can be solved with just a little extra effort...e.g. providing your commentators with a one page player profile sheet complete with name pronunciations.

But I get it, all of this takes additional resources. And resources are always limited. So if you and CSI truly believe that you are producing the best possible product for the available resources, then enough said.
Click to expand...

I agree that things can be improved. We are always trying to do better. I will say that some things which should be simple are not. That little fact is one of the most maddening things I deal with.

We are looking at the feedback here and paying attention. More attention to some and less at others but we want to produce events people want to watch and we are trying to improve.
 
justin you work too hard to let these guys beat you up...who cares what billy said..it was an error or a bad joke...no one here ever made one of those
 
JCIN said:
I agree that things can be improved. We are always trying to do better. I will say that some things which should be simple are not. That little fact is one of the most maddening things I deal with.

We are looking at the feedback here and paying attention. More attention to some and less at others but we want to produce events people want to watch and we are trying to improve.
Click to expand...

You know this game as much as anyone, and you know the streaming game more than everyone except maybe Pat, I guess.

You make the call, and you will be right. The rest of the people who complain... like they know.
 
scttybee said:
justin you work too hard to let these guys beat you up...
Click to expand...

It is not lost upon many of us that of all the people from CSI it is Justin that is here actually responding to the fans and customers.

I don't know about other people but the LAST thing I would want to do is beat up Justin, he is one of the best this sport has. Plus to beat him up or even try to... me and my whopping 5 foot 5 frame standing next to him would be a comical picture indeed. I would call my ambulance before we began because I know how I would end up...
 
Billy really should know better; he spent quite a bit of time in Chicago, where Hall of Fame announcer Harry Caray NEVER mispronounced a name or made a single off color comment. Unbunch your panties fellas, sheesh :rolleyes:
 
I've grown to appreciate and respect Billy I. over the years and I'm sure he's as embarrassed as anyone would be. I've the capacity to forgive, forget and move on and I'm sure Billy has moved on, too. :smile:
 
We need to move on..,

HereWeGo said:
At the end of last nights matches Billy Incardona said something that has been bugging me this morning. He couldn't figure out how to say the Ko brothers names so he called one of them "Ping Pong." Of course he quickly tried to cover it up by saying he was just joking. Joking or not I feel it was in very poor taste and unacceptable. Here we have Team CSI trying to provide great names from across the world and the commentators can't even take the time to learn their names. It's bad enough that they don't have an understanding of the tournament format. End rant.
Click to expand...


If Billy is the best Pool has to offer, we are in trouble. He knows the game, but is out of touch, we need to find a new way to talk the game.
 
JCIN said:
There are several threads that have Billy I as the best commentator in the game. For every person that says Ken or Bobby sucks there is one who says they are great. What would you do? Who would you listen to?

The valid criticism I have seen is that the commentators are not getting out the info on standings and match implications that are needed in this format. We are working on that for the 8 ball.

If a commentator says something dumb that happens. It happens with guys who are paid millions to talk into a mic. I have never understood the idea that pool streams being watched by a few hundred people and produced on a budget equal to that of a low end used car are held to standards of network television. Yet some people love to rail on how on how guys making less than the dude who serves them their coffee at Starbucks is an unprofessional hack who is killing the magnificent game of pool.
Click to expand...

The first thing I thought when I read the op's post describing how Billy Incardona caught himself right away after saying "Ping Pong" and then saying it was just a joke was, 'oh good, Billy knew he messed up.

Then I thought, it would be nice if everyone were able to cut a man a break when he messes up, especially when it's a guy who has done so much for our sport and the mess up isn't a capital offense.

Finally, I thought that anyone who didn't think Billy & Grady were brilliant commenators must not have been listening to the same accu-stats matches I have been.

best,
brian kc
 
People are wrapped too tight these days. Go to a comedy show, sit in the front row, have a drink, relax, the comedian picks you out but you think he is picking on you, you leave, you cry.
 
I love listening to Billy, Grady and Danny. Realize they represent an era where pool was much more significant than today. As for the name comment, we have all said things in error that we regret. To critique grammar? Read the posts here on AZ. When was the last time you were in a pool hall and heard correct grammar? It is what it is....unless you are saying you woud rather hear Bob Costas and Keith Oberman. I do not think anyone here has the blood pressure to stand that.
Have a good week everyone .
 
Celtic said:
Billy I made a bad comment, he is still one of the best.

What would I do? Get Billy I into the booth, and beg borrow and steal (mostly beg) Joe Rogan to join as the color commentator to Billy I's knowledge based commentary as the perfect one two punch of commentating perfection.

And compared to Ken and Bob one guy that is a solid commentator that KNOWS less is more is... you. You speak just about the perfect amount and at the right times and you know the game well enough to know what you are talking about. You and Joe in the booth would probably also be great, not quite as much knowledge as having Billy there but the amount of comments would be right and both of you have the right presence on the mic.
Click to expand...

Joe Rogain? Now I've seen it all. He's a terrible commentator. Worried about a racist comment Incardona made, wait until you realize Rogan literally describes every black guy as "athletic and explosive." Worst, most biased commentator in MMA, and I doubt he would bring anything to pool, except maybe his usual bias to certain individuals.
 
New fresh commentators

It is time to add new commentators that are in touch with the current pool scene! For example Tony and Gail Robles or JT and Ali from NYCgrind. They bring a fresh perspective to the game. I am 60 years old and don't need to be reminded of things that happened in the 60's, 70's and 80's. Also, many of the younger generation which is the future of pool could care less about Billy's or Cotton's stories or having to listen to them between matches, when they think the microphone is off, talking about Shane dogging it against Ko Pin-Yi!

Respectfully

Wedge
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top