Every sport has its voices that make on-field action that much more exciting, commentators who liven the sport. They’re often entertaining and add humour to the proceedings of what may perhaps be a serious fight to the death.
Sometimes, commentators are hilarious – and get carried away while they are reporting.
Here are 5 occasions commentators got enthusiastic and verbose:
Gary Neville, Chelsea vs Barcelona
The Sky Sports commentator was at the microphone at the 2012 Champions League semifinal between Chelsea and FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou. Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez had paved the way for Andres Iniesta to take Barcelona up 2-0 against the visitors, in a match that looked completely unwinnable for Di Matteo’s men.
Ramires would score only two minutes later to bring Chelsea to 1-2 against FC Barcelona, but it was not until extra time that it looked at all possible for Chelsea to make up. Striker Fernando Torres chipped in with a shocker to equalize the score at 2-2 – and Neville was among those completely shocked.
Chelsea went into the final on aggregate goal score – and Neville was more than a little excited.
He later blamed the outburst on a sore throat, tweeting a picture of Strepsils as he claimed to be recovering at home.
Robbie Koenig, Roger Federer vs Novak Djokovic
The longtime tennis commentator and analyst is a mainstay across the ATP and WTA calendars, and lends his lively commentary to every match. He is also regarded as an insightful, astute analyst – but is, first and foremost, a color commentator.
On this occasion, Koenig was commentating at a match of the greats at the BNL Internazional Italia, with GOAT Roger Federer taking on World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who was a set and a game up.
With the pair at deuce, Federer pulled off a perfect backhand – one that earned him plaudits from an admiring Koenig on air.
Ray Hudson, FC Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao
Retired English footballer Ray Hudson has spent the last number of years behind the microphone, and has been an unabashed supporter of FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi despite this.
Hudson is known for being one of the most enthusiastic football pundits and has gained a reputation for colourful, descriptive commentary that not many others might even be able to conceptualise.
On this occasion, FC Barcelona were playing Atletico Bilbao on Bilbao’s home ground, and fan and Hudson favourite Lionel Messi starred yet again. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner took a stunning goal, one that the colourful, imaginative Hudson painted an extremely vivid picture of.
Danny Morrison, Sri Lanka vs Pakistan
Morrison is one of the most excitable voices in cricket, and prone to outbursts of glee, disappointment or incredulity. It is more surprising to see Morrison silent than anything else, and this time former New Zealand bowler coined a unique turn of phrase to describe the match.
Watching Afridi send a flier into the stands, a hyper Morrison exclaimed it was “so high it has an airhostess on it!”
Murray Walker
Walker is one of Formula One’s most well-known and loved commentators. He coined several phrases that became so closely associated with him that they came to be known as ‘Murrayisms’, most notably ‘1..2..3.. GO GO GO!”.
The English motorsport journalist’s commentary was the highlight of races for nearly 60 years – from 1949 until 2005, when he chose, at the age of 81, to retire.
Speaking about a head injury during a race, Walker said something about giving Michael Schumacher even the smallest of distances.
