He’s Like a Big Beautiful Zombie
Whatever you think of GOLTV’s geordie commentator Ray Hudson’s sometimes infuriating and always bombastic commentary, you couldn’t ask for any more than his description of Riquelme in a Copa America game this week (note: obviously not the final).
Matador – Look at him, so languid. Look at him walking. He’s like a big beautiful zombie. Like a big beautiful zombie. He just strolls around languid like smoke off a cigarette. And he’ll just jump out and draw your blood.
Classic. I feel like if more Americans heard Hudson regularly, some would surely despise soccer even more, but some might also come to appreciate just how it inspires the borderline-insane ramblings of Ray Hudson.
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‘Rocky’ left Newcastle United around 1977 and went off to play in the States, didn’t realise he was now working in the media, not bad for a kid from Gateshead.
Really, you like Ray Hudson? I thought as a Brit you’d be ashamed by his inane ramblings. I personally find him incredibly annoying and not particularly perceptive about the game, players, tactics, etc. Perhaps if he spent a little less time coming up with “creative” commentary and more on prepping for his commentary, he’d do a better job.
At least he’s better than Phil Schoen, who doesn’t even come up with interesting statements.
Actually, I really enjoy Ray Hudson. I just wish I had such an inexhaustible supply of strange metaphors.
Easy to criticise Hudson but he does bring a lot of passion for the game to an audience that doesn’t associate football with exciting entertainment.
http://rayhudsonmustdie.blogspot.com
From the Peru game:
(after Riquelme scores his second goal to make it 4-0)
Schoen: Is he still the riddle, the enigma, the puzzle?
Hudson: For you, evidently, because you keep asking this and I keep telling you — he’s Einstein, man. He’s from the stars. Just love him. Anybody that doesn’t see it … I really, truly feel sorry for ya, Phil.
Schoen: Just wondering why it doesn’t work in La Liga.
Hudson: Oh, he only got Villarreal to the semifinals of the Champions League basically on his own. And that’s not good enough for you either, cos your STINKING Arsenal beat them.
Schoen: …
Instant classic.
David – I have a love/hate relationship with Hudson. On the one hand, I admire his passion and sometimes his wordplay: he clearly really loves beautiful football, and it bursts out of him.
On the other, he can be extremely grating, and interrupts the game constantly with his shrieks, which is why I said he was “sometimes infuriating”. Maybe often infuriating.
Yet that still beats a Trevor Brooking snoozefest for me, and if he just made his outbursts a little more selective, he’d have more appeal. To be honest I don’t expect tactical insights from my announcers, especially when they can’t see more of the game than I can anyway (not their fault their watching it in Florida).
Matth – agreed entirely on Phil Schoen. He’s terrible.
E – nice find!
Gaffer – wow, didn’t know that site existed, good to see it.
Actually, Schoen’s grown on me too, although mainly because of his performance during the Uruguay Brazil semi last week. He was genuinely elated when Uruguay made it 2-2. Of course, I suppose this is in stark contrast to the routine of trying to compare a dull 0-0 between Betis and Espanyol with the 1970 Italy Germany semi-final week in, week out.
Ray does sometimes grate, but I love that he’s so obviously biased towards a certain kind of football, and a certain type of footballer. And I love his one man campaign on Riquelme’s behalf.
Living in Italy, I don’t get to hear Hudson, but he was one of the more entertaining players in the NASL and definitely one of the better interviews. He also seemed genuinely committed to establishing roots in Florida, something he has obviously succeeded at.
I would be surprised if he takes himself that seriously; there was always more than a bit of the Geordie entertainer in his act.
And as Linda notes, anyone that champions the Riquelme cause cannot be that bad.
I hope Riquelme stays in Boca, the atmosphere in south american stadiums are like no other and also great to watch the football!
Maybe Ray should get together with John Madden? That would be a fun game to listen to
It is a funny suggestion that Ray combines with John Madden, absolutely! However, to be honest, these pictures reminds me of some bad senses.