He stated the same himself and said he was often half-drunk during his time in the booth. When he quit drinking in his later years he stated he was often unprepared and sometimes didn't know what was going on at all.
Pat was a host announcer. The tennis detail goes to Tony Trabert and Virginia Wade. But don't think that he was the only guy drinking. Some can hide it a bit better. Pat helped this novice fan want to listen to the broadcast because he knew how to get out of his way and let Tony, John, Virginia and Mary do their thing. When Pat started there were drinkers so he could talk to them socially and get insights but when players started to do coke and weed, he didn't bother and stuck to formal interview which were boring due to lack of preparation for the top players but players like Jo Ann Russell were more sociable. Then when the fitness craze hit in the 80's from Martina and Ivan, he wasn't going there. With football, he hung around the linemen who drank. But I do say the 1981 semis between Martina and Chris and the finals was his finest moment as well as the men's final between McEnroe and Borg. Very professional but warm and friendly.
No disrespect intended at all, either to your comment or to Pat Summerall, but I've been watching professional tennis (mostly the women) since the early 1980s, and Mr. Summerall is one of the least tennis-knowledgeable and least verbally attractive tennis commentators there have ever been. I can still hear him in my head just echoing the score that the umpire would say on the changeovers, without any real tennis insight. He may be one of the best commentators in OTHER sports but not tennis.
This is awesome!! Need to do this for all the USOpen matchs through the 80s for her. Love to see the early round matches that you often miss.
Thx for posting
He stated the same himself and said he was often half-drunk during his time in the booth. When he quit drinking in his later years he stated he was often unprepared and sometimes didn't know what was going on at all.
At 9:15, when John Newcombe in the announcer’s booth says he wants Lynda Carter as his mixed doubles partner, you know he's not talking about tennis.
Pat was a host announcer. The tennis detail goes to Tony Trabert and Virginia Wade. But don't think that he was the only guy drinking. Some can hide it a bit better. Pat helped this novice fan want to listen to the broadcast because he knew how to get out of his way and let Tony, John, Virginia and Mary do their thing. When Pat started there were drinkers so he could talk to them socially and get insights but when players started to do coke and weed, he didn't bother and stuck to formal interview which were boring due to lack of preparation for the top players but players like Jo Ann Russell were more sociable. Then when the fitness craze hit in the 80's from Martina and Ivan, he wasn't going there. With football, he hung around the linemen who drank. But I do say the 1981 semis between Martina and Chris and the finals was his finest moment as well as the men's final between McEnroe and Borg. Very professional but warm and friendly.
Is Pat Summerall still alive? Haven't heard from him in years.
What?! No finals
No disrespect intended at all, either to your comment or to Pat Summerall, but I've been watching professional tennis (mostly the women) since the early 1980s, and Mr. Summerall is one of the least tennis-knowledgeable and least verbally attractive tennis commentators there have ever been. I can still hear him in my head just echoing the score that the umpire would say on the changeovers, without any real tennis insight. He may be one of the best commentators in OTHER sports but not tennis.