ESPN Today

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Grits

Damn, I didn't know they were sacking Hank. Mayne, yes; but I had no idea about Hank.

That's fine, Moss and Bailey can carry the whole deal. It's Charlsie Cantey that I do miss.

Wait now so is this not a temporary thing with no Kenny? He's just not gonna be around at all? I know some don't feel his sense of humor but I always liked him a lot. Not for opinions on the horses or any kind of polish, just for my own amusement. If comedian Steven Wright was on lots and lots of speed and tried to be a tv commentator you'd get Kenny Mayne: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lQbgIY5g7Q http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...comedian&hl=en Seriously it's weird that this guy reminds me of him but he does and I can't change it--don't you hate that? If it helps, pretend Kenny's really stoned and don't look at each vid while it's running. Just listen.

What's Kenny up to then? I do think Randy and Jerry make a good team. I honestly don't think some folks would be satisfied with a commentator unless they did the pick 6 for them and it paid 'em a great deal of money every single time. Hank always sounded like he was so nervous to be on tv that he was holding his breath--I know, I sound like that myself if I get so tense in a conversation that I forget to exhale and inhale normally. You realize your voice is coming out as if through a straw.

I vote for Kenny, in a sport that's clearly on the wane, you need a sardonic voice.

As for Hank, yes, it's ludicrous to think he is a professional handicapper who touts AP Warrior for the public, either that or he is one of the greats, sucking the public in and clearly getting a good price on his real horses. Brilliant Hank. BUt actually if you listen closely to him and sort of read between the lines, he actually is cuing you into what's really going on. I cant recall exactly but several times last year he would say "this horse isnt training well" or "leave in the bottom of exotics" or whatever w/o saying this horse sucks, but you could figure it out. He prolly really does know his stuff..

As noted above, he is clearly too self conscious for TV. I was watching last years Preakness, this evening and came to the part where Privman, Jerardi, Moss and Hank are all handicapping this with like $1000 pretend money and Hank calls out some trifecta and when he gets to the bottom picks he looks down and reads from his cue card: Barbaro, Bernadini, etc.

He must have realized how awful it looked so immediately at the end he adds.."I hope I got all that."

[Bogey]

Originally Posted by easy goer

I vote for Kenny, in a sport that's clearly on the wane, you need a sardonic voice.

As for Hank, yes, it's ludicrous to think he is a professional handicapper who touts AP Warrior for the public, either that or he is one of the greats, sucking the public in and clearly getting a good price on his real horses. Brilliant Hank. BUt actually if you listen closely to him and sort of read between the lines, he actually is cuing you into what's really going on. I cant recall exactly but several times last year he would say "this horse isnt training well" or "leave in the bottom of exotics" or whatever w/o saying this horse sucks, but you could figure it out. He prolly really does know his stuff..

As noted above, he is clearly too self conscious for TV. I was watching last years Preakness, this evening and came to the part where Privman, Jerardi, Moss and Hank are all handicapping this with like $1000 pretend money and Hank calls out some trifecta and when he gets to the bottom picks he looks down and reads from his cue card: Barbaro, Bernadini, etc.

He must have realized how awful it looked so immediately at the end he adds.."I hope I got all that."

Hank is a full time radio sports show host in Miami and mainly concentrates on the NFL. He does not follow the game day in and day out. There are so many more educated horse racing fans these day that he simply gets exposed. A few years ago a caller told Hank that Budha came home the last eight in 12 seconds flat in a 1 1/16 race. Hank responded by saying that talented colts run an eighth in 10 seconds. Don't let this guy fool you, he's a buffoon from the word go. He's not one of Randy Moss's favorite.

[Uncle Daddy]

To make the hammer out to be the voice of gamblers is a joke. I'd rather get touts from Pete Rose since he loves the track

ACtually Larry King might be better for touts. Picking Birdstone at the Belmont, that took guts.

Originally Posted by Bogey

. Hank responded by saying that talented colts run an eighth in 10 seconds. .

Well sure really talented colts do run an eight in ten seconds.

Like Wilbur and that one with the wings what's his name...?

They are still going to need more than Moss, Jerry and Jeanine, they need comic relief badly. Kenny did that pretty well.

Do you think it was the "How do Horses Breed" piece on BC day that finally put Kenny over the top w/ ESPN management? That was a little out there. I found it funny but probably Mrs. Blueblood watching the BC with her horsie friends didnt find it so amusing...

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by easy goer

ACtually Larry King might be better for touts. Picking Birdstone at the Belmont, that took guts.



Well sure really talented colts do run an eight in ten seconds.

Like Wilbur and that one with the wings what's his name...?

They are still going to need more than Moss, Jerry and Jeanine, they need comic relief badly. Kenny did that pretty well.

Do you think it was the "How do Horses Breed" piece on BC day that finally put Kenny over the top w/ ESPN management? That was a little out there. I found it funny but probably Mrs. Blueblood watching the BC with her horsie friends didnt find it so amusing...

ESPN had the video link to "How do Horses Breed" on their website for awhile. The music was SOOO perfect...absolutely hilarious.