As sporting weekends go I'd say we just had a bit of a classic. Brilliant for the English sports fan and pretty damn good for the Scots too.
England beating Estonia in the football provided only 45 minutes of entertainment but the Rugby World Cup semi-final delivered a match full of drama and tension. Not quite as exciting as last Saturday's Quarter Final victory over Australia which was so ridiculously against the odds it was Roy of the Rovers stuff. (That's in the little known spin off strip, where Roy leaves Melchester Rovers and decides to try his hand at rugby instead. Y'know, for a change.)
But isn't it faintly ridiculous when the BBC tries to pretend that ITV aren't covering the rugby? Am I the only one blushing in sympathy with John Motson when he has to say something like, "Of course there's the Rugby World Cup semi-final against France this evening... I should think that's unmissable on Radio 5 Live..."
I love Radio 5 Live. I often listen to their coverage of sport when I'm working. But not when watching it on the tellybox is an option. Given that everyone who heard John Motson say those words was in front of a telly at the time... don't you reckon that most of them are the kind of people who might want to watch sport on TV... rather than listening to someone else watch it via the wireless?
Monday, October 15, 2007
Sport
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12 comments:
As much as 45...?!?
I cringed at that phrase also - it stuck out a mile. And it kind of... um, well it doesn't really fool anybody, does it? WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD BE ON THE TELLY.
Mind you to be fair he might have had a long drive home from Wembley, perhaps visiting some relatives in Scotland etc. Then he would have had to listen on Five Live.
i actually listened to the commentary on the radio with the pics from the telly. 5live commentary team miles better than itv's!
motty however is rubbish
in all seriousness I listened to 5 live (you must have heard the legendary Ian Robertsons commentary) and watched the telly it was in synch and sounded awesome. Matt dawson was doing his nut and it all added to the tension which was high enough anyway. radio commentary is ace dont forget how many tuned into 5 live last year during the world cup when the BBC gave them the choice of commentary!
I always listen to the radio commentary while watching sport... unless 'Greeny' is on. Motson is just a moron.
I agree that listening to the radio while watching the telly can be ace... but that isn't quite what Motty was suggesting.
And while the general commentary on ITV isn't as good as 5Live I do enjoy the eccentricity of Will Greenwood's pitchside contributions. Not great when he's in the commentary box - as he was for the England/France game but when he's the excited fan at the side of the pitch - as he was for the England/Australia game - he's good value.
Pah, Rugby. Meh, England.
Alba gu bragh!
Incidentally, we agreed in the pub that Will Greenwood is Lance Percival in disguise.
I suspect this might be one of those instances when actually he doesn't look anything like him when sober.
At least it's not as bad as Sky Sports News where they rarely acknowledge any sporting events that they don't have the coverage to.
I must admit, I do like to listen to BBC Radio Manchester whilst at the City of Manchester Stadium watching the game...
But as you said, Dave, that's not what Motty was suggesting.
this is so true Dave (may I call you Dave? well, actually it doesnt matter if it matters as I already called you Dave and now its too late to change it), but its so true anyway. I truly believe that "they" truly believe that "we" are a little stupid.
Couldn't agree more with your sentiments and made the same point at
http://pgstips.blogspot.com/2007/10/hey-john-motson-sometimes-i-watch-itv.html
i wouild really rather not listen to alan green at all
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