I watch too much sport. Far too much. Sport is the only thing on my TV. I’m sure I take many top sporting events for granted. I take a passing interest and really don’t really invest any take emotion to the outcome (except when Arsenal play Chelsea). But last night was different.
Category: Sport
What does a guy do on such nights??
With adding BT Sports to the Sky Sports package, it’s all well and good having access to a range of top level sports. But I only have one pair of eyes and only one television. This is developing into a major issue.
Happy memories of a bygone era
We all love a bit of nostalgia and football fans of my age are no different. In this sanitised, dispassionate, greed-is-good world of top-level football, it’s heart-warming and a little sad to be be reminded of how it used to be.
BT Sport has a series called PlayBack and it broadcasts games from the 70s and 80s. The game was completely different in that era and being a football fan during the 80s was often a chastening experience. Football hooliganism, awful facilities and decidedly poor quality fare (especially if you were an Arsenal fan) was commonplace. But looking back, I enjoyed myself immensely. It was raw, honest and a whole lot of fun for an impressionable youngster.
“Paying the wages of Michael Owen??”
That was the reaction of one of my friends when I told them I had just signed up with BT Sport for the next 18 months. My reply was, well you pay for the wages of Steve Claridge and Garth Crooks when paying your TV licence.
It works out that I’ll be paying at extra £10 per month. I spent in excess of that watching us beat Chelsea on Sunday. I’ll still head out to the pub for the big games, but it there are many reason for wanting BT Sport, in addition to my Sky Sports package. Having access to the extra Premiership games, as well as the FA Cup will be great on occasions. And I’m a huge fan of Italian football, so watching the Rome derby on a Sunday evening will be the perfect end to a weekend. But the real jewel of the crown is the Champions League games. I just couldn’t face the prospect of missing out on watching Europe’s finest (and Manchester United) in action after a day at work.
A perfect day in the sun
The day spent at Lord’s exceeded even my lofty expectations. It might not have been the most exciting day’s play but it was great sporting theatre.
The venue undoubtedly added to the spectacle. I worked at Lord’s for a brief few years back in the 90’s, so I was familiar with many of the special nuances of the place. But even I was impressed by the magnificence of the ground. The place looked majestic.
An event needing a marketing makeover
It occurred to me as I stumbled across the highlights of the 20/20 game between Hampshire and Glamorgan when channel surfing, that generally, we often make a pretty poor attempt at marketing our top level sports.
You can’t help but compare our short over competition with the IPL in India and the Big Bash in Australia. They really know how to promote the event globally. I readily concede that the world’s stars were tempted by the big salaries to play in those competitions. The TV revenues far exceed the sums Sky are paying for our competition. But maybe there lies the problem. We need to get some momentum behind the T20 blast. A real desire to invest in the tournament and to back our ability to compete with the rival competitions.
‘I’ve fallen in love with the course’
I think Jay Townsend, ex-USPGA golfer, may be in a small minority following his verdict on Chambers Bay.
On the whole, it was a enjoyable US Open. It’s always interesting to view people leave their comfort zone in any walk of life, but it’s fascinating to see multi-millionaire golfers hacking around the fairways and missing a succession of 6ft putts. I’m sure all the controversy surrounding the course boosted global viewing figures.
Tiger Woods horror show
Watching a once great golfer decline into the ranks of amateur duffers is both acutely uncomfortable and addictive viewing.
I needed to be up early for meetings this morning, but I was up until the early hours looking at Woods’ attempt to hit a 100 yard wide fairways with his driver. It was compelling TV for all the wrong reasons. His form going into this week was wretched and Woods must have approached such a difficult course with a great deal of trepidation.
‘Get ready for a broken ** arm.’
A charming comment directed at Jimmy Anderson from the Australian cricket captain Michael Clark, during the heat of the most recent Ashes Test series.
The quote suddenly came to me during another fantastic confrontation between the marvellous New Zealanders and a rejuvenated England. The competition is intense, challenging and demanding for all the players. Yet the game is played with a great deal of mutual respect and in an excellent spirit. Top level sports at it’s finest.
Watching the Women’s World Cup?
Women’s World Cup is full swing in Canada and already it’s getting more coverage than ever.
Credit to the BBC who have devoted a fair amount of resources to covering the event. Though this may largely be down to the cost of securing the rights and the lack of competition from the likes of Sky and BT Sport.