I guess there’s a pattern of sorts running through many blogs. This one won’t be any different. It’s not an obsession, but it’s not too far off one.
Like many sports fans in the UK, I have a love-hate relationship with TalkSport. We have a great appetite for all sports news but listening to the output is maddening. And Arsenal fans are enraged more than most. The anti-Arsenal bias from the likes of Durham, Quinn and Cundy (who calls himself the fun boy…..he’s in his 40’s) shouldn’t annoy me, but I bite far too easily. The world of sport is such a diverse world, with the potential for engaging, interactive shows.
But TalkSport predominantly focuses on the Premiership’s leading clubs and just trot out the tired, clichéd views. The fact that some of the shows have won Sony Awards, merely illustrates the decline of quality speech radio in the UK. TalkSport is easy radio, nothing challenging, no grey area. Everything is black and white. The England football team are either the best in the world or the worst team to take the field. No attempt to move the argument along, no scope for challenging convention, no room for sophisticated discussions of any kind.
Top of the bad guys is Alan Brazil. A free-loading, lazy, arrogant excuse for a broadcaster, who’s got the self-awareness of a flea. His outburst when a day at the Cheltenham Festival was cancelled due to high winds is a joy to listen to. For a host of the flagship radio sports breakfast show, he demonstrates little feeling for the majority of sports. He’s a horse racing fan, but has no time for mass participation sports like cycling. Probably this is due to the absence of any champagne tents at the top of Mount Ventoux. He has a dismissive view of Arsene Wenger, but jumps at the opportunity to dine out at the Diamond Suite at the Emirates. I doubt he ever takes in the game, just goes along for the free booze and food. I sense this is an area I’ll be returning to often.
Indeed, he spends most of his time plugging various bars and restaurants in London or some golf course up in Scotland. I guess Ofcom have given up warning Al for his indiscretions.
Anyway, I just can’t resist including the video below. Drink driving is naturally a serious issue. But not to Alan…..