Rugby

[Mark_Wafc]

Everyone takes the piss out of me at matches, as I never cheer or shout -- spent too many years in press boxes where any emotion is frowned on!

I had a Press Box upbringing in my formative Football years – my dad was Sports Editor of the Local Paper in Wigan and used to cover all the games, so I had to learn from an early age not to cheer if we scored when we played away!

Once I discovered singing and beer I never looked back!

He still works freelance for the odd game but i've not been in for a while!

The last Press Box I was in at Football was Gillingham about 5 years ago when I had a very nasty altercation with their Chairman!

If it was at Gillingham, I'm not surprised -- the guy's supposed to be barking. He bans everyone for the slightest reason!

Press boxes are dire places. I have a hit list of people I dislike, who were snotty about a woman covering rugby. One of the BBC blokes said: "Oh, I assumed you were someone's girlfriend!"

Correct, a very nasty incident indeed it was – mind you try as he might he didn’t manage to throw me out – I just went to the away end!

I think he took offence to me shouting “Take that Scally you fcuking crook” when we went 2 -1 up early in the 2nd half in reply to him giving us loads when they went 1 up early in the game!

[firehazard]

Press boxes are dire places. I have a hit list of people I dislike, who were snotty about a woman covering rugby. One of the BBC blokes said: "Oh, I assumed you were someone's girlfriend!"

It's appalling that you still get that attitude. Don't know whether to laugh or cry. Or to give a good slap (a metaphorical one, maybe). Actually the latter sounds like the best bet.

[Shaz]

The last Press Box I was in at Football was Gillingham about 5 years ago when I had a very nasty altercation with their Chairman!

If it was at Gillingham, I'm not surprised -- the guy's supposed to be barking. He bans everyone for the slightest reason!

Correct, a very nasty incident indeed it was – mind you try as he might he didn’t manage to throw me out – I just went to the away end!

I think he took offence to me shouting “Take that Scally you fcuking crook” when we went 2 -1 up early in the 2nd half in reply to him giving us loads when they went 1 up early in the game![/quote]

What a surprise. Not. I think he banned the local paper at one stage, and he tried to ban someone I know. The BBC have this really annoying thing, because they're too mean to pay people to provide coverage or even running scores, of ringing up the press box every half an hour and asking the score so they can broadcast it. The bloke I know got so arsed off with it that the next time it happened, he told them the home team were 4-0 down There was a big row about it, but the away team players backed him and said they'd make a fuss if he was banned.

[Bud Byrne]

And I'm still waiting for the sky to fall because of these poncy English games being let into Croke Park Never been there, but I was looking on the website and it looks like amazing facilities.[/quote]

I must admit I won't believe it myself until it happens. Just as well we have the french first. If God Save the Queen was the first anthem to be played there.......well. I have to admit I can't wait. I go to all the soccer internationals as well. Used to stand on the terrace but they are no more. It's going to be 80 euro a ticket as opposed to 25 for gold old landsdowne but then there will actually be facilities at croke park for the spectators. Hope the atmosphere does'nt change cause of the seating though but we shall see.

[Shaz]

Press boxes are dire places. I have a hit list of people I dislike, who were snotty about a woman covering rugby. One of the BBC blokes said: "Oh, I assumed you were someone's girlfriend!"

It's appalling that you still get that attitude. Don't know whether to laugh or cry. Or to give a good slap (a metaphorical one, maybe). Actually the latter sounds like the best bet.

It's improved a bit, I think, but there still aren't that many women on local papers -- most are TV 'names.'

Eddie Butler is a gentleman -- won't have a word said against him (and I'm usually snotty about all these ex-players suddenly becoming journalists overnight when half of them can't write their way out of paper bags )

[Shaz]

And I'm still waiting for the sky to fall because of these poncy English games being let into Croke Park Never been there, but I was looking on the website and it looks like amazing facilities.

I must admit I won't believe it myself until it happens. Just as well we have the french first. If God Save the Queen was the first anthem to be played there.......well. I have to admit I can't wait. I go to all the soccer internationals as well. Used to stand on the terrace but they are no more. It's going to be 80 euro a ticket as opposed to 25 for gold old landsdowne but then there will actually be facilities at croke park for the spectators. Hope the atmosphere does'nt change cause of the seating though but we shall see.

I had to explain to my mum on Sunday why there were two Irish anthems -- she couldn't understand why half the team weren't singing the first one

Yes, GSTQ ringing round Croke will be a moment to remember

[firehazard]

Eddie Butler is a gentleman -- won't have a word said against him (and I'm usually snotty about all these ex-players suddenly becoming journalists overnight when half of them can't write their way out of paper bags )

You actually can tell that he knows about the game when he's commentating. It makes a difference. With some of the ex-players, they seem to show so little insight that you wonder how they managed to play it.

[Shaz]

Eddie Butler is a gentleman -- won't have a word said against him (and I'm usually snotty about all these ex-players suddenly becoming journalists overnight when half of them can't write their way out of paper bags )

You actually can tell that he knows about the game when he's commentating. It makes a difference. With some of the ex-players, they seem to show so little insight that you wonder how they managed to play it.

Players tend to know very little about their game, which is scary. You could guarantee that if you asked someone why they'd been sent off, or given away a penalty, they wouldn't have the foggiest.

Half of the buggers can't write either. Eddie Butler can --he'd be in the press box for ages after a match really crafting what he was writing. Then you look at someone like Angus Fraser for the cricket, and fall asleep halfway through his piece

A mate of mine used to work on BBC Radio Leicester and Jonathan Agnew spent the winters with them actually learning how things worked. They sent him out on news and to court as well, apparently.

The TV summarisers make me want to throw something at the screen. There should be a law again Alan Shearer

[firehazard]

Half of the buggers can't write either. Eddie Butler can --he'd be in the press box for ages after a match really crafting what he was writing. Then you look at someone like Angus Fraser for the cricket, and fall asleep halfway through his piece

Well, Gus Fraser used to bore batsmen into getting out, didn't he? So it's just a talent he's developed down the years.

You'd somehow like to think that rugby (and cricket) "analysts" would be better than the footie ones. But sadly it's not often true. Ok, they're better than Shearer. But then my cat would be better than Shearer.

[Bud Byrne]

The TV summarisers make me want to throw something at the screen. There should be a law again Alan Shearer [/quote]

Oh Yeah. Nearly everyone on Sky makes me want to carry out acts of mindless violence. Jamie Redknapp just rots my h**e. We are quite lucky in Ireland that we have Johnny Giles & Liam Brady. They tell it exactly as they see it. None of that 'great game' crap when it's not. Giles hates diving and hence hates Ronaldo and Drogba and says as much. It makes for fantastic telly and he is only saying what every normal person is thinking. Can you imagine him on Sky.

We do have George Hook for the rugby and he just likes to say anything that will get people thick. But Grant Pope is there as well and he is excellent. Again, no shite, just good common sense.

[Shaz]

The TV summarisers make me want to throw something at the screen. There should be a law again Alan Shearer

Oh Yeah. Nearly everyone on Sky makes me want to carry out acts of mindless violence. Jamie Redknapp just rots my h**e. We are quite lucky in Ireland that we have Johnny Giles & Liam Brady. They tell it exactly as they see it. None of that 'great game' crap when it's not. Giles hates diving and hence hates Ronaldo and Drogba and says as much. It makes for fantastic telly and he is only saying what every normal person is thinking. Can you imagine him on Sky.

We do have George Hook for the rugby and he just likes to say anything that will get people thick. But Grant Pope is there as well and he is excellent. Again, no shite, just good common sense.

The standard of football commentary and summary generally is pants. I'd definitely hire Firehazard's cat Sometimes I'm very thankful that I don't have Sky

The worst by far is athletics. I'm sure Colin Jackson is a lovely guy, but the only person worse than him is the dreadful Sally Gunnell, and they finally gave her the push. I used to scream at the TV when they described her as a reporter and she appeared track-side asking the most inane questions. I have never recovered from that occasion where Kelly Holmes ranted about drug-taking after she'd been beaten into second or third place. Gunnell totally ignored this and started asking her some really trivial, bland question.

Thing is with all these summarisers is that most have played the game too recently and all the mates are still competing and they don't want to upset them. And I know people take the piss out of journalists, but you do need to be taught how to interview and how to write or to see what's a good story.

I've just finished reading Brian Viner's Ali, Pele, Lillee and Me and really recommend it if you are over 40 It's a nostalgic look at a sports-mad kid growing up in the 1970s who then became a journalist. He talks a lot about commentators, and it makes you realise just how good people like Richie Benaud and Peter O'Sullivan were.

[Bud Byrne]

There are not very many good commentators anymore. I love Alan Green on Five Live. He gets right into it like a real fan. I know they are supposed to be neutral but I prefer it when they get a little bit biased. Not to much though. We have a couple of good ones here. Again the rugby commentary on the radio, Michaal Corcoran, is smashing. Gets really, really, into it.

[firehazard]

The standard of football commentary and summary generally is pants. I'd definitely hire Firehazard's cat

She's expensive, but she's worth it. Very perceptive, she is. Though she is Welsh, and sometimes a bit biased...

I wouldn't want to be without Sky, simply because so much is only available on it. Some of the commentary/analysis is ok, but you're right, a lot of it is just not up to standard. Yes, partly it's the "old pals" act, I'd guess. But partly it's just a lack of insight and ability. There seem to be very few who are good enough both to have played the game and to comment intelligently on it.

I'll have to get that book. That was my dream job back in the 70s. Well, at the times when I wasn't wanting to be a rock star.

Oh, and Robinson is still writing his letter today, it seems...

[Niall]

And I'm still waiting for the sky to fall because of these poncy English games being let into Croke Park Never been there, but I was looking on the website and it looks like amazing facilities.

I must admit I won't believe it myself until it happens. Just as well we have the french first. If God Save the Queen was the first anthem to be played there.......well. I have to admit I can't wait. I go to all the soccer internationals as well. Used to stand on the terrace but they are no more. It's going to be 80 euro a ticket as opposed to 25 for gold old landsdowne but then there will actually be facilities at croke park for the spectators. Hope the atmosphere does'nt change cause of the seating though but we shall see.

I had to explain to my mum on Sunday why there were two Irish anthems -- she couldn't understand why half the team weren't singing the first one

Yes, GSTQ ringing round Croke will be a moment to remember :lol:

or to forget.
there isnt two irish anthems, only one, irelands call is just a rugby song

[firehazard]

Yes, GSTQ ringing round Croke will be a moment to remember :lol:

I was thinking that they ought to get Mr Lydon to lead the singing. And I don't mean Joe.