Gender
Today, Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys and commentator Andy Gray have been criticised over their sexist comments aimed at Sian Massey. She was one of the linesmen (or lines person if you'd like to be politically correct) for the Saturday's clash between Wolves and Liverpool. Liverpool won 3-0.
But before the game, Keys and Gray who have been a common feature for Sky Sports since the introduction of the Premier League in 1992 made pre-judgements of Miss. Massey. Keys said "Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her" in which Gray responded "Women don't know the offside rule".
This conversation of course, was intended not to be heard by millions of viewers but their mics were apparently left on and in the end, got themselves humiliated. Richard Keys has since apologised, Andy Gray has kept himself quiet which didn't stop the broadcaster banning them from their duties for tonight's match which Bolton lost to Chelsea at the Reebok Stadium.
This headline brings two questions to mind. First one; Why did Andy Gray and Richard Keys say such a thing?
It reminds me of the time former Luton Town boss Mike Newell being critical of Amy Rayner in 2006 saying the decision for her to be an assistant referee was "tokenism for the politically correct idiots". Is this sexist? Or is it, as people suggest, simply "male banter"?
I think it's neither. It's pure jealousy. Seriously, would you think that Andy Gray had done a better job if he was in Massey's situation? He has the advantage of technology in his seat alongside Martin Tyler. In years of hearing his "wise" words, he has never once complained about the linesman's decision making, let alone the offside rule which seems to change year on year. So why a woman? It's because she is doing a job he would never managed to do. She has the courage to do a job which she most possibly loves and doesn't really care about the gender issues. I raise my hat to her and hope she contributes to more Premiership matches as she did not put a foot wrong in the Wolves v Liverpool encounter.
The second question is why, in every football conversation does the offside rule get into context? It is some sort of addiction which never seems to go away. Something about the offside rule which football fans absolutely love to talk about. Some situations we see that these decisions can make a difference between a winner and a loser. But instead of talking about the woman's possible incapabilities to be running kilometers over kilometers for 90 minutes, Andy Gray and Richard Keys are worried about the stupid offside trap.
Before I get criticised over sexism, I can put my hand up and say I will never, and I mean NEVER last 90 minutes running many kilometers, kicking a ball let alone managing to officiate a prestigious match.
But let's be honest, this headline will most probably be forgotten very quickly unless someone comes up with a wise crack and unintelligent comments about women in sport in general, let alone football which is far off from a "man's game".
Athletics
Tottenham and West Ham have been known for their London rivalry. It's not as big as Tottenham v Arsenal or West Ham v Chelsea, but a match between these two has always been a close one regardless of the situation.
This battle between Spurs and the Hammers is a little different to the normal 90 minutes. Both clubs are going head-to-head for the rights to own the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games end.
Both teams want to do different things to the stadium. Both teams agree that they would be willing to decrease the current capacity of 80,000 to 60,000. One main difference though - Hammers want to keep the running track, but Tottenham think otherwise.
The battle couldn't come closer. Spurs's argument is that they want to save millions of pounds and scrap their current plans to build a gorgeous stadium (see pictured) and have the Olympic Stadium. West Ham on the other hand do not have a Plan B as such but it's something which Hammers's vice-Chairman Karren Brady believes it would be a good investment for the club who are in current financial troubles.
A lot of criticism has come to both team's proposal. Some believe that football and politics do not mix and the Olympic legacy will be lost. It does seem the case that football take over everything and when the Olympics eventually end, it shows that nothing of, what will be a successful games will be for athletics only.
Location is key. The stadium is situated in Stratford, east London. According to Google Maps, the distance between West Ham United's current stadium to the Olympics Stadium is less than three miles whilst the distance to Tottenham's White Hart Lane is just over six miles. I'm sure neither fans would want to leave their either Tottenham or East Ham to watch a "home" football match. Give it to neither of them, trust me - it would benefit both teams.
Today, Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys and commentator Andy Gray have been criticised over their sexist comments aimed at Sian Massey. She was one of the linesmen (or lines person if you'd like to be politically correct) for the Saturday's clash between Wolves and Liverpool. Liverpool won 3-0.
But before the game, Keys and Gray who have been a common feature for Sky Sports since the introduction of the Premier League in 1992 made pre-judgements of Miss. Massey. Keys said "Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her" in which Gray responded "Women don't know the offside rule".
This conversation of course, was intended not to be heard by millions of viewers but their mics were apparently left on and in the end, got themselves humiliated. Richard Keys has since apologised, Andy Gray has kept himself quiet which didn't stop the broadcaster banning them from their duties for tonight's match which Bolton lost to Chelsea at the Reebok Stadium.
This headline brings two questions to mind. First one; Why did Andy Gray and Richard Keys say such a thing?
It reminds me of the time former Luton Town boss Mike Newell being critical of Amy Rayner in 2006 saying the decision for her to be an assistant referee was "tokenism for the politically correct idiots". Is this sexist? Or is it, as people suggest, simply "male banter"?
I think it's neither. It's pure jealousy. Seriously, would you think that Andy Gray had done a better job if he was in Massey's situation? He has the advantage of technology in his seat alongside Martin Tyler. In years of hearing his "wise" words, he has never once complained about the linesman's decision making, let alone the offside rule which seems to change year on year. So why a woman? It's because she is doing a job he would never managed to do. She has the courage to do a job which she most possibly loves and doesn't really care about the gender issues. I raise my hat to her and hope she contributes to more Premiership matches as she did not put a foot wrong in the Wolves v Liverpool encounter.
The second question is why, in every football conversation does the offside rule get into context? It is some sort of addiction which never seems to go away. Something about the offside rule which football fans absolutely love to talk about. Some situations we see that these decisions can make a difference between a winner and a loser. But instead of talking about the woman's possible incapabilities to be running kilometers over kilometers for 90 minutes, Andy Gray and Richard Keys are worried about the stupid offside trap.
Before I get criticised over sexism, I can put my hand up and say I will never, and I mean NEVER last 90 minutes running many kilometers, kicking a ball let alone managing to officiate a prestigious match.
But let's be honest, this headline will most probably be forgotten very quickly unless someone comes up with a wise crack and unintelligent comments about women in sport in general, let alone football which is far off from a "man's game".
Athletics
Tottenham and West Ham have been known for their London rivalry. It's not as big as Tottenham v Arsenal or West Ham v Chelsea, but a match between these two has always been a close one regardless of the situation.
This battle between Spurs and the Hammers is a little different to the normal 90 minutes. Both clubs are going head-to-head for the rights to own the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games end.
Both teams want to do different things to the stadium. Both teams agree that they would be willing to decrease the current capacity of 80,000 to 60,000. One main difference though - Hammers want to keep the running track, but Tottenham think otherwise.
The battle couldn't come closer. Spurs's argument is that they want to save millions of pounds and scrap their current plans to build a gorgeous stadium (see pictured) and have the Olympic Stadium. West Ham on the other hand do not have a Plan B as such but it's something which Hammers's vice-Chairman Karren Brady believes it would be a good investment for the club who are in current financial troubles.
A lot of criticism has come to both team's proposal. Some believe that football and politics do not mix and the Olympic legacy will be lost. It does seem the case that football take over everything and when the Olympics eventually end, it shows that nothing of, what will be a successful games will be for athletics only.
Location is key. The stadium is situated in Stratford, east London. According to Google Maps, the distance between West Ham United's current stadium to the Olympics Stadium is less than three miles whilst the distance to Tottenham's White Hart Lane is just over six miles. I'm sure neither fans would want to leave their either Tottenham or East Ham to watch a "home" football match. Give it to neither of them, trust me - it would benefit both teams.
Comments
Post a Comment