Farewell then, Grandstand; Laid low by the combined forces of Sky Sports and the expansion of the sporting weekend into Friday, Sunday and Monday night, it was given a quiet burial at 6pm last Sunday, with the wake taking place at Potters Leisure Resort, spiritual home of indoor carpet bowls. Only the very closest family and friends were present.
As the BBC's flagship sports programnme for more than 40 years finally expired, many of the obituaries bemoaned the lack these days of what we are supposed to call 'water-cooler television."
In other words, programmes which spark conversation around the water-cooler with total strangers at work, or in the pub. Big Brother, for better or very much worse, is one, but there are few others and the sporting world has almost none, we were told.
That's almost true. I've lost interest in the Premiership since I don't have Sky and the IT department have taken away the television next to the Post sports desk, while I can't remember the last time I made the effort to watch a rugby/cricket match on Sky in my satellite-enabled local.
But there is still one example - the FA Cup draw. Something about the sight of two men (or women; the BBC is impressively non-sexist about this), dropping a collection of plastic balls into a big bowl, pulling them out one by one and self-consciously pointing them at a camera is still guaranteed to have people gathering around a television.
Even those who don't know their Accringtons from their Arsenals are interested; whether it's the possibility that Sir (that still doesn't sound right) Trevor Brooking might cock it up again, or that some poor soul will fumble ball number 14 and have to scramble around on their knees while it rolls out of shot, it's strangely addictive.
For me, it always seems to hold the promise of things to come which never happen; last year, we Tamworth fans were offered the prospect of a local derby against Walsall, if the Lambs could beat Stoke City in a third-round replay.
The trips to the Black Country's finest boozers were being meticulously planned, optimism was high - and we went and lost on penalties after extra time.
And I fear it's happened again. Roger Black and Darren Campbell combined to produce Bristol City or Middlesbrough v West Bromwich Albion; in other words, a chance for Albion manager Tony Mowbray to return to the team he played for.
Me? I'm off to see Mr William Hill about investing a small fortune in Bristol City winning their replay.
Comments (1)
Saturday afternoon telly hasn't been the same for me since the demise of Dickie 'Mallen Streak' Davies and live wrestling from Digbeth Civic Hall. We were a World of Sport household.
By the way, was it Half Man Buiscuit who sang 'Dickie Davies Eyes'?
Posted by Barney | February 6, 2007 11:37 AM
Posted on February 6, 2007 11:37