Is the supposed leftward shift in sports reporting the product of vast liberal conspiracy – or what happens when the myth of sports as escapism is dispelled?There has been a lot of buzz lately about sportswriting’s shift to the left. Last month, Bryan Curtis wrote in the Ringer: “There was a time when filling your column with liberal ideas on race, class, gender, and labor policy got you dubbed a sociologist. These days, such views are more likely to get you a job.” Not only have liberal ideas found a foothold in sportswriting, Curtis claims, “now, there’s at least a social price to pay for being a conservative.” Related: Colin Kaepernick is unsigned because NFL coaches still play not to...
What stood out when the transfer window closed was the paucity of eye-catching business and how action on the field took precedenceI finally finished the new series of Sherlock this week. It took longer than I anticipated. Maintaining focus on Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman proved difficult as time wore on, the plot became increasingly implausible and the show morphed into a Crystal Maze tribute. Professional critics were unimpressed. Sherlock was accused of turning in the worst James Bond impression since Jez slept with Mark’s future mother-in-law in Peep Show. There was inevitable and potentially fatal talk of jumping the shark.It happens to the best of them. The Wire rather lost its way with series five and Scott Templeton. Ricky Gervais...
The broadcaster takes over the television coverage in 2017 – but mostly on ITV4, no one’s first port of call unless they are really obsessed with Ironside and MinderI expect to spend both Monday and Tuesday afternoon with a group of old sporting friends. Most of them I will never see again. The following week another crowd will be there instead – and they will not be spending time paying tribute to their predecessors. Related: Disqualified jockey James McDonald released from Godolphin contract Continue reading...
Tennis’s white-hot favourite collects Sports Personality of the Year award but the triathlete Alistair Brownlee surprises with his second place‘The people have spoken ... the bastards,” a waspish Dick Tuck observed following his failure to make the California State Senate in 1966. At the end of a year in which electorates throughout the UK and beyond have proved time and again they simply cannot be trusted to make even the simplest choice, it is a sentiment with which BBC panjandrums were happy not to concur at the end of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year beano in Birmingham on Sunday night.They had been utterly terrified the Great British Public would select a one‑two-three of Andy Murray, Mo Farah and...
A shortlist dominated by Rio winners means some startling omissions, such as England’s all-conquering rugby players and even some of Team GB’s biggest achievers, but each of the contenders deserves their placeWhile the presence of the world tennis No1 Andy Murray on the shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year suggests the outcome of the public vote will be a formality, there are several conspicuous inclusions and absentees from a roll of honour that largely comprises Olympians and Paralympians nominated for their contributions to Team GB’s record‑breaking medal hauls in Rio. Related: Sports Personality of the Year 2016: who should win the award? – poll Related: Andy Murray heads Spoty list but no place for Chris Froome and others Continue...