give it to gordon
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- 3 Nov 2013
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What you correctly describe is typical of the UK sports media's obsession with certain narratives regarding favoured clubs and individuals across all sports.
Last night I followed the discussion on Max Woosnam in the 'Paris Olympics' thread, which was stimulated by Clare Balding's comment on Andy Murray's retirement from tennis (she claimed, hyperbolically, that he was 'Britain's greatest ever sportsman', which has some merit but as I say was rather over the top..)
The discussion on Max Woosnam relates to your post above in that it took me back to one of the few conversations I remember having with my maternal Grandad 'Tim' (as in his nickname, 'Tipperary Tim' not his real name, Bert!) before he died prior to my eighth birthday.
My Dad and I were talking football one day when Grandad came to our gaff. Dad was telling me all about Max Woosnam and how he could play any sport at the highest level.. including captaining City to 2nd place in Division One; captaining England at both amateur and professional levels; winning Olympic gold at tennis; winning Wimbledon slams in Doubles and Mixed Doubles; being a top ranked golfer who could've played on the Tour; scored a century at Lord's; and so on and so on..
I remember asking my Dad why us kids hadn't heard of this amazing guy who Dad clearly put on the top pedestal along with Peter Doherty as City's greatest ever player (Colin Bell was some five years away from signing for us at that time!)
To which Grandad Tim interrupted, 'You'd know all about him if he'd played for that bleeding shower at Old Trafford, that's for sure..'
So, here we are, sixty years on, with commentary on and coverage of yesterday's game (or any other sporting matter for discussion) being, in effect, no different from how my old Grandad called it that day to me.. always favouring 'that bleeding shower' across town..
'Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose..' as we used to say back in Hulme.. (we could've been twinned with Paris..!)
I agree with all you said apart from 'typical of British sport media'
Typical of British football media ;)
I think other sports are reported and commented on fairly well.