Sunday, December 19, 2010

Dengl 30 Sports Hysteria

I would like tv reports to play down the hysteria that follows intermittent successes - wicket taken, goal scored - otherwise, next thing would be batsmen hugging and kissing every time someone scores a boundary; and what about the goalie? why does he not get a snogfest (sometimes with acrobatics) for a noble save?
- it is just remotely possible that the BBC might agree (if under strong and sustained pressure) to return to a more restrained style of sports depiction - but cricket is all on sky now - and there is no control on them ...
- I suspect that it might be better for players to contain their energy after a success; go back to the play and direct the energy into subsequent performance; a cricket captain might usefully advise an incoming batsman to look at it this way - that the bowler and fielders who have just taken a wicket need a little while to regain their aggression - it is not necessary to comport oneself as a rabbit and think oneself into failure ....likewise, a soccer side encouraged to think this way might more likely strike back very soon after letting in a goal - realising that their opponents may be deluded for a short time by bliss ...of course, a poor manager may not realise this and allow his side to tailspin after an initial setback.
Whatever the psyche of the sport players, I suspect it is corrosive for viewers - and players - to have short term rejoicings reinforced.
By the way, have sports writers (in their excessive and vapid legions) given choreographical labels to the various antics performed - high fives we know - but the knee slide? the Voluntary Abu Ghraib (where players lie upon each other in a starfish configuration) - the Man Mountain (where they jump upon each other, standing - and do we know whether this brings on back injuries?)