TENNIS: Wimbledon 2013 - a few more words
Jul. 16th, 2013 07:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feather_ghyllDuring last week, I watched the last two games of the Wimbledon men’s final, and I’m a little glad I didn’t see them live. I think the very last one would have been too much of a nerve-shredder.
Also during last week, there was great controversy about John Inverdale’s blundering, sexist comment about Marion Bartoli. I was sarcastically dismissive of him when I first heard the thrust of it, although having read a longer quote, I am even more offended, actually, because even if he misspoke when making a point about how Bartolis physical shape affected her game, what came out of his mouth revealed what he thinks female tennis players should be like – tall, blonde objects for his gaze. It was disrespectful to Bartoli and to Sharapova too, let alone his audience. The apology and the Beeb’s response don’t feel as thorough as they should have been.
I’ve read a lot of anti-Inverdale commentary, some listing previous dismisiveness about women players and some bing disparaging of his presenting/attitude while presenting. There were also personal comments about his appearance. I’ve not been his greatest fan – he seemed so ignorant about tennis. But more recently he seemed willing to learn, and working on the French Open taught him there was more to tennis than Wimbledon. At the French this year, he made a rather sweet comment about his mother’s feeling for tennis.
Anyway, I always thought we’d just have to put up with him, with the Beeb thinking that he had skills that most of their ex-tennis playing experts didn't. Perhaps not.
There has been other criticism of the Beeb’s coverage of Wimbledon this year, and if this sticks, they make more changes. I wouldn’t mind if Today at Wimbledon was straight recap and analysis, without so much forced humour. As someone coming in quite late, I just wanted to know who’d won, who was out and to get a taste of the best/most important matches.
I kept thinking the ‘humour’ or silliness might be better left for a programme in the vein of The Lest Leg. I know there's also stuff that falls in between, where they talk to fans, family members or show off the latest change to the grounds. But generally, having enthusiastic and knowledgeable presenters is a good thing. And the world would not end if Sue Barker had a female co-presenter.
At the least, perhaps we can be spared Gary Richardson's excruciating interviews.
Also during last week, there was great controversy about John Inverdale’s blundering, sexist comment about Marion Bartoli. I was sarcastically dismissive of him when I first heard the thrust of it, although having read a longer quote, I am even more offended, actually, because even if he misspoke when making a point about how Bartolis physical shape affected her game, what came out of his mouth revealed what he thinks female tennis players should be like – tall, blonde objects for his gaze. It was disrespectful to Bartoli and to Sharapova too, let alone his audience. The apology and the Beeb’s response don’t feel as thorough as they should have been.
I’ve read a lot of anti-Inverdale commentary, some listing previous dismisiveness about women players and some bing disparaging of his presenting/attitude while presenting. There were also personal comments about his appearance. I’ve not been his greatest fan – he seemed so ignorant about tennis. But more recently he seemed willing to learn, and working on the French Open taught him there was more to tennis than Wimbledon. At the French this year, he made a rather sweet comment about his mother’s feeling for tennis.
Anyway, I always thought we’d just have to put up with him, with the Beeb thinking that he had skills that most of their ex-tennis playing experts didn't. Perhaps not.
There has been other criticism of the Beeb’s coverage of Wimbledon this year, and if this sticks, they make more changes. I wouldn’t mind if Today at Wimbledon was straight recap and analysis, without so much forced humour. As someone coming in quite late, I just wanted to know who’d won, who was out and to get a taste of the best/most important matches.
I kept thinking the ‘humour’ or silliness might be better left for a programme in the vein of The Lest Leg. I know there's also stuff that falls in between, where they talk to fans, family members or show off the latest change to the grounds. But generally, having enthusiastic and knowledgeable presenters is a good thing. And the world would not end if Sue Barker had a female co-presenter.
At the least, perhaps we can be spared Gary Richardson's excruciating interviews.
