Beware the forced marriage of sport and entertainment

The Cougar said  | February 13th 2008 @ 8:30am | Report comment

Steve,
I had Drambuie for the first time in years a few nights ago… the second one that was watered down was much better. Coincidentally (or not), I thought I was much more entertaining after the fifth, but that may or may not have happened whether the drinks were watered down or not…

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The Cougar said  | February 13th 2008 @ 8:56am | Report comment

Conversely, if showbiz types thought Charlie Chaplin-inspired films would sell again, or silent films, or Bill Haley and The Comets big band-style music, then they’d go for it. However, it’s probably dated. THose foundations have evolved and while we can reflect nostalgically about those grand olde days and pine for the bygone eras, we probably won’t re-visit them too soon, as peoples tastes, technology etc has moved on…

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Gruffalo said  | February 13th 2008 @ 9:31am | Report comment

A few years ago, some idiot decided that one talent (sport) translated naturally into another talent (entertainment).

Hence, they groomed a bloke (to headline a footy show) with the following qualities: not particularly bright or witty; crass at he best of times; extremely physically unattractive.

The end result is the NRL Footy Show which makes even the most moronic diehard league fan cringe with embarrassment.

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sheek said  | February 13th 2008 @ 10:14am | Report comment

Of course,

Twenty20 cricket represents the greatest example of sport as entertainment gone stupidly crazy.

If India, which loves Twenty20, has the money to pay all the best players, then that’s the game they’ll be playing, & test cricket will be dead sometime soon. Professional sportsmen follow the money trail.

Oh dear, amateurism wasn’t so bad after-all!!!

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Aussie Sports Nut said  | February 13th 2008 @ 10:22am | Report comment

Hey Steve

I think you are on the mark regarding the dangers of administrators constantly changing the rules and altering the fabric of the game. AFL is a great example of this - the game has never been more popular, yet there is this constant need by the AFL heirarchy to change rules, and annoy spectators, year upon year.

However, I agree with Sheek and don’t think this equates to a “Sport is not Entertainment” debate. Sport is another form of entertainment - on a Friday night a fan chooses whether they are going to watch the game or hire a DVD - so it is essential that sport is played and presented in a way that is entertaining. The problem arises when administrators think “entertaining” the crowd is adding cheerleaders and second-tier local singers. The best way administrators can ensure their sport is entertaining is to do their best to encourage an even competition, close matches, likeable players and coaches, and officiating that goes virtually unnoticed during the contest.

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Spiro Zavos said  | February 13th 2008 @ 10:28am | Report comment

I can’t stand the dancing girls and the incoherent bands that plunk out their stuff before big matches. I remember sitting at a Super 14 match at the SFS with a distinguished journalist - who will remain nameless - who became so infuriated at the gyrating, lyrca-wearing young women (girls?) that he started screaming out:’Take them off the field! Take them off the field!’ I couldn’t agree more while not being prepared to make a spectacle of myself to clear the field of the so-called entertainment.
The South Sydney RL club is to be applauded for its decision to get rid of the dancing girls. Hopefully, they won’t be replaced by gyrating rock n’ roll bands and so on.
During the 2007 RWC match in the south-west of France, the atmosphere of the contests was improved by the bands playing their anthems during the matches. This is a form of entertainment that I’d like to see at rugby matches in Australia. I’m partial, too, to the Island drumming bands.

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Gruffalo said  | February 13th 2008 @ 11:59am | Report comment

ASN

One point I heartily agree on. Referees. Since when did they become celebrities? Nothing is more ridiculous than seeing Bill Harragon going from Lowes ads to PR shots to Gladiator - his poor, sad manager trying to squeeze evey cent out of an F-Grade celebrity before people realise how vacuous he really is. And I won’t get started on 7 tackles Hartley - who with the brainless foghorn Peter Peters - rivals Kyle and Jackie O for seatwarmer duo of the decade award.

If I had my way, referees would wear masks, identities would be concealed - and a 10 year post-career prohibition on self-prostitution would be a clause in every refereeing contract.

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Micko said  | February 13th 2008 @ 1:07pm | Report comment

There’s nothing worse than “entertainment” at half time in this country (me being a NZ’er). I much prefer a rehash and analysis of the half we’ve just watched with knowledgeable people passing comment. This doesn’t just go for rugby, but for all the codes and also assists people new to the game to get to grips with the intricacies. Dancing girls have their place, just not on the field. The sport IS the entertainment

I think the administrators have looked too much at the American model, with ads ruling game time and half time being a spectacle that they’ve been trained to love. It’s the quality of the sport that brings the punters in.

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cosmos forever said  | February 13th 2008 @ 2:09pm | Report comment

There is no greater entertainment (outside of the game itself) than two opposing sets of fans screaming in unison and delight at a young tacker in a jersey that is too big for them tearing towards the try-line / kicking a goal / putting in a hit, during the half time break…

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Michael C said  | February 13th 2008 @ 2:37pm | Report comment

Paulmc -

certainly team ‘anthems’ are the exception. Sadly, many ‘modern’ team songs are just so cringe worthy, like bad regional tv ad jingles. Far better a bit of “We are Geelong” to a tune from Carmen.

That however, is from the AFL perspective left to when the respective teams run onto the ground (through the banner - a kinda cute little AFL/VFL tradition) - and, for the victors tune only after the game. Which - is why in particular when you lose, it’s nice to know 5 mins in advance just so you can be just about out the gates by the time their song kicks in.
I must say, I’ve yet to make it to an AFL game that ended in a draw (note, I was at the ‘94 drawn final - the first to apply the finals rule of extra time which NthMelb promptly smited Hawthorn 3.5.23 to 0). And AFL drawn game with no song is just such a weird sensation. One of the ’sounds’ of the game is missing - so to speak.
I found that when I first went to the soccer for a nil-all draw - walking out, no scores, no win or loss, no song - there were just so many boxes left unticked - as though - what had I just watched? just a lot of ‘nulls’. (that was my perspective based on my sporting background and the ’sounds’ that I’m therefore used to - - - an addition there, I’m used to the siren sounding, umpy holds ball aloft, bounces - away we go. I just about always get caught out at the Rugby and soccer where all of a sudden the ref quickly blows his whistle and ‘we’re away’…..)

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DJ of Sydney said  | February 13th 2008 @ 2:38pm | Report comment

Im sorry but this article has done it for me.

“When I turn up to watch rugby league, rugby union, football or Aussie rules, I turn up not for some general definition of entertainment but to watch rugby league, rugby union, football or men impersonating 36 seagulls chasing a chip.”

When trying to build up a website try not to insult one of the main groups who will contribute to it.
i will no longer blog on this site, and will not advertise it in any way, and if any brings up this website i will tell them not to even bother looking at it.
I will continue participating on sites where all sports are appreciated.
And no i will not be replying to any further blogs replying to this one.

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Gruffalo said  | February 13th 2008 @ 2:50pm | Report comment

DJ

please, pleae tell me you are joking.

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Michael C said  | February 13th 2008 @ 2:59pm | Report comment

DJ of Sydney

I chose not to pay attention to the trivial ‘36 seagulls’ comment myself. It was hard. But, unlike a seagull and a chip, i was able to resist taking a bite.
The irony is that seagulls around a chip is more akin to a rugby rolling maul - at any rate, each of the games is about grown men behaving like children chasing an inflated spheriod/ellipsoid ‘pigskin’.
Mr Kaless has demeaned himself by including that comment. I have no respect for that. If he thinks he’s being witty, he’s missed the mark. If he thinks he’s adequately serving a particular demographic, well, he seems to be selectively ignoring those throughout Australia who A. support Aust Footy, B. support multiple codes - and given the reach of Aust Footy - this is more likely to be the case in more places than the other codes - - as the Sweeney report at least would tell us.

So - safely in such knowledge - I resisted any temptation to continue the juvenile theme - which otherwise would have taken us into the domain of typical schoolyard/drunken bar talk such as ‘thugby’, ‘wogball’ etc etc. That, Mr.Kaless, is the standard of the comment.

I do obviously, having never heard of you before, take it that you are no fan of Aust Footy. That’s fine, that’s your choice. What I am surprised about in the general sense is that you bothered mentioning specific footy codes at all - why not the all inclusive term ‘football’ (inclusive of Association, Australian, Rugby(* 2),etc) - - and, are you therefore not including Basketball, cricket - sports is after all a broader notion than just the footballs.

You’re comment around the Swans was a little weak as well. Hardly indicative of the general discussion and perhaps more indicative that as a (I assume) sydney resident that you feel making a token swans reference placates the entire AFL demographic. I might have thought that you might realise that the internet is Sans Frontières.

The far more appropriate comments pertaining to the Swans would be that the AFL had seen private ownership have a dalliance with pink helicopters and cheerleaders and full forwards releasing banal singles. Thankfully - the AFL/VFL demographic rejected this ‘culture’ outright - and, thankfully, perhaps to your chagrin, the AFL probably most sticks true to the game - of the codes you’ve refered to.

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Michael C said  | February 13th 2008 @ 3:14pm | Report comment

btw - mascots -

My obvious earlier reference was to the (Melb) Stormboy riding his quad bike around the Olympic park running track. I went to about 5 matches there around ‘98 and ‘99 - there were rather successful at the time. But - my main memory is of the ruddy quadbike during play around the track. THAT was dismal.
(that and the cheergirls and the silly music and the fireworks - - well, dismal or just ‘foreign’)
Sometimes though, afterwards, I thought, maybe, maybe it will work and maybe AFL crowds will start to suffer as this sort of thing takes off - after all, I’d seen it at the basketball too - especially at half time, dancing girls and almost c1979 disco atmosphere thumping music.
I’m relieved that AFL for example last season topped 7 million for the first time - I think a vote with the feet that the silly little window dressing A. isn’t required and B. may not actually be effective and C. may even be counter effective (at least in certain markets) as Melb Storm seem to have stagnated and even regressed crowd wise - despite the ‘on field’ success. I know they’ve even had gimics like the ‘hot tub’ etc, heck, at the 20/20 at the ‘G last week(ish) they had a little VB sponsored area with I believe some competition winners. All the guff just isn’t significant - and seems the domain of the FM top 20 music radio station breakfast show style mentality - such as giving people money for bathing in a bath of worms or the like.

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Michael C said  | February 13th 2008 @ 3:26pm | Report comment

Yeah Gruff,

I had, up until that moment, resisted biting - but, I felt that if DJ was going to simply sign off in such a manner that I’d elaborate on his(her) behalf.

Ownership of league and or team is a key for me too. I am no fan of the new ‘a-league’ with privately owned franchises (but, the FFA couldn’t raise the capital otherwise to escape the old ‘ethno-clubs’ apparently so derided now), I don’t like the apparent conflict for Lowy re SFC and the competition. I don’t like the ownership of league and some clubs by News Ltd and the multitude of conflicts that arise.
I am pleased that the Brisbane Bears were effectively rescue by private ownership (Ruben Pelerman) and then returned to the ‘people’, as earlier p.o. attempts weren’t that flash, i.e Skase, and Edelston with the Swans.
My own North MElb has challenged me. Normally it seemed okay, various folks had basically inserted capital via buying largely value less shares. Club was saved. However, 20 years on, and the desire of members to have a say and vote on moving to Qld or not suddenly brings these ’shareholders’ out of the cabinet. One reason I’d have liked to see North accept the AFL offer was to see the ending of this ’shareholding’ arrangement. I gather the current board has on the agenda an end of this arrangement.

But - the whole point probably is -
Once you sell the whole game or whole clubs to ‘business’ people - then, it’s no longer a ‘game’. It’s a commodity. The prime example so far is that the AFL has been able to resist the annual requests from broadcasters to present a night GF. The NRL bent over at the first opportunity to increase revenue. The AFL is a bit like the girl that only went to first base by the third date - they’ve kept something inreserve. All that said, the AFL put on really crappy pre-game entertainment at the GFs. I’d be just as happy with Mike Brady trotted out each year for “Up there Cazaly” and “One day in September” (a bit like John Williamson with the Wallabies).

Juniors is interesting too. Often people complain the AFL doesn’t do enough for grass roots. However, running the ultra successful auskick for example does more for grass roots than would presenting each club with an annual $1000 grant. It depends on perspective, and not enough people know what the ‘grass roots’ situation is in other codes.

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Gruffalo said  | February 13th 2008 @ 3:49pm | Report comment

Michael C

A dignified answer indeed.
A dish served cold - revenge?

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Phil Coorey said  | February 13th 2008 @ 4:19pm | Report comment

“Having said that, it was baseball which I think needs a pinch of entertainment to liven it up.”

Easy there, don’t criticize a sport unless you know all about it.

Baseball is a glorious game. My wife and I went to 21 games in 2004 and a further 16 in 2005 for our honeymoon. We live breath and sweat for the Red Sox who have a streak of almost 400 consecutive sell outs at Fenway park, beginning in April 2003.

Can’t be that boring, eh???

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Michael C said  | February 13th 2008 @ 4:32pm | Report comment

Baseball is certainly an okay game. Although, perhaps a little over coached on the day - I played a bit of a season, along with a couple of other cricketers ‘making up the numbers’. We were more likely to just ‘do it’ on its merits.

I really found the catching mitt was just the biggest pain in the world, it was a de-skiller - it was almost impossible to drop the ball (having wicket kept a bit, the main problem as the lack of feel. But, all in all, it’s a good enough game - - I often wonder though that there’s really not any places were both cricket and baseball effectively split the sporting landscape. I reckon it’s hard to fully take to one given the other.
And that’s probably a major curiousity now with 20/20 cricket - it’s a package that one envisages might actually be able to make headway - and the ‘traditional’ and ‘mysterious’ world of cricket may actually become accessible to the Japanese and Americans???? And the game can be suitably ‘hyped’.

In reality though, those of use brought up on cricket just don’t get too excited about baseball because it becomes a bit of a hit and hope game and there’s really very little sense of ‘will he hold it’ when a fellow settles under a catch. But gee, try to explain to an American the vagueries of a rolled stretch of turf and how the ‘deterioration’ of it is so critical to the match, selection, team balance, and who might do what on which day of - WHAT, 5 days - and still no certainty of a result.

I must say, I confuse myself, I can more often cope with 5 days for a cricket draw than 90 mins for a soccer draw. I know that’s silly.

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Michael C said  | February 13th 2008 @ 4:41pm | Report comment

Hmm, wasn’t really trying to go down that path - but, probably more that cricket and baseball are interesting from the ‘hype’ perspective. Baseball seems the most ‘traditional’ and almost unhyped of the US sports [is the organ music still the most played track at the b'ball?]- - and cricket in a sense has given us a major ‘generational’ watershed with the WSC days, and right now is at perhaps a x-road similarly with the IPL and 20/20.
And always, there’s been those who partially eyed off the US market. It might be that a hyped up 20/20 might be able to break into the US market simply because it’s definitively NOT baseball - and yet, it only takes 3 hours of your evening.

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The Cougar said  | February 13th 2008 @ 4:47pm | Report comment

Dear DJ of Sydney & Michael C,

Today is a pertinent day to say, on behalf of my fellow Australians: SORRY!

For the pain, suffering and hurt of past and present AFL generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of AFL families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

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DaniE said  | February 13th 2008 @ 5:02pm | Report comment

Sorry to continue, but the statement issued with the unveiling of “Tah Man” just reeks of corporate silliness. http://www.super14.com/news/viewarticle.asp?id=10400 Can anyone who will be attending Waratah matches this season let me know how popular this Tah Man becomes?

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Gruffalo said  | February 13th 2008 @ 5:11pm | Report comment

Tah Man is sponsored by Visy.
Maybe he could sit done with mascots of the reds, brumbies etc and collude on some victories. It could be called a “Tah-Kel”.

Then, the ACC could fine him 50 cents of his $100 salary as punishment.

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Millster said  | February 13th 2008 @ 5:49pm | Report comment

Phil - I understand your obsession. On a business trip last year I happened to have a free Saturday and turned up at Coors Field (Denver) to see Rockies V Dodgers having never laid an eye on a baseball game before. Talk about cool - the ‘package’ that is baseball is something else, what with the hot dogs, root beer, old-school caps and gear, big fingers, organ, and of course the game’s ebb and flow. For absolutely no logical reasons I’ve adopted the Rockies and have watched a bit since then.

MC - good comments, as usual I can’t help but agree with you… as deluded as you are being an AFL nut But seriously, I agree with the puerility of the ’seagull and chip’ comment, and in that instant of rage felt more solidarity for my Saints (the AFL team that I kinda support) than for the soccer clubs and game that I’m usually banging on about.

May we all respect quality in whatever sport, for all can be TRULY entertaining at its best.

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onside said  | February 13th 2008 @ 6:03pm | Report comment

And whilst some people are on about baseball,it must be better value than 20/Twenty cricket.
In about the same amount of time as it takes to play a 20/twenty match,baseball provides an
EIGHTEEN inning game,(nine inning each side).

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paulmc said  | February 13th 2008 @ 6:30pm | Report comment

Can a batter score more than 9 runs
Has any batter scored 9 runs?

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Michael C said  | February 13th 2008 @ 7:59pm | Report comment

Onside -

although, to be fair, 18 innings, but, only 3 ‘outs’ per inning, therefore, to achieve 10 out you average 3 1/3 innings. Although, the other night when India was dismissed in 17 overs, I was there with a couple of friends - and not so much concerned about the runs - or lack there of - but about how many Indian batsmen could survive 10 balls or more - as it turned out, only 2.
Phil -
I don’t remember who he played for at the time, but, watching some finals series in baseball a few years back, David Justice was going around - I always remembered that name - about the only name I remember that WASN’T featured in the Simpsons soft ball episode - - anyway, sadly, in recent times an awful lot of names have been linked with drugs in sport - I think I recall Justice was one of those? Is that correct? Anyway, when I DID have foxtel, baseball was the American sport I was most likely to watch AND enjoy.

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cosmos forever said  | February 13th 2008 @ 8:34pm | Report comment

RBI’s - now we’re talking. Cricket thinks it has stats but they are nothing compared to baseball. ERA’s, RBI’s. Love that game.

Go Indians (and yes, I mean Cleveland).

As for drugs in sport I think most sports will have some 90’s skeletons come out of the closet in years to come…

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DaniE said  | February 14th 2008 @ 2:40am | Report comment

Having looked around in the Super 14 website, I was surprised to see that the Waratahs’ now have Ambassadors. Marcia Hines, Peter Morrissey, Melissa Hoyer, Sandra Sully, Tim Bailey and Liz Ellis will be looking to promote the team and the sport over the coming year. A singer, a fashion designer and fashion writer, TV hosts and a netball star. What the? How is this group of people going to achieve this?

http://www.super14.com/news/viewarticle.asp?id=10374

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Zac said  | February 14th 2008 @ 10:11am | Report comment

To DJ of Sydney, we’re sorry to hear that you were offended by some comments on AFL in this post. This site is all about sports opinion, and embracing other people’s opinion. We aim to enable this like no other site in Australia. The flip side is that occasionally people will be offended. The way we read it, it was a flippant comment meant to be taken lightly.

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cosmos forever said  | February 14th 2008 @ 11:01am | Report comment

I’m loving it - my old mate on the Roar Brumbie Justin would probably point out that the Waratah’s obsession with the Sydney Glamour set will just drive regional rugby fans right into the waiting arms of the Southern Australia / NSW / ACT / Non-Metro Brumbies!

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cosmos forever said  | February 14th 2008 @ 11:25am | Report comment

I know - just being cheeky (but I reckon there’s a guy called Steve Kaless who must be pretty happy the Tah’s management pretty much proved his point!).

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Hatchet said  | June 11th 2008 @ 11:48am | Report comment

Some years ago, I went to a Union test against Ireland at the SFS. I had arrived early to watch the warm-up games that I thought would be on. Instead I arrived to see attendants erecting a stage. When this was accomplished we had “the irish Drovers” play a one hour set. I actually like the Irish Drovers and have paid to see them. However, I would not want to see a game of sevens as a warm-up to their concert.

“The entertainment business” is a means of providing marketing graduates with employment. It very rarely adds value to the event. The AFL is the only code that understands what its fan base wants. Rugby Union does not.

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