Arryverdici Fabio read one of the snappier headlines in the English press yesterday, as the London tabloids enthusastically endorsed one of their own in Harry Redknapp to take over the vacant England manager’s job.
It wasn’t so much the sentiment but the fact we rarely see these sorts of puns in the Australian press which got me thinking.
That’s partly because the influence of Search Engine Optimisation has made using keywords a fundamental part of headline writing, but perhaps also partly because humour is so subjective.
That came across in spades yesterday when I read fellow Roar colleague Ben Pobjie’s unique appraisal of Channel Nine’s cricket commentary team.
I’ll put my hand up and admit I’ve been a fan of Ben’s for some time – I read his hilarious Masterchef blogs in the Fairfax press and I don’t even watch the show – and I was thrilled when he landed a column on The Roar.
But I knew immediately he wouldn’t be writing about football.
Much as I wish this wasn’t the case, the A-League isn’t yet the broad watercooler topic we’d one day like it to be.
And I wondered if Ben’s sardonic wit would even be tolerated by A-League fans who, let’s face it, can be a surly bunch at the best of times.
To put it bluntly, there’s an air of desperate earnestness about pledging one’s support to the A-League which can sometimes feel oppressive.
Perhaps it’s much easier for the English to inject wit into their football coverage because the sport has been well established in that country for over one hundred years.
They’ve been doing it particularly well since the 1990s, when Nick Hornby made it cool to be a closet fanatic and the fanzine ‘When Saturday Comes’ reached ever-growing audiences on the back of England hosting Euro ’96.
After the 1998 World Cup I wrote to English comics David Baddiel and Frank Skinner and asked them to mail me some furniture from the set of their ‘Fantasy Football League’ show.
They sent me a signed postcard instead. (And fair enough, I suppose).
But in a country where large swathes of the mainstream press still speak of the A-League as though it dropped onto the sporting landscape from the bowels of the Starship Enterprise, I can’t see a Tom Gleeson or Dave Hughes (or sadly even a Santo, Sam and Ed) starting an A-League comedy show any time soon.
Which is a shame, because much of the stern pontificating and endless lecturing from certain quarters of the A-League press can be a drag.
And trawling through the some of the online comments on forums is best done with a stress ball in one hand and a stiff drink in the other.
In fact, it’s online where witty raconteurs like Ben Pobjie can make such a refreshing change.
I’d love to see him have a crack at writing a piece about the A-League, if only because I think it’s a competition which could do with an injection of humour from time to time.
Barrington Womble Esq
Guest
Lord Lucan, you are the man! Found this quite by accident today and what do you know? Oz football fans are a funny bunch. I got harassed by some because my song 'I Can't Believe We Made the World Cup' was too negative. TOO NEGATIVE! Ed Wyatt is one who could be involved with an alternate show. I may even consider returning to Australia to host it. ;)
Bemused
Guest
Someone should tell Mike about The Football Sack.
AL
Guest
Vergining on very minimal to zero.
Evan Askew
Guest
I didn't think it was a joke that went over your head, I was serious in my reply. I've seen him on tv and he is doing well. I wonder if the media in Scotland are able to refrain from bad Heart puns? THough the two clubs in Edinburgh are a min version of Celtic and Rangers so it would be unwise to make fun of any clubs name, however light hearted.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I wonder if the A-League will get a mention on Santo, Sam and Ed's new show on Channel 7 any time soon?
nordster
Guest
good o :)
Titus
Guest
Ok, thanks Evan. Now that I think about it, it's possible that it is a joke that just went over my head.
AL
Guest
Harry Kewell, a name know in all corners of the earth. OUtside of Australia in 99% of countries you could communicate with taxi drivers by mentioning Harrys name and they would understand you are Australian. Yet Daryl, from Geelong, had no idea, brilliant LOL. If you didnt know any better youd think Daryl was taking the piss. PS - Bradman was a legend and a gentleman, no dout, but Harry Kewell is more known throughout the world. No matter what the Aussie media tell us.
Evan Askew
Guest
I think he is playing regularly at Hearts now which is one of the reasons why he is in the frame for the national team.
Cpaaa
Guest
Fuss would you have a link to that?
Bondy
Guest
Fuss. That bloke on twitter ,thats got legs that theme I'd love to see an Australian version of special 1 . The Cattery. The post below is a gem, I'd be 'excited' about being pumped by 6 by Brazil on National T.V. Poor Daryl .
Enrico
Guest
I think this humour thing (i.e. the absence of it in the mainstream media) is a real issue for football in oz. I waited in vain for a post world cup version of Santo etc to turn up to no avail which I think was an opportunity missed. Seriously, do we expect foz and co on TWG to convert any non soccer folk to the game or develop new interest?? I think not: as much as I watch them and find them interesting they even do my head in sometimes and I count myself as a real tragic. A weekly show that has a loving dig at the game it is about (as in the league and afl shows) is bound to be a winner in the oz market - even to people who don't follow the game but just enjoy a bit of light hearted piss taking. TWG (pretty well the only free to air football show on here in Tas) is way to high brow and serious for the average punter - if I was in FFA's head office I'd be seriously pursuing a season long version of Santo and co or similar type show. I agree though with the comments above that it needs to be done by people who obviously are passionate about and know the game well for it to work. By the way I'm not suggesting a carbon copy of either 'footy show' - definitely not.
Titus
Guest
He actually does play for Hearts, in the Scottish Premier League, though he is on loan to Partick Thistle. I think sometimes people get him confused with his brother Dylan, who is at GCU.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
All of this reminds me of one of the funniest TV moments I've ever witnessed. Around 2000 or so, Harry Kewell appeared on the Daryl Somers Show, or Hey, Hey, or something. At this point, Harry was already a bona fide Australian sports star, but Daryl, being a good Geelong boy, wouldn't have known a winger from a stinger. Anyway, he had obviously been briefed that the Socceroos had a great game back in 1997 in the confed cup, drawing nil-all with the full Brazil team, and Daryl was leading Harry through a series of questions to climax with that particular game (not knowing what else happened in the tournament). DS: So you played Brazil a few years ago in the Confederations Cup? HK: Yeh. DS: And no one gave you a chance against them did they? HK: ...(pause, uncertain what to say) DS: Well...they were wrong weren't they? HK: ...(obviously confused as to where this was heading) DS: well, c'mon tell everyone how well you went!! HK: What? losing 6-0??!!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
A few weeks back, some bloke on Twitter was talking about doing an HAL version of "Special 1 TV" ... with Miron as the host (in the role of José). He said he already had puppets for Les Murray & Mel McLaughlin but was looking for suggestions for the other cast members. Obviously Johnny Kosmina would have to make an appearance, Jim Magilton seems like a bloke who could be parodied, Ange or Anrie would easily fit the more boring Wenger role. Zelic, Fozzie & Bozza are also obvious additions. And, he wanted ideas for a suitable "Wayne Rooney" for the Aussie version. Besart Berisha seems an obvious choice. After AL's post (above), I guess, the name of the show would have to be "The Homeys!"
The Cattery
Roar Guru
ha, ha - very funny whiskey - you're now taking the joke a little bit too far...
whiskeymac
Guest
hearts?
AL
Guest
Miron aka Homie, hosting a Santos type Football show? Santos and the boys where great and did not stoop to NRL and AFL Footie Show type gutter humour.
Michael
Guest
I can't say I find the diego's droll delivery funny, but the SBS World game podcast with Bas Hassett & SssCott MACIntye with Kostas KILLias can be very funny. (Scott's excessive emphasis on the first syllable of each word deliberately in caps). When David Basheer then gets on the show, it can become even funnier. He's mad. Or drinks too much coffee or energy drinks. Or something.
Evan Askew
Guest
Bring back Blakey! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsoQlBhsA9o