World Cup Media Angst

Ryan is so ripped.

Anybody bother to listen to Willie today?

He did say that Spain beat Portugal today in the intro. And he said that it was filled with "controversy" and played the commentary from the penalties.

That wasn't "controversy". It was just drama. First penalty was clear. Second not as clear but probably a reasonable case (someone will correct me).

But the events unfolded so crazily as you all know. Penalty. Save. Penalty. Scored. Retaken for encroachment. Parried. Keeper fouls Spanish player but no penalty awarded. Then replay of first penalty shows clear Spanish encroachment. Left post. Right post. Left post.

I am so sick of prejudiced and ignorant "journalists" undermining football in this country through publishing their views.

An example - Michael Laws: provincial by place of residence and provincial by attitude. At least he is a "columnist" who is therefore "only" giving an opinion.

My real beef is with sports reporters. Take David Leggat as an example, the New Zealand Herald's "senior sports writer".

Does he understand the sport? After two days (five games and seven goals) of the World Cup he wrote that "in 450 minutes of football there have only been seven special moments". So clearly his understanding and appreciation of the game is limited to goals. Again yesterday he listed five negatives about the World Cup (covering two comumns), and five positives about the World Cup (covering two-thirds of one column). The negatives: cheating, refereeing, technology, departure of France and familiar winners. The positives: All Whites, demise of France, upcoming games, goals and upcoming games. So, the only aspect of the oplaying of the game of football he comented on was goals - not players, tactics, skills, etc. The only bit of the game he understands and appreciates - goals.

And in the NZ Herald World CUp preview document he referred to New Zealand having the easiest pathway to the World Cup Finals, apart from the host country and the defending champions! How many World Cups since the defending champions got automatic entry?

He is ignorant of basic facts, has no understanding of the game - and yet influences public opinion through publishing his ignorant and prejudiced views.

And people like David Leggat have such strong views on what is wrong with football! What do they know of the game to base these views on? What do they understand about the game to base these views on? Very, very little.

Nice rant Seatts.  You tell 'em.

The familiar winners as a negative is pretty amusing. Since when has a rugby side outside of the top couple,beaten a top side. Has happened plenty already in this football world cup.

Yeah, and also somewhat misleading - there a 50% chance we'll have a first time winner of the WC, and even if that doesn't happen, of the remaining previous title holders neother was even thought of as top 5 (in Uruguay's case even top 10) favourite this time around.

I think the basis for some of the negative commentary on this world cup from some New Zealand journalists is their insecurities in the fact that football is on the rise and a far more entertaining sport than rugby at the moment.  

Also making the most of the 'cheating' as a negative...

Yea, I've been well annoyed that tv3 have to introduce their stories as if the whole game of football is about cheating.

Why do people need goals for a game to be entertaining, watch basketball if you want to cheer like a moron for 2 hours

What about Andy Hayden in the UK diving out of the line out when he admited that nobody touched him. All Blacks were losing and the resulting penalty gave them the win.

I must say that I have read Leggat's articles a few times and I reckon he is a w**ker.

Paul Henry on Breakfast this morning. How embarrassing.

Details?

Had Kevin Fallon on, talking about the World Cup semi's. Basically he was w**king on about how much he loves the game and as they shared a small glass of champagne he even did "a toast to the beautiful game". Frankly it was embarrassing to watch given i still remember his comments in the past about how he can't stand football and how he finds it boring plus all his disparaging comments towards the Nix and before them Knights.

When I said evryone is welcome on the bandwagon there are a couple of exceeptions.

The problem with Bandwagons is that the ride may be enjoyable but when people fall off after a bumpy section of road they tend to get badly hurt!

I fell off a bandwagon following the Rally of New Zealand one year, went under the trailer.  Still got the scars.

http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/kevin-fallon-football-06-09-video-3626048

Tragic That trailer had only one day to go till retirement.

Not quite a media angst, but next to the Halberg guy, this has to be in the running for most moronic comment of the year (could be a good Yellow Fever award for next year!).

Rugby players? Intelligent?

No theatrics ?

I'm still stunned by this...people really pay a man with that sort of myopic view of the world a fortune to speak and motivate ?

"rugby is a proper team sport"...

LOL   how could you pose like that for your website and expect to be taken seriously??

Did like Miles today when someone was advocating the equivalent of Penalty tries in the Suarez situation...... once the guy suggested football could learn from Rugby rules he said, yes, should be allowed an unopposed shot at goal for any infringement 40 yards out.

Deluded.

Didnt take long for the bandwagon to get a whole lot lighter once the AWs went out aye.

Come on guys, we don't need 'em! I'd rather hang out with you all at RoF than some unintelligent, deluded, anal-retentive, sexually frustrated rugby fans anyday! Who cares what they say? 

Just another trainer trying to eek out a living in front of the whiteboards of NZ with such stunning management insights as "a star team will always beat a team of stars". One of his presentations is even called "Wimps Don't Win" ffs.

Reminds me of this.

Incidentally it took me all of 30 secs perusing his website to spot that his dedication to excellence obviously doesn't extend to proof reading. According to this page all but one of his seven presentations are about exactly the same thing!

indeed!Junior822010-07-05 20:15:00

douche

Oh for f**k's sake.

That article is just one giant clusterf**k of stoopid.

How do these talentless hacks keep getting work?

At the risk of not getting his joke, does the author really believe the vuvuzela drone is the fans singing?
kiwi pie2010-07-06 11:29:26

I swear if I hear one more comment about football and homosexuality... argh! Firstly, there is nothing wrong with being gay. Secondly, what is possibly more homo-erotic than a scrum, line-out, maul, or ruck? Thirdly, what is with rugby-heads fixation with homosexuality?