Sky sports commentator row

Discussion of all things non-11 Plus related

Moderators: Section Moderators, Forum Moderators

Chelmsford mum
Posts: 2113
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:16 pm

Sky sports commentator row

Post by Chelmsford mum »

Well.......we do debate almost anything :D

When this story broke, if I am honest I thought it was an over reaction. It was a private conversation about women and the offside rule etc. They should have been wiser to the possibility of it getting overheard. The next day when the other footage emerged with Andy Gray re the microphone and his fellow presenter, I thought he had stepped over the line.
The point I am pondering is I joke with my friends often about men.... they can't multi task etc and more I couldn't repeat on here.I work in a female dominated environment but have male colleagues.I certainly wouldn't make inappropriate suggestions of course, like the microphone incident :oops: but we do banter a bit about silly things like multi tasking/map reading/men not admitting they are lost etc.
I have 3 daughters, one of whom plays football.When I heard the comments I gave a bit of an eye roll :roll: They were the comments of men who are absolutely "out of touch" and actually a fading and dying breed.However I dislike the way some sections of the media are absolutely gunning for these two now and it feels fairly orchestrated. Every time I go on line my internet provider supplies headlines and now every last bit of " dirt is being dished" on them.

Do you agree or am I being a bit too soft on them? Do you think they deserved it?
pheasantchick
Posts: 2439
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:28 pm

Re: Sky sports commentator row

Post by pheasantchick »

I hate it when the media turns a story like this into a bit of a witch-hunt. I think the same thing happened over the Jonathan Ross/Russell Brand incident also.
Midget Man
Posts: 950
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:28 pm
Location: Bucks

Re: Sky sports commentator row

Post by Midget Man »

Agree completely that it seems some sort of witch hunt, or to make Murdoch look alot better, I am sure alot more people within Sky have said other banter stuff. Who was the person providing the press with these video clips? I do believe this person should also be struck off, surely that is breaching some form of contract aswell??
Image
marigold
Posts: 656
Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2009 3:14 pm
Location: essex

Re: Sky sports commentator row

Post by marigold »

I agree with CM, the commentators are obviously odious chauvinists but then so are many men in positions of power and I do feel that they are taking the rap for years and years of similar unacceptable behavior in the media.

I was out with three female friends of a certain age last week and at least 50% of our conversation was about the short comings of our various spouses, from failing to put the bins out to failing to provide suprise trips on the Orient Express for special birthdays. Now days men can never seem to get it right, the poor things.
mother night
Posts: 63
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:22 pm

Re: Sky sports commentator row

Post by mother night »

I think the media storm detracts from a sensible judgement, regardless of ulterior motives from Sky sports ( reducing their 1.7m salary and the phone hacking issue).

It is recognised by presenters that live feeds are generally recorded off air as it is so cheap and all comments should be 'professional'. Reading the transcript I was not surprised by the exchange but felt that the comments were unacceptable and disciplinary action was necessary.

As for Keys, I found his comments to Jamie Redknapp appalling ( Redknapp was obviously deeply uncomfortable with the situation which indicates that both men and women can be offended by overt sexism) and I hope that the outcome send sa message as to what is acceptable.

However,I can't quite get over 'The sun' launching such a campaign when there is still the small issue of page 3.....

MN
doodles
Posts: 8300
Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:19 pm

Re: Sky sports commentator row

Post by doodles »

Ok they shouldn't have said it and when "caught" apologised, but in my mind that should have been the end of it. This has just gone too far.

Isn't it an age old joke that women don't understand the offside rule, isn't it an age old joke (perpetuated by women) that men can't multi-task. It's certainly a joke in this family that when watching rugby I am just as interested in the legs as the game!!!!!!!!!

I really don't think that this campaign has actually done women any favours at all. Especially when I read somewhere that people were saying that the now vacant positions should be taken by women :roll:
Chelmsford mum
Posts: 2113
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:16 pm

Re: Sky sports commentator row

Post by Chelmsford mum »

marigold wrote: Now days men can never seem to get it right, the poor things.
I think I agree. At one time probably would have counted myself as an ardent feminist. Now.... I think I just favour equality of all kinds.
It does seem to me that it has become socially acceptable to utterly deride men and some of what passes for humour is quite denigrating to them.
I know that we have had to put up with this for decades but surely what we want is equal treatment and respect ...not revenge.
I am talking in general terms - I don't know about the Keys' comments mother night mentions and certainly Andy Gray is a bit of an unpleasant man, it would seem, as more emerges. It just seem there are quite a few double standards in operation around this. "The Daily Fail" has been pontificating and yet I find some of their articles far from feminist!

Agree with you doodles about having a bit of a sense of humour around the initial comments. It is a standing joke re offside and did not Andy Gray praise the female official afterwards?
It does seem to me the comments though were the tip of an iceberg, with these two men which perhaps explains the witch hunt.....? Not the best way to tackle such behaviour though.
mother night
Posts: 63
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:22 pm

Re: Sky sports commentator row

Post by mother night »

I think the salient point is that they had made a judgement of competence prior to the start of the match about part of the referee team ( not into football ?correct phrase!),based entirely on her gender; it was not a generic comment- it was aimed at an individual who had no option at that time to 'banter back'; having a female line judge was also used as an example of the game going mad- a little more than 'off-side/women' banter.

The Redknapp business is a little difficult to explain in this format but it basically involved Keys persistently asking if Redknapp had 'conquered' an ex girl friend - referring to her as 'it' and Redknapp was extremely uncomfortable. It was probably what happens in the pub- but it was a studio- therefore a workplace and was deeply out of line - or offside??
Chelmsford mum
Posts: 2113
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:16 pm

Re: Sky sports commentator row

Post by Chelmsford mum »

No doubt the second incident you describe sounds horrible.

I still think saying "maybe someone should go down and explain the offside rule" was passable as humour, but an error of judgement in that context of the workplace.

I suppose I just feel uncomfortable that some of the sections of the media throwing their hands up in horror, are those that bear a lot of guilt in perpetuating harmful stereotypes themselves. It also seems to me that some sections of the media just almost decide to "topple" someone.
Don't get me wrong, I would not be wanting to socialise with these men - they seem far from pleasant in attitude but then I don't have much time for some of the sections of the press who are baying for their blood.
Chelmsford mum
Posts: 2113
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:16 pm

Re: Sky sports commentator row

Post by Chelmsford mum »

Oh yes - I've just remembered.We have our own resident sports journalist on this website.Perhaps he can tell us if he thinks women understand the offside rule. :D

I am sure he is much more refined than those two. :)
Post Reply
11 Plus Mocks - Practise the real exam experience - Book Now