Sky falls in

Thursday, 27/01/2011

It’s been another crazy week in English football. Manchester United came back from two goals down to beat Blackpool 3-2 in a pulsating encounter at Bloomfield Road, Aston Villa prevailed over Manchester City with a 1-0 win thanks to a winner from mega-money new signing, Darren Bent, and Chelsea returned to form with a thumping 4-0 victory at Bolton.

But, events off the pitch have hogged the headlines as the controversy surrounding sexist comments made by Sky Sports presenters, Andy Gray and Richard Keys, continues to rumble on.
 
There’s no doubting that their comments about female official, Sian Massey, are out of touch with the modern game, and modern society, but both men can feel aggrieved that their controversial statements about Massey and the further revelations involving Charlotte Jackson and an ex-girlfriend of Jamie Redknapp, were made off-air and have been publicised in such a ruthless way.
 
It’s been argued that it was nothing more than banter between friends, or pub talk, and for many fans that is a large part of what going to football is all about. Of course that doesn’t make it right, but the comments certainly do not warrant the mass over reaction that has followed.
 
The rest of the media appears to have relished ganging up and having a go at the all-powerful Sky brand, standing on the soapbox on top of the raging bandwagon of condemnation for the pair.
 
Despite their recent shortcomings, credit has to go to Gray, for being the voice and Keys, for being the face of Premier League coverage for a generation of football fans. They have helped revolutionise the way we watch football and for many, live games will feel a little strange without them.
 
Some of Gray’s on-liners will go down in history and remain as memorable as the moments he was describing when he made them.

Whether it’s Steven Gerrard’s spectacular and crucial late volley for Liverpool against Olympiacos in the Champions League being met with a rapturous, “You beauty!”, Ryan Giggs’ breathtaking individual FA Cup goal against Arsenal in ’99 being accompanied by the prophetic, “He just bobbed and weaved, and when he needed a finish… my god did he give us one!” or Federico Macheda’s late winner for Manchester United against Aston Villa being followed by the unforgettable, “Take a bow son!”, Gray’s words will resonate with fans for years to come.
 
As for Keys, his slick presentation, on screen chemistry with Gray and ability to press high-profile guests into giving forthright opinions rather than sitting on the fence has marked him out as a top-class sports journalist and his style has been copied by many presenters.
 
Maybe it was approaching the time for Sky to move on and bring through a new generation of young ultra-professional reporters and commentators, but will some of the magic and authenticity of their coverage now be lost?

It remains to be seen, but the broadcasting giants are unlikely to lose any sleep or viewing figures over it as the Sky Sports and Premier League machines continue to grind on and develop in almost complete synchronisation.

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