Round round wheels go around round round
The hours around 8:30 in the morning are when the mind is receptive and creative, a great time for stimulating radio programming. News, current affairs, educational and thought-provoking programs suit this time of day, and ABC-RN has much to recommend it on this score.
That's why it's a bad time for broadcasting a sports program. This morning for a full half hour listeners had to hear about some bloke from Texas named Lance Armstrong who apparently can ride a pushbike very well.
Now, I'm all for human excellence, and there are a great many areas of human achievement that should be lauded when they occur. We would all benefit by hearing about the person who is best at the world at, say, inventing technologies that help the poor get out of the energy-dollars cycle, the person who has found a cure for malaria or AIDS, or the man or woman who has contributed the most to a critique of war or pop culture.
But some areas of human achievement, set against the background of the real world we live in, are plainly silly and juvenile, especially when performed by alleged grown-ups. When the mind is fresh and clear at breakfast time, the last thing one wants to listen to is half an hour about the world's best popcorn eater, the champion yo-yoer, the world champion 43-Man Squamish team, or the man or woman who can make the biggest ball of string or make the longest paper snake from a Minties wrapper. Or be the faster rider of a tricycle, bicycle or scooter.
The national broadcaster is better today than when it used to be said that ABC stood for 'All Bloody Cricket', as they were wise enough to get rid of much of that nonsense. Can we hope that people who are good at riding pushbikes and hitting or chasing balls and so on can be discussed at a suitable hour (if at all) ... say, 4 a.m.?
That's why it's a bad time for broadcasting a sports program. This morning for a full half hour listeners had to hear about some bloke from Texas named Lance Armstrong who apparently can ride a pushbike very well.
Now, I'm all for human excellence, and there are a great many areas of human achievement that should be lauded when they occur. We would all benefit by hearing about the person who is best at the world at, say, inventing technologies that help the poor get out of the energy-dollars cycle, the person who has found a cure for malaria or AIDS, or the man or woman who has contributed the most to a critique of war or pop culture.
But some areas of human achievement, set against the background of the real world we live in, are plainly silly and juvenile, especially when performed by alleged grown-ups. When the mind is fresh and clear at breakfast time, the last thing one wants to listen to is half an hour about the world's best popcorn eater, the champion yo-yoer, the world champion 43-Man Squamish team, or the man or woman who can make the biggest ball of string or make the longest paper snake from a Minties wrapper. Or be the faster rider of a tricycle, bicycle or scooter.
The national broadcaster is better today than when it used to be said that ABC stood for 'All Bloody Cricket', as they were wise enough to get rid of much of that nonsense. Can we hope that people who are good at riding pushbikes and hitting or chasing balls and so on can be discussed at a suitable hour (if at all) ... say, 4 a.m.?
Pip Wilson posted item above at 9:05 AM | Permalink
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1 Comments:
To be fair, Lance Armstrong is a cancer survivor who has since won the Tour de France -- a 2,274 mile race through the Alps -- no less than 5 times. He has said that 2005 will be his last tour. More than 40 million of Lance Armstrong's "Live Strong" yellow bracelets have been sold to raise money for cancer research. This is more than a sports story. :)
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