Sport on TV: Celebrity preoccupation puts BBC at fault

The men's final atWimbledon may have been a chance to see one of the greatest players of all time chase a record-equalling victory by taking on a home favourite with a winning record in head-to-head match ups, but it was also a chance for the BBC's coverage to do some unashamed crowd watching and celebrity spotting.

For as long as television cameras have had the range to capture faces in the crowd, broadcasters have picked out spectators at sporting events, both famous and not, with the non-famous used to illustrate the atmosphere inside the arena, and the famous used to add glamour. Sunday's final took it to a new level though, with the director cutting to the famous (and occasionally the not so famous) faces so quickly after each point, that we could see their live reactions, as opposed to a replay a few seconds later.

The responsibility of the broadcaster is to show the game first, and the BBC did not miss any of the action, but by cutting away so often and so quickly, viewers were often denied the chance to see how Roger Federer and Andy Murray reacted, what their body language was like after each point. Letting the picture dwell on the court for a moment or two allows the viewer to digest what they have just seen. By instantly cutting away to a reaction shot, the director is distracting and detracting from the experience.

That is not to say that viewers are not interested in seeing who is present, and not just for the gossip. Knowing who is in attendance helps to get a sense of the event, and showing the David Cameron, Boris Johnson and the Middletons is not unreasonable a couple of times per set.

However, it became so frequent during this final, that it began to feel voyeuristic and uncomfortable, as it did for the close-ups of the players' families and coaches. Again, there is some merit in seeing how they are reacting, but when almost every point is followed by Judy Murray or her son's girlfriend, it begins to feel less like a valid journalistic choice, and more like an invasion of privacy. Moreover, it quickly became apparent that none of these people were showing much reaction to the match. They were cheering and clapping, but nothing unusually demonstrative. The BBC was not showing anything that enhanced the public's understanding of the final or the atmosphere.

There is also something seedy in the way that crowd shots are selected. The coverage of Euro 2012, produced in-house by UEFA, became famous for its preoccupation with attractive female fans. Meanwhile how often did the BBC zoom in on the boyfriends and husbands of the top female players, compared to the wives and girlfriends of the male players?

The Euro 2012 coverage was also tarnished by the revelation that the producers had been pre-recording reaction shots to insert into the coverage and present them as live. When Mario Balotelli scored against Germany in the semi-final, one of the defining images was of a German fan in tears. Yet she had been recorded 45 minutes earlier, crying at the national anthem. This sets a dangerous precedent, a broadcaster such as UEFA, that is also the organiser of the event, has a vested interest in presenting a positive image of the tournament.

This entire preoccupation with showing how the crowd is reacting, stems from the need to convey the atmosphere of the live event to fans at home. However, broadcasters are ignoring the sounds of the fans, and that's what really conveys atmosphere. The odd shot of the fans is one thing, but when images of fans, celebrities and family members become so frequent that they are detracting from the coverage of the sport itself, then it is time to make a change.

Euro 2012: Spain prove not to be so boring after all

If Sunday's Euro 2012 final helped Spain cast of their unwarranted 'boring' tag, it also proved that responsibility for any dull matches earlier in the tournament lay with their opponents. Many bemoaned the level of entertainment on offer during Spain's quarter and semi-final wins over France and Portugal, yet as noted by Corinthian Spirit yesterday, it was those teams' decision to sit deep and play with men behind the ball that made it difficult for Spain to play the more direct game that many were hoping for. Once Portugal went on the attack in extra time of the semi-final, Spain found that the pitch had opened up for them and responded accordingly.

Instead of setting out to defend, as Italian sides of the past would have done, and as Spain's other opponents in this tournament have done, Italy attacked, trying to play the more open, creative game that served them so well against Germany. This created space for the Spanish to operate in, and they were able to create more scoring opportunities than in previous rounds, resulting in four goals.

That said, this new-found aggression was not entirely a response to Italian tactics. The champions set out to play more aggressively than in previous rounds, attempting more shots from long range, and making more forward runs from midfield and fullback. Despite the selection of Fabregas, the Barcelona midfielder effectively played as an out and out centre forward, staying high up the pitch and making runs into the box, unlike his earlier appearances in the tournament when he played as a false nine and dropped into midfield (for more tactical analysis, see the excellent Zonal Marking blog).

Not only was Italy's defence overwhelmed, but thanks to Vicente del Bosque denied Andrea Pirlo the space to operate that Germany and England had given him, thanks to the tactical master stroke of using Iniesta and Silva to squeeze the midfield when defending, allowing Xavi to push up and press the Italian playmaker. Cesare Prandelli's team was left unable to create clear cut chances, and Spain's domination was secured.

Before the final was even over, the plaudits for the Spanish performance were flooding in, but many were coupled with the question as to why they could not produce this performance earlier in the competition. Their performance justified a little of the criticism, as they showed what they're capable of when they press forward, but even Spain can only do what the opposition allow them to do, and previously in this tournament, they have not been given space to work in, resulting in long periods of playing for possession and the accusations of being boring. But if yesterday's final illustrates anything, it is that whilst, they could have been more aggressive earlier in the tournament, they were working with what they had, and that their opponents had two choices: defend deep and be boring, or attack and be exciting, but either way, the result is the same.

Euro 2012: Are Spain Boring or Unappreciated?

Spain are the reigning world and European champions, the best international team so far this century, and possibly the best for twenty years, have spent the run-up to Sunday's final, their third in three tournaments, defending their style of play from the charge of being boring.

Regardless of whether or not they are, the backlash was inevitable. Spain have been the best side in the world for four years, and there is always a reaction against success, especially in Britain where the underdog is king, but this is not just a debate that is taking place in the British press. Two years ago, tiki-taka football was envied and admired, now it is seen in some quarters as stifling and negative.

The charges are not completely without merit, Spain have had 68 percent possession during Euro 2012, but the fewest attempts on goal of any of the four semi-finalists. Their style of play creates few chances, instead of going for a killer blow, they often overlook opportunities to play a final ball into the box, preferring to pass backwards or sideways and maintain possession, waiting for a clear-cut chance to come along. Football watchers tend to value ambition as highly as any other quality, and this apparent lack of it has contributed to their alienation.

What the accusation also shows, are the short memories of many fans and journalists who watch football. The Spanish are far removed from the long ball teams that featured heavily in English football in the 80s and early 90s, teams coached by George Graham, Howard Wilkinson and Graham Taylor, or even the route one tactics employed by England in the second half of their quarter-final match with Italy seven days ago. In that match, England's most frequent pass combination was Hart to Carroll, and as a result, England's attack was not only highly ineffective, but also incredibly dull. The excitement in that match for English fans was that England were involved, not that it was a good game. The Spanish game involves some of the most skilful footballers in the world playing a technically demanding brand of passing football, whilst winning consistently. The only thing that's boring there is their success. Contrast that with the teams coached by Sam Allardyce, where long ball tactics, men behind the ball and a reliance on set pieces are the foundations of his game plan. Describing Spain as dull, whilst teams like these are in recent living memory seems forgetful at best, and the football world is in for a shock when Allardyce's West Ham return to the Premiership next season.

A similar accusation is often levelled at Jose Mourinho's teams, but his teams still score plenty of goals, and are playing skilful football with the ball on the floor, whilst his former charges at Chelsea are alleged to have parked the bus in the Champions' League last season, but they outscored Barcelona 3-2 over two legs in the semi-final. Those who watch the game have been spoiled by 20 years of Champions' League football, worldwide coverage of the top domestic leagues, and for English fans, a diet of end-to-end, high scoring football, that has perhaps diluted appreciation for some of the game's finer arts.

It is true that Spain have not played in any classic matches so far in Euro 2012, but that does not mean that they are not a classic team. Pete Sampras was one of the greatest tennis players of all time, but he was sometimes labelled as boring because of the relentless and one-sided nature of many of the big matches he played in, whereas other, less successful stars, who could not destroy opponents like he could, played in what are regarded as great finals, because their imperfections allowed for a closer, more unpredictable result, such as the 2001 Ivanisevic-Rafter Wimbledon final.

Spain's opponents should be apportioned with at least half of the blame for any dull matches, not just because of their inability to challenge the world champions, but because of their refusal to try. If the quarter and semi-finals were unexciting, blame the Portuguese and the French for playing with men behind the ball. Look at what happened when Portugal began to attack the Spanish in extra time, the game opened up, and Spain started to play at a greater tempo and with more direct intent than before.

The argument over the level of excitement that one can get from watching Spain play, comes down to what the viewer wants to get from them. Appreciation for the fine arts of the game, outplaying and dominating an opponent, or playing in an incident packed and close fixture, filled with imperfections and mistakes. Both have their merits, but do we really want a football culture where a team is criticised for playing a passing game that keep the ball on the floor and relies on skill and technique?

Rugby: England's Third Test Plan

With the series already lost, England face South Africa in the third and final test match of their series this Saturday. After two defeats, Stuart Lancaster must be sick of valiant losing efforts, and will be looking to end the tour on a win. Here are three things his side must do, if they are to win in Port Elizabeth.

Cut out the Mistakes

England have not given themselves a chance to get into a winning position in the first two matches thanks to mistakes at key moments. These are inevitable for a new and inexperienced side, but players who fail to learn from their mistakes rarely last long in international rugby. Four minutes into the second test, the England front row failed to secure possession at a five metre scrum. The ball found its way to the feet of flanker Tom Johnson, who failed to react before it squirted out and was pounced on by Willem Alberts to score the opening try. England cannot gift their opponents opportunities like this in test rugby, the margins are too fine. Similarly, there have been too many missed tackles, which means that the English defence is always scrambling to catch up with play.

Improve in attack

Stuart Lancaster's team has shown more intent to attack with the ball in hand than in the Martin Johnson era, but there is still a long way to go. English players often seem unsure about what to do at key moments, and although the amount of aimless kicking has been reduced, there are still traces of the previous regime's conservatism. South Africa's final try last Saturday came from a misdirected and poorly chosen kick from Jonathan Joseph. The centre, making only his second appearance, failed to notice that no-one was in position to chase the kick and instead of retaining possession, he aimed his kick straight down the throat of JP Pietersen, who set up the try. Reverting to Toby Flood at fly-half was a positive step, and he was more assertive than in the past, but England's players still need a clearer idea of what they are going to do when they are inside the opposition 22, and need to be more precise when they do it.

Start fast

Like the 2009 Lions, England were slow out of the blocks last Saturday, and found themselves two scores down before they had had any significant possession This ultimately doomed the Lions, and it has doomed England in this series. Whether this was due to young players being overwhelmed by the moment, the intensity of the Springboks, or the effects of altitude, Lancaster and his team must diagnose this problem and solve it before the third test. A team cannot afford to give head starts to an opponent as powerful as the South African side.

Hansie Cronje: Ten Years On

Currently available as a podcast on the BBC website and on iTunes is 5 Live's recent documentary about Hansie Cronje, broadcast to commemorate ten years since his death. It is a timely moment to revisit the Cronje story, after a winter which saw three Pakistani cricketers convicted of spot fixing in a 2010 test match, Essex's Mervyn Westfield convicted of a similar offence in a county match, and the announcement of a new ECB initiative to tackle the threat of match fixing in the English game.

The most striking item in the programme was how little we still know about what went on in that period. Journalist Neil Manthorp mentions a series of bank accounts that were allegedly linked to many prominent cricketing figures, yet the investigation into those accounts was shut down after Cronje's death. These accounts had been previously mentioned in a television documentary, 'The Captain and The Bookmaker', made by political journalist Peter Oborne. This film was also critical of the report by the King Commission, which had investigated Cronje's crimes in the immediate aftermath, accusing it of being insubstantial.

Both programmes interview Marlon Aronstam, the bookmaker behind the infamous 'leather jacket test match' between South Africa and England in 2000. One thing that Oborne's documentary gets out of him is the suggestion of an ongoing relationship between Cronje and the bookie after that test match, but no details are forthcoming, nor is this elaborated on in the 5 Live documentary.

Aronstam's testimony is clearly difficult to trust, but what is alarming is the notion that the authorities only scratched the surface. Will this investigation ever be resurrected? The suggestion that dozens of other major cricketers were involved in match fixing but got away with it, would undermine an entire decade's worth of international matches. Perhaps most worrying for the game in the future is the thought that whatever bookmakers or gamblers were involved in these accounts were never identified publicly, leaving them free to continue their efforts.

This is, of course, pure speculation, based on an investigation that was terminated. But unless it is proven that those mysterious bank accounts are a myth, or were unrelated to match fixing, the doubt will always linger. That is perhaps Cronje's greatest crime against cricket: creating a nagging suspicion, that seems unlikely to be lifted any time soon.

CS Film Club: Sugar

Corinthian Spirit is back (sadly not in pog form). To celebrate, here's the first in what may turn into an occasional series of recommended sports films.

Currently available on the BBC iPlayer for five more days, is the 2009 film Sugar. The story of a young Dominican baseball player trying to make it to the major leagues, Sugar is bittersweet and largely free of the clichés of the genre. Though the titular character thinks he's chasing sporting success, the film is more about loneliness, alienation and the search for a place in the world, as well as the contrast between different ways of pursuing the American dream.

 

Though not perfect, the film has a gentle pace and naturalistic style, as well as a melancholy tone, which makes it stand out from the usual pomp and self-importance of the average 'triumph over adversity' sporting dramas. Thanks to some beautiful cinematography, the film is genuinely cinematic, but the directors (Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck) pull off the difficult trick of making the United States, in its many different guises (multicultural urban jungle, picture postcard countryside, neon-lit diner), appear simultaneously romantic and foreign, illustrating why Sugar feels so lost, just when he should be finding success. This is also due to the performance of Algenis Perez Soto, who totally inhabits Sugar, with his confusing mix of hopes and fears, and growing unease at his surroundings. Soto has yet to appear on screen since, and whether he is capable of matching this performance in the future, or whether this was the one role he was born to play, remains to be seen.

Sugar is light on sporting action, but aside from its universal themes, it offers a glimpse into the world behind the world we know, and it should be easy to draw parallels between this story of a young sportsman alone in a foreign land, and any number of other sports. In particular, football fans used to seeing African players plying their trade in Europe, might see the similarity.

On Hiatus

The more astute of you will have noticed the distinct lack of action on this blog in the last few months. One or two posts of decent length aside, things have been very quiet since the end of February. Whilst I would like to keep up the same rate of activity that I had prior to that, sadly the real world has been getting in the way, and I have come to the conclusion that I need to face facts and accept that nothing's going to happen on Corinthian Spirit for a while.

The sum of all this is a vague plan to restart activity at some point in September, but no promises. It depends on work and, just as importantly, being clear in my head about what I am trying to do.

In the meantime, if you find yourself visiting this page in search of sporting discussion points, take a look at the blogs listed on the right hand side of this page, for some suggested reading.

Maybe see you in September,
Andrew