A Free Kick For Sports Fans

Newcastle Herald

Saturday January 8, 2005

tele talk with michael gadd

THE rights to air sport in this country is a serious issue.

Laws restrict some of the major sports, such as home Test cricket series and the National Rugby League, being aired exclusively on pay TV.

People like Rupert Murdoch would do anything to rip these national institutions away from televisions with a coathanger in the aerial slot.

If it was up to him we'd all be able to communicate with aliens, judging by some of the devices affixed to rooftops.

If you want to watch the Premier League or the Super 12 (Super 14 next year) rugby union matches at a decent time, you need to pay for the honour.

There's heaps of good stuff on for free though just have a look at weekend arvos.

If you're a real sports nut, anything involving two teams or people competing will satisfy your craving.

I used to think two yabbies in battle was the height of entertainment the one with the most blue on its claws usually won.

So I was ecstatic a few weeks ago to catch a weekly fishing competition being aired with more regularity than an Australian drama. The weekly highlights of the Australian Fishing Championships at 12.30pm on Sunday is better than fishing for mine. I can watch the guys and girls get sunburned and whine about the one that got away while I'm sinking a beer in the shade. Then go round the corner for a whole snapper from the co-op.

This isn't Rex Hunt and his little cohorts telling us which company's sinkers he likes this week; it's sport. Just like the lawn bowls on the ABC, SBS's weekly history lesson (FIFA World Cup Classics), beach volleyball, cycling and iron man.

Sure, there are decent commentators, more camera angles and statistics on the big sports, but if Kerry Packer snatched the darts and snooker from Fox Sports 2, I'd be well satisfied.

© 2005 Newcastle Herald

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