SOUL SISTER
Tonight we will find out if Sue Barker, instead of saying “And now it’s back to Steve Rider”, really ought to be whispering “I see dead people”. Yes, Sue might have the sixth sense. She announced on the day that Kelly Holmes won the 800 metres that Holmes had, in fact, won the 1,500 metres. Don’t be nasty, I hear you say, Sue has a lot on her plate; a simple error should not be picked on. But Sue then switched channels and told us that we were about to see Holmes receive her gold medal for her 1,500 metres win. Was Sue “Second Sight” Barker, as she is known among the Greeks, right? (Women’s 1,500 metres final, 6.30pm today, BBC One)
SACRED SON
One of the many wonders of sport is that it has a “hide behind the sofa” string to its bow. The tense mixed doubles badminton final had my five-year-old screaming in terror and burying his head in the cushions (maybe he needs to watch less Scooby Doo). The event that has me putting my hands over my eyes is the relay. Athletes who focus so much of the time of their own performances, their own improvements, their own aches and pains are suddenly in a team sport. You can tell that they are uncomfortable with this notion and make it as difficult as possible for the next runner to take up the baton. And, inevitably, the baton falls or the athlete tumbles and, oh, I just can’t look. (Men’s 4 x 100 metres final, 7.45pm today, BBC One)
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COOL BROTHER
Boxing, as we all know, is better in the movies. In the movies, the boxers win when they are supposed to win and, crucially, we all know what they have won and we were all able to watch them win it, after, of course, nearly losing it. But the near impertinent success of young Amir Khan at the Olympics could well have you all reminiscing about the days when real boxing was just as thrilling as Rocky. If so, then wallow in the legend that was Joe Louis and the night 90,000 packed into the Yankee Stadium to see him take on Mr Nasty, Max Schmelling. (Storyville: The Fight, 10pm today, BBC Two)
SOBBING FAMILY
As fans of Six Feet Under will tell you, we all need closure. And so, although the idea of settling down to watch the Olympic closing ceremony may sound naff — all pretty costumes and people you don’t know waving goodbye — it is vital, if you have become in any way addicted to the Games, that you seal the experience and formally bid it farewell. Otherwise, you will find yourselves sitting in front of Bargain Hunt come Monday morning and bursting into tears. (Olympic Closing Ceremony, 7pm tomorrow, BBC One)
AND ANOTHER THING
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The question most often posed by pundits, as we trounced the Aussies, was whether rugby union would overtake football in popularity. This was a stupid question. People need more than one “come on Jonny” morning to devote themselves to a new sport. So, from today, look out for a Sky Sports promotional trailer, titled “Season starts, friendship stops”, for the Zurich Premiership that attempts to rekindle that patriotic fervour of last winter and awaken us to the fact that we can still see those heroes in action every week. I don’t want to spoil the punchlines, but look out for Will Greenwood avoiding buying a round. Note: you would never see a promo for the Barclays Premiership with Wayne Rooney ordering a lager top.