IT IS the privilege of the armchair fan to watch sports presenters grow in stature and then become so cocky that they forget they are on live telly. Gary Lineker is probably at his peak, so fans, be on guard . . .
Cocky Lineker
Match of the Day Live,
Everton v Manchester United,
BBC One, 5.25pm today
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Gary Lineker is becoming more fearless by the week. His comment, after England’s friendly against Holland, that Sven-Göran Eriksson must see things very differently through his glasses if he thought that was an interesting match, made headlines in the tabloids. Lineker has already made a few snide remarks about Sir Alex Ferguson’s refusal to talk to the BBC, but how far will he go today? Hopefully he will suggest that he and Fergie “take it outside” to settle it once and for all.
Addled Auntie
WBC middleweight title bout,
Los Angeles, BBC Two,
10.30pm tomorrow
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There is a fine line it seems between gimmick and tradition. Because Jimmy White is the first snooker player to change his name to raise the profile of a sponsor, the BBC has adopted a stern “we are not amused” stance. Yet when a boxer calls himself a far sillier name than Brown, it is considered a right old hoot. So tomorrow night expect Steve Bunce to screech the monikers Howard “the Battersea Bomber” Eastman and Bernard “ Executioner” Hopkins — even though they are, arguably, more offensive than anything on offer at the snooker.
Don’t miss this
Mike Bassett: England Manager,
Channel 4,
9pm tonight
This film set out to be a satire on the ridiculous men who have been appointed England manager: men who were not first choice, men without impressive credentials, men with northern accents and little in the way of class. But it was released with Sven in the job, while the nation was swooning at his suave confidence. Now though, this film is liable to have the impact it never had at the cinemas. Oh, how we yearn for a slob with a stained tie and thick-rimmed glasses, but passionate patriotism, to be at the helm.
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Catalan revival
Barca: the Inside Story,
BBC Four,
9.05pm tomorrow
Only two years ago Barcelona were in tatters. They looked average on the pitch while Real Madrid, their arch rivals, strutted and preened and revelled in the status as Spain’s most glamorous club. Then a new board was voted in and Joan Laporta promised to revive the Catalan club’s fortunes. It seemed a lost cause but, remarkably, he was true to his word.
This documentary provides little goalmouth action but is still fascinating as it charts how what set out seemingly as a pipedream turned into sound business sense. Chelsea beware.
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What is sport?
The Tournament,
Channel 4,
8pm tonight
We stopped briefly after the glut of darts at the start of the year but then Ellen MacArthur rekindled the debate as to what constitutes sport. In what way, for example is jousting not a sport? It is more athletic than darts, less isolating than yachting and the riders do a heck of a lot more than in horse racing. Perhaps its status suffers by being too medieval. Anyway, judge for yourself in this re-enactment, which has a sort of cup final joust at Pembroke Castle.