Play the ball, not the man

by

As a seasoned movie critic who has spent years dissecting films for their narrative, visual appeal, and emotional impact, I find myself drawn to the captivating drama unfolding on our television screens – not the big screen, mind you, but the small one in our living rooms. The story of Gary Lineker’s tenure as the host of Match of the Day is a gripping tale of power, politics, and the unyielding love for football that binds us all together.

Add Match of the Day to your watchlist

Was it a well-scored goal or a mistake by the goalkeeper? I wasn’t sure when Bournemouth scored against Liverpool on March 11, 2023, and neither were many others, as that day English sports broadcasting was largely halted due to Gary Lineker’s suspension from Match of the Day. After the former footballer-turned-presenter was suspended for a tweet with political undertones, numerous other presenters, analysts, and commentators followed suit in solidarity. The BBC was compelled to air the show that evening without its iconic theme song (did Lineker play the trumpet as well?) and it ran for only a fraction of the typical 80 minutes, with less chatter and jargon.

In a turn of events unprecedented when Lineker initially joined the BBC sports studio as co-host with the esteemed Des Lynam, it was an influence of remarkable cultural significance that seemed almost inconceivable at the time. Reflecting back to RT, Lynam described his apprentice: “At first, he wasn’t accustomed to it. When he first appeared, he wouldn’t offer criticism towards anyone.

The current employer of Lineker might long for the past, those calmer times when the ex-striker leaned more on his impressive athletic achievements rather than his eloquent speech. His glory days in the World Cup (as we see it today) comprise the Golden Boot for top scorer in Mexico 1986 and his emotional concern for Paul Gascoigne’s tears at Italia 1990. Add to that a FA Cup win with Spurs, his fluency in Spanish at Barcelona, an unblemished playing career without a single yellow card (let alone a red), and you have a field reputation that he transformed into a charming, self-effacing TV presentation style.

It’s time for him to go. His salary galls in the face of cuts elsewhere

Afterward, there was plenty of friendly banter, building excitement for the major matches and emphasizing they were just games. He backed Leicester City even before it became fashionable to do so. Lynam complimented his successor’s exceptional work, and it is widely agreed that the position Lineker is about to leave will be his own, as he has truly made it his own.

Simultaneously, it’s clear that the time has come for him to depart. The BBC finds itself in a delicate position given his suspension and the subsequent uproar, attempting to maintain their last remaining strength – impartiality – while dealing with an influential figure who frequently expresses political views. His £1.35 million salary feels particularly grating amidst budget cuts across the BBC. Lineker allegedly is quite conversational with fans for extended periods, even claiming his BBC income comes from those same people seeking selfies. Perhaps that money could be redirected elsewhere now.

It doesn’t make much difference who takes over for Lineker; the key points are a) they get paid significantly less and b) someone steps in to do the job. I had to critique an odd episode of that program back in March 2023 for Radio 4 (very BBC!), and it was only then I understood how crucial all that studio chatter and jargon is to the overall viewing experience, not just knowing whether it was a great goal or something else.

Despite an abundance of football content available through various club TV channels, live streaming platforms, and numerous other sources, the popularity of a late-night show that delivers highlights, analysis, and validation of fans’ biases remains undiminished. This program, airing at the ideal time, has proven to be a timeless favorite. When Lynam moved to an early-evening slot on ITV, he didn’t transfer his audience. Instead, MOTD persisted and will continue to do so.

Read More

2024-11-14 18:34