22 May 2012

Radio blues

Paddy Lewis

2/11/2011 10:45:00 a.m.

0 Comments

THE Radio Network’s decision to pull coverage of Plunket Shield cricket games has seen many sports reporters and cricket commentators calling this the “thin end of the wedge”.
Setting aside the fact they should be getting their own clichés and not re-using those already used to describe this disgrace, it’s not surprising, given that Radio Sport is less about sport and more about the lowest common denominator every day.
A few years ago, it used to be good.  You had Martin Devlin in the morning, who, whilst being a show pony shock-sort-of-jock, at least knew about sport and got interesting guests and insightful commentary on overnight sporting issues.
In the afternoons you had Graham Hill, who was more a documentary-type show but at least was a sporting encyclopaedia and interesting.
Now, it’s that execrable little reprobate Tony Veitch in the mornings, with all the insightfulness of a scrunched up paper towel at the bottom of a rubbish bin, Brendan “I’ve Been Here So Long They Can’t Fire Me Even Though My Memory Is Going” Telfer, the moronic Miles Davis after lunch, and then by drivetime I can’t be bothered with whatever equal opportunities employee they have on.
My idea of Hell is driving a car from Invercargill to Picton with the radio stuck on Radio Sport.  Their live sport coverage is patchy at best, and as for trotting out the walking cadaver that is Murray Deaker each Sunday, well, that’s an audience-killer, right there.
Apparently the Radio Network wants to save money, and NZ Cricket wants to drive traffic to its own live-scoring website.
Can I just, in the least polite way, point out to the eggheaded fishheads (yes, I know that doesn’t make sense) at NZ Cricket that:
 1. It is ****ing stupid to think that I will be looking at a laptop or smartphone while I am trying to paint a roof in summer
2. I’d get fired if I were standing around looking at a website when I’m supposed to be holding a stop/go sign in the middle of summer
3. Taking your smartphone/laptop to the beach to follow a live scoring website on the Plunket Shield just paints you as a sad wanker.
On the flip side, it is scientifically proven that:
1. You get a better roof paint finish with live domestic four day cricket coming through the wireless
2. You don’t get fired for listening to Otago v Auckland at Eden Park number two whilst holding a stop/go sign
3. Taking your wireless to the beach to follow four-day domestic cricket wins you heaps of mates who want to know how Wellington is going against Central Districts.
The further dumbing-down of dumbarse radio, sorry, Radio Sport, is a far cry from the halcyon days not so long ago of Sports Roundup.  You could listen to sport until 11pm (or later, if there was something happening overseas involving us).
Now, at night, we get Fox Sports Radio – which is exactly like Radio Sport – ads with morons interspersed.
What’s their next great idea?  The Hip Hop Hour every day with Jonah Lomu?  The Travel Show with the NZ Olympic Committee chair?  Cooking With Piri?
Thin end of the wedge?  More like the thick end of a further descent into brainless torpor…
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Cover Story

Best of Wellington 2011

Briefs

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    Controversial Washington-based nutritionist Sally Fallon-Morell is to speak in Wellington on March 29.
    Fallon-Morell is the co-founder of the American food lobby group the Weston A. Price Foundation and the author of Nourishing Traditions. She advocates for the consumption of nutritionally dense foods such as lacto-fermented vegetables, stocks and broths, and whole raw dairy products.
    Fallon-Morell will speak at St Patrick’s College Hall on March 29.

  • Relay for cancer

    Organisers say Sunday’s Relay for Life is full to capacity with hundreds of Wellingtonians registered for the event.
    A total of 88 teams, made up of 10 to 500 members, plan to take part with a further 25 teams on the waiting list.
    The 24 hour relay, the Cancer Society’s biggest fundraising event of the year, takes place at Frank Kitts Park from 4pm on March 31.

  • Osteoarthritis awareness

    Arthritis New Zealand has launched a nationwide campaign raise awareness about osteoarthritis. 
    Arthritis is New Zealand’s leading cause of disability, affecting 305,000 adults, and osteoarthritis is its most common form.
    The campaign features television commercials and an interactive website.


  • Wild walk

    Take part in the Big Walk at Zealandia on March 31.
    Walkers can choose a two, five or 10 kilometre walk catering to all fitness levels.
    Money raised will go to the Foundation for Youth Development.

  • School pool

    The opening of the new Khandallah School pool this week means hundreds of children will be able to continue their swimming lessons.
    The pool was the first to receive a grant from Wellington City Council’s Schools Pools Partnership Fund, a fund set up in 2010 to help schools improve their pool facilities.
    Grants from the fund have also been made for pools at Wellington East Girls’ College, Barhampore School and Tawa School.

  • Easter bikers

    Motorcyclists are invited to get on their bikes and collect Easter eggs for families support from the Wellington City Mission.
    The charity run on April 1 is organised by motorcycle lobby group BONZ.
    Eggs can be donated at Red Baron Motorcylces in Alicetown. The registration fee for bikers is $10, plus the cost of Easter eggs.

  • Crafty

    Made on Marion opens on the site of the former Golding Handicrafts site in Marion St, from April 1.  They will continue to supply craft materials.

  • Ze upgrade

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    The job will take four weeks.

  • Newlands Moves

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  • Baring Head

    There's a new  draft plan out for what should happen at Baring Head.  It outlines how the Greater Wellington Regional council would like to manage the newest addition to its regional parks network. Grazing animals will go, motorised vehicles will be prohibited, predators will be controlled, and the lighthouse will be preserved. Submissions are invited.


  • It’s a wonder

    A new childcare centre in Newtown says it is dedicated to helping kids grow up healthy in mind, body and spirit. Little Wonders Childcare on Rintoul Street is an independent early childhood education and learning centre, the sixth centre to be opened by its Auckland-based owner. It caters to 100 children aged between three months and five years old and has been open for a little more than seven weeks.

  • Festival treats

    CHILDREN have not been forgotten by organisers of the New Zealand International Arts Festival.
    For a perfect first theatrical experience White tells the story of friends Cotton and Winkle who live in a world where there is no colour and everything is startlingly white. That is until a brightly coloured egg tumbles out of the sky and changes their world for ever.
    White plays at Capital E from March 7-11.
    The tale of Peter and the World also promises to be a magical night for all ages. Sergei Prokofiev’s classic children’s tale is told through film and live music from the NZ Symphony Orchestra at the Michael Fowler Centre on March 9.
    March 11 is Young Writers and Readers Day and readings from children’s writers and illustrators Lynley Dodd and Gavin Bishop.

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