Tonight I witnessed one of the most contrived sporting events I have ever had the misfortune to see. Growing up I was an immense speedway fan and regularly went to see Norwich Stars.
Tonight I decided to watch the world team championships. It was a farce and not pure sporting theatre and gripping stuff as the commentators suggested. I don't profess to understand all the silly rules of the evening, suffice it to say that due to a joker system we had riders trying not to win races and virtually stopping on the line to let other riders beat them.
The issue surrounded the joker system. It went something like the team in second place couldn't double up their points by using a joker unless they were at least six points behind the leaders. So Denmark fixed it so that Australia stayed less than six points behind and then Australia fixed it by deliberately not trying in a heat so they would fall six points behind and so could use the joker. It was basically their way of getting free points which the leaders could not have access to.
As it turned out Denmark won the title without being able to play their joker. We could have had the farce of Australia being able to double up their points and winning the competition whilst Denmark came second simply because they weren't able to play their joker. Whoever thinks up these contrived rules and whatever happened to pure sport of the team gaining the most points without gimmicks winning? Very often speedway isn't accepted as a real sport - this shows why it has lost credibility. It's more like It's a Knockout!!!! The trophy was named after former Swedish world champion and Norwich rider Ove Fundin. He was in the crowd. I just wonder what he thought of the shenanigans.
Moved from that to watch an equally contrived quiz. Secret Fortune on BBC 1 is so contrived that I doubt whether even the contestants understand what's going on.
On the news Didier Drogba said that he hasn't gone to play in China because of money - yeah right. Why else would he move from the best league in the world (British Premier) to the backwaters of China where the whole game is under a corruption cloud? I reckon the £200,000 a week may have had something to do with it.
Tomorrow Hethersett are competing in the finals of the Norfolk Village Games at UEA Sportspark. We are hoping for a dry day and looking to finish one better than last year when we were runners-up.
Tonight I decided to watch the world team championships. It was a farce and not pure sporting theatre and gripping stuff as the commentators suggested. I don't profess to understand all the silly rules of the evening, suffice it to say that due to a joker system we had riders trying not to win races and virtually stopping on the line to let other riders beat them.
The issue surrounded the joker system. It went something like the team in second place couldn't double up their points by using a joker unless they were at least six points behind the leaders. So Denmark fixed it so that Australia stayed less than six points behind and then Australia fixed it by deliberately not trying in a heat so they would fall six points behind and so could use the joker. It was basically their way of getting free points which the leaders could not have access to.
As it turned out Denmark won the title without being able to play their joker. We could have had the farce of Australia being able to double up their points and winning the competition whilst Denmark came second simply because they weren't able to play their joker. Whoever thinks up these contrived rules and whatever happened to pure sport of the team gaining the most points without gimmicks winning? Very often speedway isn't accepted as a real sport - this shows why it has lost credibility. It's more like It's a Knockout!!!! The trophy was named after former Swedish world champion and Norwich rider Ove Fundin. He was in the crowd. I just wonder what he thought of the shenanigans.
Moved from that to watch an equally contrived quiz. Secret Fortune on BBC 1 is so contrived that I doubt whether even the contestants understand what's going on.
On the news Didier Drogba said that he hasn't gone to play in China because of money - yeah right. Why else would he move from the best league in the world (British Premier) to the backwaters of China where the whole game is under a corruption cloud? I reckon the £200,000 a week may have had something to do with it.
Tomorrow Hethersett are competing in the finals of the Norfolk Village Games at UEA Sportspark. We are hoping for a dry day and looking to finish one better than last year when we were runners-up.
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