BUA
06-22-2006, 11:14 AM
Of course, Rugby is a hard man’s sport. This, I was taught back at college: that the rugby bowl was an arena where the men were separated from the boys. In any case, rugby is a global presence and it is actually commendable how the promotion of rugby in Sri Lanka has leapt from strength to strength. Mercantile giants such as Caltex, Singer and media stalwarts such as Sirasa TV and ITN are the major players of this new found rugby enthusiasm via the electronic media. Almost every weekend’s eve is guaranteed with a showdown rugby encounter.Says host Chandrishan Perera: “it’s gonna be a chocoblock atmosphere.”
The rugby is Live transmitted into our living rooms along with expert views and comments from a veteran panel – the likes of Chandrishan Perera, Ajith Abeyratne, Vimal Perera, Ravi Vijenadan etc. Chandrishan, “Shan” for short, a former “winger,” is the key member of the commentary team – who, true to his position, keeps things “running.” His commentary completely takes the spectator over. The entire telecast is brilliantly handled. But, either because rugby is a “hard man’s sport” or else due to one’s male chauvinistic ego, the commentary is shadowed by extreme and intolerable sexism. In fact, sometimes the commentator totally gets himself disengaged from the game to discuss the dress, features, the postures of women in the pavilions the nano-second a camera is tilted in that direction. The women are defined as “a part of the game;” so, the commentary, I guess, has to be excused. But, even this conclusion that “women are a part of the game” is morbidly sexist.
Let me give some examples from the game between Army Sports Club and Kandy Sports Club, telecast Live. Every time the camera shifted to the women in the pavilion Shan brakes off from the match commentary to go into raptures about the women. His co-commentator, too, joins in. What we mean to say is: “keep your eyes on the ball, gentlemen!” As commentators, the job at hand is professional – therefore, one should know where to kick and where to run.
We are living in a highly techno-based, race-sensitive, gender-sensitive century. You might get “turned on” by a woman, you might feel like commenting on another person’s “beauty” or features, but you have to contain yourself when you’re live on TV.
A commentator had this to say of the Kandy SC team last week: the team is a quality outfit and the season is still young – there is ample room for improvement. I think the same applies for Shan & Co. Sri Lankan rugby (fans) needs the superb work this team of commentators are carrying out behind the mike. Their work, I feel, is a big asset in the development and the promotion of the game island-wide. So, let’s throw the bathwater and keep the baby, shall we?
--------:yes: :yes: :yes:
The rugby is Live transmitted into our living rooms along with expert views and comments from a veteran panel – the likes of Chandrishan Perera, Ajith Abeyratne, Vimal Perera, Ravi Vijenadan etc. Chandrishan, “Shan” for short, a former “winger,” is the key member of the commentary team – who, true to his position, keeps things “running.” His commentary completely takes the spectator over. The entire telecast is brilliantly handled. But, either because rugby is a “hard man’s sport” or else due to one’s male chauvinistic ego, the commentary is shadowed by extreme and intolerable sexism. In fact, sometimes the commentator totally gets himself disengaged from the game to discuss the dress, features, the postures of women in the pavilions the nano-second a camera is tilted in that direction. The women are defined as “a part of the game;” so, the commentary, I guess, has to be excused. But, even this conclusion that “women are a part of the game” is morbidly sexist.
Let me give some examples from the game between Army Sports Club and Kandy Sports Club, telecast Live. Every time the camera shifted to the women in the pavilion Shan brakes off from the match commentary to go into raptures about the women. His co-commentator, too, joins in. What we mean to say is: “keep your eyes on the ball, gentlemen!” As commentators, the job at hand is professional – therefore, one should know where to kick and where to run.
We are living in a highly techno-based, race-sensitive, gender-sensitive century. You might get “turned on” by a woman, you might feel like commenting on another person’s “beauty” or features, but you have to contain yourself when you’re live on TV.
A commentator had this to say of the Kandy SC team last week: the team is a quality outfit and the season is still young – there is ample room for improvement. I think the same applies for Shan & Co. Sri Lankan rugby (fans) needs the superb work this team of commentators are carrying out behind the mike. Their work, I feel, is a big asset in the development and the promotion of the game island-wide. So, let’s throw the bathwater and keep the baby, shall we?
--------:yes: :yes: :yes: