Transendentialisationalism... or a tribue, if that's any easier...

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 19 January 2005 21:52:57

OK so some people transend their given role.. Reggie White, the Green Bay Packer legend, the Minister of Defence, became more than an American Football player, Stephen Fry has become much more than a comedian, David Beckham has become whatever he's become, Gary Neville is the pin up Gumby of choice for misery guts, moanalots everywhere and Bono has become an international statesman of mystery. Zorro meets Gordon Brown.

Anyhow, just a brief tribute to someone who's probably slipped under your radar...

Years ago I started to watch American Football at art college. There were a lot of fans around and I thought I'll give it a shot for a Superbowl. It was broadcast on Channel 4 and the presentation was patchy, some years good some bad. Then, one year they get a kid reporter in :) Gary Imlach. And instantly he's more than just the sub-presenter. The main presenter must've seen it a mile off.. Imlach has so much screen presence that he had to front the show eventually. And front the show he did. And some of my favourite comedy moments.. TV moments... come from his capable hands.

Then Channel 4 lost the rights to Channel 5. Maybe they just stopped bidding don't know. And channel 5 started giving us the cheapest possible American Football coverage.

You've got to understand Am Foot means little to me, rarely has. The characters are not hugely likeable (some exceptions of course, who can fail to like Peyton Manning and Brett Fauvre, Lombardi or.. actually it's the managers that are the interest. They're often good value...) but a lot are money-mouthed egotists. The game itself has none of the speed of football or rugby and.. well.. basically it loses something in the translation.

What it did have was an ambassador. And the ambassador had the biggest Ferrero Rochers of the all (if that doesn't sound too wrong...) Gary Imlach gave Am Foot heart, comedy, cheerfulness and whimsey. He was worth watching, more than the sport that he presented. The most miserable tv moment of my life (and yes, more than that one...) was when I saw that American Football had lost its gentle genius, the Brit that made american Football great. Big B, little a.

It was wifey that noticed it last week. That ITV had the American Football. That Imlach was back. For the first time in a long time I looked forward to a TV show. I couldn't wait. Not enough screen time (he only presents one of the four matches, but fronts the show) but GI was back and I couldn't be happier about that. Welcome back Gary, an entire sport has missed you.

His match report is here: http://www.nfluk.com/features-display.php?id=1145 but there's a whole history you're missing by just seeing the words...

Tangent 1: Bad luck Exeter. You tried your best and an entire nation was rooting for you. Good sport anyhow.

Tangent 2: Never have a rant on an empty stomach, a week off full strength, an empty wallet and a morning that started at 4 am (thanks Stephen). Just leaves you feeling more miserable and defeated at the end of it more than anything else... That said don't think I meant what I said and so far the notepads for book 2 remain unburnt.. But did have a cross morning and any prayers would be welcomed.

Currently listening to: Radio 5. Money orientated unsporting zeroes beat heroic upstarts 2-0. Sad. Currently playing: Outrun 2 and Wario Ware. Earthworm Jim: Sega Megadrive....Favourite Imlach quote of the week: "it was two teams agasint the weather.. and the weather was winning...."