Us vs Them

Often the measure of sports commentary is whether or not the announcers - the talent - are using neutral terminology. There is an assumption at the best work is done with it is team agnostic - never saying the first person possessives for the home side.

For the national broadcasters, I would concur. However, there is a certain stylistic choice to be made as well. If you want the viewer or listener to identify with your side, there is a certain amount of personalization that comes in.

Thus the enjoyment of listening to the announcers on this year's World Cup. Perhaps when you neutralize the sport a bit - watching an event you may not know all the intricate ins-and-outs - these things become more obvious. You start to listen to the words a little closer.

The Italians? No love lost for their style of play by the many Brit announcers. Speaking of the ability to fall at the hint of contact, one analyst was blunt during the half time report: "in England, that's called cheating."

Later during the New Zealand-Italy match, another light contact results in an Azzurri Academy Award performance:

Ally McCoist - "Dear me . . . it's getting a little bit embarrassing."

Ian Darke - "And deeply pathetic I'd have to say, too."

Coincidence the director fonted up the announcer's names right after that exchange?

As they might say on SKY Sports - Brilliant.

(BTW - A little googling reveals McCoist as former player and current Rangers assistant manager in the Scottish Premier League; Darke one of SKY's top presenters.)