This blog is in recognition of a trend which is becoming more and more prevalent in sports. This is the presence of
stars from the world of entertainment being present, or taking part in sporting events (not as competitors, but as attractions). I am a big fan of the sport of tennis. I watch the matches. I do not follow the player’s lives outside of their matches. I have no interest in their private lives, who they are dating, what clothes they wear, etc…, (my
personal view). There are millions of fans who for them, this is a major part of the reason they follow the sport, which I fully understand.
However, watching this years Australian Open on TV, after one of the matches, to my surprise, the courtside interviewer introduced the actor/comedian Will Ferrell( I have never seen or heard him do anything remotely funny), who proceeded to do the courtside interview with Rodger Federer. At this point I also have to mention that during said match Will Smith (actor) was in the crowd as a spectator, and the cameramen spent as much time
zooming in on him as they did covering the match. Going back to courtside interview. It basically was a plug for Will Ferrell who said some mundane comments which had the whole arena in fits of laughter( or were they laughing because they were supposed to.
After all this was the ‘Great Will Ferrell’ and you MUST laugh or you have no sense of humour). Why do broadcasters feel the need to ‘entertain’ us with stars from other walks of life. I understand this being the case in America, as this is a part of their culture, but I always had the idea that us European, and antipodean folk were
not susceptible to this type of behaviour. The question also being. Are we all slowly becoming ‘Americanized ?’ or is this just the ways things are? Are we at the point where if we don’t attract US audiences we cannot put on successful events? Another event where this is becoming more noticeable id Formula 1 racing.
This is a ‘glamour’ sport, and has always attracted the rich and famous. When these people are seen, they are in the role of ‘the privileged’ spectators’ no problem. Most stars have no idea about Formula 1, so it was very surprising to see Lewis Hamilton, the current world champion being presented with his trophy by ex-president Bill Clinton at last year’s US Formula 1 race.Placing this alongside the glamour girls who also serve no purpose, and to my delight are being phased out in this and other sports, will major sports events ever get back to focusing on the sport more and on celebrity less?
Or are those days well and truly behind use due to the audience/fans demands, and the colossal amount of money involved nowadays?
