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Liz Smith, MSP: The little Scotlander approach to sport should be kicked out

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Published Date: 16 July 2009
SPORT transcends politics, giving hope and inspiration to millions: it does not respect political divisions and nor should it.
The British Lions held the UK captive during their recent tour to South Africa. Chris Hoy's Olympic heroics were cheered both north and south of the Border, as were Andy Murray's recent efforts in reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon. And, of course...



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  • Last Updated: 15 July 2009 11:41 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

redcliffe62,

16/07/2009 00:46:29
if in a 10 minute bulletin the natives of huddersfield were subjected to 2 minutes of shinty updates between newtonmore and kingussie i am sure they would question the sanity of the media organisation that forced them to watch something they had at best a passing interest in.
the assumption that scotland is 3% of the beeb in real terms and they can like it or lump it seems to be the attitude prevalent from beeb gchq. (englander division)
is it too much to ask that in those 10 minutes that the news actually relates to matters in scotland. even if it means a bloke in amike reading the results. that 3% has to get stretched hard to accomodate all those bosses pensions i guess!
2

CowalDude,

Alba 16/07/2009 01:18:33
I think the real issue here is broadcasting not the sport. I am sure that cricket is a minority interest here in Scotland but it is still of interest to a sizable group. The real issue is the metropolitan myopia of the broadcast media; thus if programme decisions for Scotland were made here then the programming would reflect the popular interests. Metro-myopia applies to many other aspects of programming as it has to reflect the majority (beefeater) interest. The only adequate solution is to create a Scottish Broadcaster reflecting the temper of Scotland and its perspective of the world - not to "ban" any sport, not even rounders, sorry cricket!
3

,

16/07/2009 03:07:33
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
4

donald,

glasgow 16/07/2009 05:14:01
Team GB imperialism rools. Keep politic out of Labour.
5

For Scotlands Future,

Vote for the SNP 16/07/2009 06:58:16
Er!!! Wouldn't that be the British and IRISH Lions - or is Team GB resolving the "Irish Question" in a most interesting way??
6

Grahamski,

Falkirk 16/07/2009 07:45:01
So much for the SNP lies about how they are civic nationalists and not knuckle-dragging, petty and ill-informed bigots.....
aye, right.
7

Linda,

Edinburgh 16/07/2009 08:50:36
It's really all about the BBC's london centric coverage of all things in England but ignores or fails to invest an equivalent or proportionate coverage and money in Scottish sport.

8

mr broon,

Edinburgh 16/07/2009 09:12:03
Tens of thousands of Scots sports fan enjoy cricket and have absolutely no trouble supporting the England cricket team.

The Scots are also spoiled by the television coverage of the domestic SPL, and the English Premiership, undoubtedly the best league in the world.

The English like the Scots are totally obsessed with fitba. However, the England national football team is a completely different matter.

The England football team always receives more coverage than the Celtic national teams, especially when it is involved in a major competition, and non-English sports fans are subject to totally irrational English jingoism.

It is forced down viewers throats in over-the-top coverage whether they like it or not! This does not happen in cricket, and to a lesser, bearable extent in rugby.

In recent times, fortunately for the Scots, English expectations at football rarely ever match reality!
9

Queen D,

16/07/2009 09:37:50
I have fond memories of the England / Croatia match!

I have come to the conclusion that the commentators who witter on in the most condescending ,partisan manner ( not to mention 1966 till one is blue in the face!) are really to blame for the " anyone but England " in football matches.
I strongly suspect that there are more countries than Scotland who think this way, not too far away either!
10

scotnotbrit,

langlees 16/07/2009 10:02:29
chris hoy is british , i aint . if it has a union flag associated with it, i wish it ill , not just in sport but generally . i am overtly irreconcilably ANTI british . i have NEVER since attaining adulthood several decades ago , accepted the appellation "british" without demur . to obtain a passport , to do any of those things that the british state has illegally abrogated to itself from the criminal act of union onwards . i must by necessity conform . but i wont accept any natural rights that the british state takes to itself , as a rejectionst , is the only way i can exist
11

scotnotbrit,

langlees 16/07/2009 10:04:01
TEAM GRUBBY BOLLEAUX
12

Esox Hunter,

Edinburgh 16/07/2009 10:05:44
This fiasco just shows how hateful and ill informed SNP MSPs and their supporters are, where instead of welcoming the growth of a sport in Scotland, they choose to vilify it because of its perceived connections with England. This follows a sadly depressing a regular pattern, from the Barmy Christine Grahame's campaigns to grab Berwick upon Tweed and to repatriate Mary Queen of Scots remains.

Thankfully Liz Smiths article graphically illustrates the growth of crickets popularity and whilst it is not a sport that I particularly enjoy watching I hope it goes from strength to strength. Who knows given a couple of decades we might just get to the upper eschelons.
13

Esox Hunter,

Edinburgh 16/07/2009 10:07:21
#10 Oh dear I think the phrase I am looking for is
"Get a Life" !!
14

scotnotbrit,

langlees 16/07/2009 10:41:10
# 13

oh dear, i think the phrase i'm looking for would see me bumped , you'll just have to imagine my response .

my life has been exciting , far flung and VERY rewarding .
15

The Saltire,

16/07/2009 11:45:35
"Liz Smith, MSP: The little Scotlander approach to sport should be kicked out"

However there is always more room for the little Englander approach to sport as advertised so effectively on Sky, BBC, ITV, The Sun, The Mirror, The Sport, The Telegraph, The People etc etc etc etc.
16

The Saltire,

16/07/2009 11:47:39
12

Why do you trolls always pretend youre from Edinburgh? The Scotsman recruits daaan Souwwff not in Edinburgh.
17

The Saltire,

16/07/2009 11:49:27
6

Dont tell me, not only are you the only radical left wing royalist in the country but youre the only radical left wing Scottish royalist in the country who loves cricket as well?
18

Eve,

Scotland 16/07/2009 12:53:22
#5 For Scotlands Future: Aye it's BUT Liz Smith is to busy ranting to realise that. Along with assuming that we all tuned in to watch those games.

Personally I don't watch in protist cause it's very rare for them to put a Scot on he field, so therefore who wins doesnae bother me.

Oh and would also seem that she hadn't been watching the telly round about Wimbledon because I saw at least one programme where their was English people slagging of Andy Murry.

I think the whole point of her rant is to stop us from wanting oor own Olympic team. Which we as a country deserve. If Hong Kong's aloud to have their own team, why not Scotland.
19

Arfur,

16/07/2009 12:58:49
If the idiot that wrote this thinks (the majority) of Scots will ever support England or even a butchers apron 11 then they are sadly deluded just like the posters that are calling for (the majority) of Scots to 'get a life'.

Why o why should i support another country just because they are next to us?

And before anyone says i am being racist or something like that - i dont support whoever is playing England i just couldnt care less how England do - its not my country.

Well said #15
20

Eve,

Scotland 16/07/2009 12:59:55
Oh just googled Liz Smith, cause this is the first time I've heard of her. She a Tory, so the contents of this article has know been explained.
21

TheDisplacedGlaswegian,

Edinburgh 16/07/2009 13:27:44
The term "Little Scotlander" is derogatory - there's nothing like a quisling to play down their country. As for those folks telling people to get a life, I am a Scot first and foremost and I care not a jot about partnering with France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Brazil or (dare I say it without being branded a racist) England or whoever at sports. I'd rather have a Scottish team. Learn to live with it folks - there are people who like the idea of the union and there are people who don't.
22

Esox Hunter,

Edinburgh 16/07/2009 13:44:47
#16 Mmmmmmmm rather sad. I'm Edinburgh born and bred and proud to be both Scottish and British.

#20 Eve Liz Smith is a tory MSP so perhaps you should show a bit more interest in politics before prattling your narrow seperatist nonsense. And it would help if more of you actually bought the Scotsman (it only costs 75p you know) and read articles in full before feeling entitled to comment on the basis of haf a dozen lines on here.
23

Herry Oaksters,

16/07/2009 13:55:53
I love to see England getting stuffed at any sport.
24

Grahamski,

Falkirk 16/07/2009 14:05:35
23
"I love to see England getting stuffed at any sport."
Cybernats exposed as the anti-english bigots they truly are.
Time to dash, my job here is done.....
25

Gruntfuttock,

16/07/2009 14:36:55
In the field behind my house a group of lads play cricket every Sunday- most of them are of Asian descent. Even though cricket is a minority interest in Scotland many of these new Scots (whom apparently the SNP which to woo) are great fans of the game. Why deny them their pleasure? I hate Formula 1 racing but it would never occur to me to ban it because it was ethnically impure.
26

Eve,

16/07/2009 14:42:33
#22 Esox Hunter: Yer touchy the day! Did you fall out of bed this morning?

My political opinion is not nonsense nor is it narrow minded. Having vision, seeing positive potential away from what has unfortunately become the status qua and believing in equality and empowerment could never be labeled as narrow minded.

I would of though narrow mindedness evolved having no vision (cause all you can see it whats in front of you and that's the status qua)and no want anything to change and have serous tunnel vision towards the status qua.

I wouldnae want to read the rest of the article, cause I've got better things to do than spend my day reading the cries from the far right. Cause as you say shes a Tory MSP.

The article is about sports and achievement in that lines. When politicians bring up sports I have every right to query why there is no Scotland team to support in the Olympics.
--------------------------------------------------------
Really I wish that unionist would learn the meaning of words before they use them. Or print their funky new definitions of the words at the bottom of their comment.
27

Satire above all,

16/07/2009 15:17:51
>>>Tens of thousands of Scots sports fan enjoy cricket and have absolutely no trouble supporting the England cricket team.<<<<

YOUR HAVING A LAUGH MATE ..AREN'T YOU? THAT IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS SENTENCE I'VE READ ON HERE IN A WHILE AND THERE ARE A GOOD MANY OF THOSE!
28

Satire above all,

16/07/2009 15:24:20
>>>>
chris hoy is british , i aint . if it has a union flag associated with it, i wish it ill , not just in sport but generally . i am overtly irreconcilably ANTI british . i have NEVER since attaining adulthood several decades ago , accepted the appellation "british" without demur . to obtain a passport , to do any of those things that the british state has illegally abrogated to itself from the criminal act of union onwards . i must by necessity conform . but i wont accept any natural rights that the british state takes to itself , as a rejectionst , is the only way i can exist
<<<

ME TOO :-)

29

Esox Hunter,

Edinburgh 16/07/2009 16:33:35
#26 Which words do we need to learn the meaning of Eve

Oh and while we are on the subject of etymology please note that the phrase is status quo. Just a thought or as you say..... I would have though !!
30

Eve,

Scotland 16/07/2009 17:43:55
#29 Esox Hunter: So you did in other words, cause anyone can clearly see it's a confusion with words or in that particular case missed "t" when typing, which off course you could obviously tell.

Sorry it was only earlier this week that a unionist used the term illiterate in an incredibly odd manner. (and it's no the first time I've heard or saw unionst miss use that term, just like your no the first one to oddly label a Scot Nat who has largely socialist view point with the word narrow applying that they are narrow minded) Now that individual was showing signs of the things you accused me of.

Thank you for using the word etymology, I do enjoy learning new words. BUT for your information try spell check the word quo it doesnae recognise it as a word, it gives you "Quot", "Que", "Duo" and "Qua" so being dyslexic I naturally thought that "Qua" was the right spelling.
31

Queen D,

16/07/2009 18:09:55
Eve , obviously Esox Hunter thinks himself a cut above and equally obviously he has'nt posted here very often because the world and its granny knows you're dyslexic.
Keep on trucking lass!
But never rely on spell check the Americans have a different and easier view of English!
32

Brianwci,

16/07/2009 19:29:41
Anything English is deemed by definition to be of interest, if not vital importance to the rest of Britain.

Anything Scottish or Welsh tends to be seen as parochial, if not actually quaint and therefore only of interest to the 'natives'.

Amazingly there are many in Scotland only too keen to support this position, happily though their numbers are dwindling fast.
33

morris,

edinburgh 16/07/2009 20:38:36
12 You are talking utter mince. Cricket has very limited appeal in Scotland and it has bog all to do with the SNP.WE just dont watch it much.
The numbers in Scotland who watch cricket or even care about it are of the order of 1% in Edinburgh,so God knows what they are elsewhere I doubt if its even a whole number!
34

The Saltire,

16/07/2009 21:31:51
24

You could have posted that for all we know.
35

Alan B,

16/07/2009 22:22:10
We are second class, not worthy, treated with contempt, deal with it.
36

Al Ghaf,

17/07/2009 08:19:07
Q: The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) made the decision in 1997 not to include a letter in their initials, what is that missing letter?

A: W
B: E

Q: The England & Wales Cricket Board has 3 lions and a crown as its logo, which country is normally associated with 3 lions?

A: Wales
B: England
C: Great Britain

Q: What is the name of the team that Welsh international cricketers play for?

A: Australia
B: England

Complete this famous shorthand word meaning 'narrow, self-centred, nationalist view'

......scotlander

 

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