Sportsworld bye-bye

The writing has been on the wall for a while, but it's surprising - and disappointing - to see the plug pulled on "Sportsworld" at Canadian specialty sports cable-tv channel The Score. For what seems like the better part of a decade, the program produced a nightly 30 mins. round-up of international sports and commentary. Hosted by ex-pat Brit James Sharman, the show provided frequent coverage of soccer, cricket, motor sports, tennis., etc., and particular to my self-interest, rugby union. Their coverage was often frustrating, but it was one of the only media outlets in Canada to provide regular rugby coverage and was valuable for that alone. Hopefully the station will continue to broadcast the IRB's "Total Rugby" program.

So, that was fun while it lasted, thanks for the ride.

Sharman will now dedicate all his energies to his new "Footy Show." Footie, meaning even more gossip about Sir Alex Ferguson saying nasty things about Jose Mourinho and vice-versa. Truthfully, it's pretty much been that for the past year.

Sharman writes, "it is a statement of our intent to ride this massive pro-soccer wave that in my opinion will never crash, only gain momentum."

And-a-one, and-a two...

Standing in the rain, with his head hung low
Couldn't get a ticket, it was a sold out show
Heard the roar of the crowd, he could picture the scene
Put his ear to the wall, then like a distant scream

He heard one guitar, just blew him away
He saw stars in his eyes, and the very next day
Bought a beat up six string in a secondhand store
Didn't know how to play it, but he knew for sure

That one guitar, felt good in his hands
Didn't take long, to understand
Just one guitar, slung way down low
Was one way ticket, only one way to go

So he started rockin'
Ain't never gonna stop
Gotta keep on rockin'
Someday he's gonna make it to the top

And be a juke box hero, got stars in his eyes
He's a juke box hero
He took one guitar, juke box hero, stars in his eyes
Juke box hero, he'll come alive tonight

Now he needs to keep rockin'
He just can't stop
Gotta keep on rockin'
That boy has got to stay on top

And be a juke box hero, got stars in his eyes
He's a juke box hero, got stars in his eyes
Yeah, juke box hero, got stars in his eyes
With that one guitar hell come alive
Come alive tonight

Yeah, he's gotta keep rockin'
He just can't stop
Gotta keep on rockin
That boy has got to stay on top

And be a juke box hero, got stars in his eyes
He's a juke box hero, got stars in his eyes
Just one guitar, put stars in his eyes
He's just a juke box hero, aah aah aah
Juke box hero, juke box hero, he's got stars in his eyes
Stars in his eyes

(-A fairly well-known song from a really shitty band called Foreigner.)