Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Keeping the peace

 At 0726 this morning, on  sports bulletin on the Radio 4 Today programme,Garry Richardson found himself unable to tell us exactly what was written on the banner borne at one point by Carlos Tevez during yesterday’s victory parade in Manchester. Too tasteless for the nation's breakfast table.

Well there are no such inhibitions on this blog, or in many other media outlets.

It read RIP Fergie.

I just didn’t get it, when I first heard about it on Radio 5 Live last night, so I am grateful to the ESPN website for removing my bewilderment by explaining that it might be a witty take on Sir Alex Ferguson's famous response to a 2009 question as to whether or not Manchester United would ever be underdogs against Manchester City. "Not in my lifetime," he said.

But the BBC is taking no chance. Others might take it to be, at best, a tasteless comment on the rival manager's advancing years or, at worst, a threat to his life.

Sir Alex has only just restored his relationship with the BBC after a prolonged sulk following a programme which he found offensive to his family, so I daresay that the BBC does not wish to risk another rupture so soon.

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