NFL Week 2

Oh the joys of games not running to schedule.

In the old days I used to stick a 4 hour vhs tape into the recorder and it would record the overnight game while I slept. But every now and again I would mistakenly place one of those 3 hour tapes in and the next evening, having studiously avoided the score, would find myself watching a game that abruptly ends only for me. I thought those days were behind me with the advent of the intelligent life force that is the Sky+ box - how wrong I was.

So if last week was all about the nostalgia of the NFL being on Channel 4 this weeks less welcome nostalgia trip was all about a game you've been enjoying for over 3 hours suddenly ending on the screen well before the game in the stadium has ended. I thought I was being clever when I series linked ESPN's Monday Night Football, however, this weeks 49ers Saints game ended for me when the programme was scheduled to end but  before the 49ers TD & 2-point conversion tied the game and before the Saints kicked the winning Field Goal as time expired. You'd think, I thought as I stared at the message telling me my programme had ended, if it is as clever as it likes to think it is that this Sky+ box would know that the game hadn't finished wouldn't you?

No such troubles with the Sunday night game, where rather bizarrely Channel 4 decided that this weeks dip into the archives should be to dredge up the presenting pair that hammered more nails into the coffin of the sport on Channel 4 than any other. Did they think we look back fondly on the guys that turned so many away from the sport? Mike Carlson clearly wasn't impressed with his "idiots" comment when the clip finished but then Carlson does give the impression at times that he believes himself to be a superior being than the rest of us, with knowledge about the game not to be found in the audience and, most noticeably, his co-presenter. Gary Imlach seems to be aware of this because he's positively bursting with all sorts of interesting snippets to prove he really does know things about the sport. I finished the game fast forwarding through the studio segments and would think this will be the case for the rest of the Channel 4 season.

Watching the game live, of course, removes the ability to fast forward through the studio drivel and so, still fuming because Schwartz hadn't taken the points and gone for it on 4th & 1 (yes I know I really should let it go now), I joined the Sky team and the Patriots at Jets game. I realised this week just how much Nick & Kevin rely on a good guest because when they don't have one they are not good enough to carry the show. Surely by now Sky could've found a third presenter that can not only make every show but has a reasonable NFL background (whether coaching or playing) so can provide insightful, intelligent observations. 

Looks like I missed another good early game on Sky while following the Lions so this week will have to give serious consideration to adding another game to the Sky+ recordings although I have a feeling I will miss the end of an awful lot more games if I do.