The sanctimonious ‘sexist’ witch hunt that is currently permeating the glossy facade English football coverage is showing no signs of abating today, with fresh clips of otherwise-vidicated Sky Sports anchor Richard Keys hee-hawing about colleague Jamie Redknapp‘s sexual conquests now doing the rounds – and, such is my remit here on Soccerlens, I’m afraid that I’m duty-bound to tell you poor, over-saturated sods all about it.
In the absence of any real news on the footballing front today (several papers have deemed Blackpool manager Ian Holloway‘s weekend mini-break to Chorley as being worthy of a headline billing), is seems like the vast majority of the English press are perfectly willing to press on with driving Sky’s out-moded presenting stable out on to the streets to be beaten senseless with wooden paddles.
After long-standing pundit Andy Gray was handed his P45 by the corporation yesterday for asking co-presenter Charlotte Jackson (a woman) to help tuck his microphone pack into his trousers, Sky are today facing further pressure for Keys to follow his guffawing crony out of the door for asking Redknapp Jnr if he had ‘smashed’ a former girlfriend – giving us all a thoroughly unwanted glimpse into Keys’ nocturnal conduct…
Redknapp: “Oh that Louise? Yeah, yeah. Did you meet her?”
Souness: [Unsurprisingly intelligible]
Keys: “Did you smash it?”
Redknapp: “I used to go out with her.”
Keys: “Mind you, that’s a stupid question. If you were anywhere near it, you definitely smashed it.
You could have gone round there any night and found Redknapp hanging out of the back of it.”
Delightful, I’m sure you’ll agree.
Having already received an ‘official warning’ from Sky following the leak of his pithy exchange with Gray over lineswoman Sian Massey‘s grasp of the offside law last Saturday, the word supposedly emanating from Murdoch Towers is that Keys is now also in line for the chop – with the decision to be made based on the levels of public outcry caused by the video above.
Some have written it off as harmless, testosterone-fuelled banter, others are viewing it as yet another indictment of the bloated institutions that litter football coverage in this country – but, either way, it seems like Sky may now have two gaping holes to plugs in their rapidly self-destructing talent pool.
The number of sexism videos is growing rapidly:
http://skysports.videohq.tv
They are being added by the hour.
Thanks Nicola, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a near-bottomless vault of chauvinist cock-ups from this pair of prats.
“sanctimonious ‘sexist’ witchunt” — really?
speaking as a female fan, thanks for making light of the pervasive culture of disrespect that exists at one of the biggest football broadcasting outlets in the world. it seems clear that sky has decided to throw keys and gray under the bus, but that doesn’t mean their actions aren’t deserving of being fired — only that sky has been negligent in the past to act without this public pressure. and why do you feel the need to put sexism in ironic scare quotes, as if you can’t tell what qualifies to be called a sexist remark?
maybe somebody better get down to the soccerlens headquarters and explain what sexism is….
@lh: I was merely using the apostrophes to mark out the word sexism, rather than imply any kind of sneering cynicism.
I just happen to believe that the incredible amounts of hypocrisy being spouted by the various accusers (media/press) from atop their pedestals is utterly sanctimonious and odiously preachy.
For instance, over the past few days, the Daily Mail have taken a shock/horror stance on the matter whilst illustrating their articles with pictures of Massey in a bikini and Jackson posing in lingerie – and they’re not the only ones!
Believe me, I’m on your side re: sexism (I’m glad Keys/Gray have had their boy’s club disbanded), but I believe the extent to which this debacle has been covered is (as I mention in this article) related only to the dearth of news elsewhere – rather than any deep-seated principles amongst the national press.
“Believe me, I’m on your side re: sexism”
The term ‘witch-hunt’ kind of implies otherwise. Or maybe you think there are real witches out there?