A True Champion

I spent an enjoyable afternoon today watching the final round of the Open Golf Championship, this year being held at Royal Birkdale. Well, I tried to watch as grandchildren Jack and Hannah came over and they demanded Papa's attention...

Padraig Harrington, the defending champion, played some outstanding golf to retain his title. His second shot at the 17th was quite phenomenal. But what particularly impressed me was the quite superb sportsmanship from everyone concerned. In his winner's speech, Harrington thanked just about everyone in the Emerald Isle but his tribute to the runner up Ian Poulter, the amateur champion Chris Wood and the legendary Greg Norman - who came close to an astonishing and historic triumph - showed that modern day sportsmen - and women - can behave with dignity and courtesy.

Footballers are probably the worst example of poor behaviour with constant winding up of the opposition and the shameful trait of cheating to gain an advantage a feature of almost every game these days. I know it's too much to expect the Corinthian spirit in sport these days but golf is as close to retaining that as any. Although disappointment was etched across his face at the end, Greg Norman still took time to pay tribute to the champion, saying it was a very impressive victory by the Irishman.

The BBC coverage was excellent - unlike SKY, ITV et al there was no cutting for advertisements at crucial points in the day's play, thus losing the 'moment' - although the comment as the engraver was marking out the name of the winner on the claret jug - perhaps he's trying to find out how to spell Harrington - was a bit crass as the Dubliner's name was on the trophy from last year.

If I had a small gripe it was the constant bellowing of 'in the hole' from some of the crowd as soon as a shot was played - even the tee shots. That got a bit tiring at times.

But, overall, watching the Open was hugely enjoyable. And with his compassionate speech, Padraig Harrington proved it's not only on the golf course that he's a true champion.

There'll Always Be An...

Euro 2008 began yesterday with two unspectacular games which saw victories for the Czech Republic over the co-hosts Switzerland and Portugal over Turkey. Three weeks of football beckons but I'm already getting weary of the comments of comentators and pundits of our cousins south of the border. Apparently, England didn't qualify...

BBC Radio Five Live, usually a station par excellence, bemoaned the fact England wasn't there (no mention of the fact that neither are Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) Saturday morning had Eammon Holmes interviewing former England manager Steve McClaren and included the probing 'Aren't you sick England aren't there?'

During the commentary on the opening game, Alan Green asked summariser Chris Waddle a key question midway through the second half as the game entered its crucial stage. 'How many of these players do you think would get into the England team?' It was quite rude of the Czechs, I thought, to deny Waddle the chance of an immediate answer the whole nation was waiting to hear with bated breath, by scoring the only goal of the game. Normally, Alan Green is the master of commentators but this was, to lapse into cliche mode, 'quite disappointing'

ITV's approach to the Championships appears nonchalent. The commercial channel have decided, even before the tournament began, not to cover the final which beggars the question why bother with the group games? But bother they did with the Portugal-Turkey game and, keeping with a theme that will last for the next three weeks, host Matt Smith asked why England couldn't play the same way as Portugal did. Possibly because England aren't as good I would imagine.

I'm sure someone somewhere is conducting an England reference count which may well hit double figures after todays games, both of which are being covered by the BBC. Particularly as this afternoon's offering involves Croatia - who knocked England out at the qualifying stage. How long into today's coverage until we see the film of Steve McClaren under his umbrella at a sodden Wembley?

Humility. A sense of proportion. Realism. Intelligent and insightful. The gift of balanced self-awareness. Quick to show due deference to others' greater achievements. Traits which, like the England football team, won't be with the English commentators at Euro 2008...