BBC Blog Network

User Profile

SWFWillibobs

Listed below are comments made by SWFWillibobs between Friday, 4th July 2008 and Thursday, 27th August 2009.

«Newer
Older»

Thursday 27 August 2009 5:22pm on 27 Aug 2009 I gather, from listening to Radio 4 that you have conducted a “satisfaction survey” on the Labour Party’s handling of the Education System to coincide with the exam results for the GCSEs.

Not surprisingly, in the current trend of rubbishing the “Government”, the results suggest a high “disapproval rating”.

Actually the “Labour Party” have done very well at one particular thing! Unfortunately for them, what they have achieved (ie succeeded in) is, in the much wider sense, to ensure a greater number of students with National Qualifications.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, at the expense of academic excellence!

The ‘A’ Level results showed a reasonable annual increase in pass levels. However, the Universities are still struggling to separate “wheat from chaff” because everyone gets an ‘A’!!

Many years ago, the Universities even had input in ‘O’ Level results such that they were graded according to University places and not simply a “pass mark”. ie If the exams were easy, the mark to achieve an ‘A’ was quite high, say 90%!

Again, I was listening to “The World at One” earlier and Mr Dyson said that there were actually more university places for “Media Studies” than Engineering. A fact that I had suspected in my worst nightmares. However, it simply highlights successive government attempts to reduce youth unemployment by ensuring students stay on into adulthood.

Obviously, this simply results in a high “graduate unemployment rate”. This is not surprising since it would seem that most graduates have graduated with degrees in subjects with no relevance to employment possibilities. (obviously, notwithstanding the multitudes of careers in the media!) – It was most refreshing listening to the earlier “Crossing Continents”!!!!!

Why not delve deeper into the subject and explore the underlying reasons for the decline in education standards (ie politics – both parties are as bad in different ways) and instead of asking “people on the street’ for their spoon-fed opinions, why not have an apolitical debate with academicians with no political affiliations?
English swingers make Aussies suffer 11:01pm on 31 Jul 2009 Anderson haul puts England on top

Mr Brett,

The above is the title of your latest report. You make mention of Rudi Koertzens decisions, and defend your analysis of these decisions by saying Hawkeye showed that he was wrong.

At best Hawkeye allows the TV viewer some insight in the decision making process of the umpire. Otherwise, as with Tennis, they would be using it now, or at least seriously considering it.

Hawkeye, when used in Tennis is reasonably accurate but still relies on calibration before use. (Exact positioning of cameras etc.) ie It will therefore have a plus or minus error. I have no idea what that possible error is, but it will probably be a reasonably small percentage of the ball diameter.

In Cricket, especially on LBW decisions, there has to be a larger degree of possible error, since not only does the system show the probable flight of the ball before contact, it has then to extrapolate its flight after contact with the pad.

The best possible scenario is when there is no contact with the pad and it goes on to hit the wicket! Bowled!!

If it hits the pad, then Hawkeye will work best when the ball travels some distance before hitting it, thus giving Hawkeye a good chance to more accurately extrapolate its subsequent flight. The corollary is that if the ball hits the pad shortly after pitching, then, whatever the makers of Hawkeye say, its largely guess-work. Albeit, extremely well informed guess-work.

I again dont know what the published accuracy (eg +/- 10%) of Hawkeye is, but when I watch the telly, I sort of think of plus or minus a balls width.

Ie If the representation of the ball hits the edges of the wicket and is given Out or Not Out, I take it with a pinch of salt. If the representation clearly hits middle, or misses by more than a balls width, then someone is lucky (batter or bowler swings & roundabouts etc)!

Dont impugn the reputation of an umpire based on Hawkeye. I thought journalists always mistrusted scientists anyway!
Can you cut your fuel costs with LPG? 7:17pm on 17 Nov 2008 Don't worry, LPG will suffer the same the same fate as Diesel. It will become more expensive, in the long run, as more people fit conversions, but PLEASE don't be surprised about the laws of supply and demand.
The most divisive and tasteless selection in cricket history 02:38am on 10 Sep 2008 The problem I have with the ECB is not coming up with the idea ( or at least another idea)in the first place! The "divisive" selection issue is one that is made day in day out in all forms of professional life. You get the job or you don't get the job.
So, Mr Agnew, don't blame the ECB for having put the selectors in the invidious position of having to select a team. Why not blame them of being too slow to catch a cold.
Money is at the core of the decision making process to stage the series, and why not this is a professional sport. Stanford is merely a conduit for TV money, he is not a philanthropist, call him the WIPL if you like.
However, I am very sad that cricket is in danger of being fully controlled by TV, but at least the ECB are naive enough to not realise it. Whereas the subcontinent's boards have embraced TV and will soon be under their thumbs, then next it will be the ICC............
Dramatic athletics - but Britain beware 09:45am on 24 Aug 2008 Mr Cram,

It has been said that UK Athletics should adopt the "cycling" approach to their training methods.

I beleive a more successful approach would be to deconstruct the current style of nearly as many coaches as athletes. Perhaps abandon the money chasing tactics of the "elite" athletes and return to an emphasis on Club Athletics to start to re-instill more "team spirit".

Current UK athletes seem to fall easily into two camps:
1. The Team Players
2. The "Big I ams"
Choose for yourself which athlete falls into which category and which category was more successful!

The counter to this argument of "athletics is a highly individual sport" is completely blown out of the water by the Jamacan Sprint Team!

It would also save money on the plethora of individual coaches!
Just a thought!
Super-heavyweight Price is (up)right for boxing glory 09:54am on 19 Aug 2008 Mr Slater,

If there was a medal for "Straw Clutching" or Free-style "Metaphor Hanging". Another sedantary medal would be on it's way to Team GB.

The only reason Price is in the medal fights is because his first opponent was, as far as his team were concerned, controversially stopped, and the other had a 'bad back'!

The sports Team GB has medalled at, are sports where there seems to be a "National Elite Squad' and have gelled into a team. They are not Tabloid Sports, so can get on with their coaching away from the limelight.

Athletics, for example, has a plethora of coaches and individuals who like to pass comment. It is clear the team have no overall direction, and that any outside help would be resented. The failed men's long jumper exemplifies my view.

I've seen Clive Woodward around these sports. Has he had anything to do with them?

Keep both eyes open!
Olympics figures continue to impress 1:43pm on 18 Aug 2008 Has anyone noticed yet, but the vast majority of the GB Team medals so far have been in events where sitting down is an important aspect!
This is not a criticism, merely an observation.
To give credit where it is due, most of these events have their emphasis on technology, teamwork and tactics as well as physical ability.
An excellent set of results so far.
Pressure mounting on the England captain 8:09pm on 29 Jul 2008 I am of to the land of "Gazetta dello Sport" for the next two weeks and will miss too much cricket. What I won't miss is the nonsense that appears too often on these threads.

There was one guy who was upset about about cricketers enjoying themselves whilst off duty at Edgbaston. Ever played sport to a standard when you went on tour? Nuff said!

Others who think Stuart Broad is an "all-rounder" - On current form he only stands a chance as as a batsman at No8! I'll leave that for you cricket lovers to mull over!

Commentators often over-praise sportsmen for contributing in areas outside their supposed speciality. Mr Broad has recently been in the good books of of cricket commentators and therefore he has received some good treatment. It doesn't make him an all-rounder!

I beleive the selectors are pretty much in the right area, but!!! There is often a "but" and in this case it is Vaughan. It is my beleif that a team is picked and then the captain (out of those selected) is chosen as the captain. Time has moved on. No longer is the captain important in selection.

Select a team and the best captain amongst them gets the job. Hopefully he will then fill the boots and keep his position in the team!
Fielding drills pay dividends for England 07:37am on 13 Jul 2008 "evsboss" I'm afraid it is you who are mistaken. Most fast bowlers, who charge up to the wicket countless times a day run like carthorses (care to comment Aggers)!

The main difference with Anderson is he is an ATHLETE who can bowl fast. Watching him field only serves to prove that point.

In fact one of the problems with British sport, in general, is that we insist on trying to make our sportsmen athletes, rather than turning athletes into sportsmen. This includes the ridiculous hieghtist attitude of soccer commentators which now seems to have infected soccer academy coaches. But not in Germany, Italy, Holland!!!
Zimbabwe crisis rumbles on 8:53pm on 04 Jul 2008 ScottWozniak says so much that is right.

As much as I hate Politics in sport, it is plain the internal politics of cricket are definitely rearing it's ugly head.

My old village team would probably give Zimbabwe a good match, but that is only because Mugabe has done as good a job as Head of Cricket as he has done as Agriculture Minister.

You see, politics entering cricket.

I too am afraid of what the BCCI will get up to in the future - but thats another question.

This time next year (or so) we will all be asking; what has the BCCI has to do with English Cricket?

Care to comment Mr Bose?

«Newer
Older»

^ Back to top

BBC MMVI

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

BBC.co.uk

BBC Blog Network

Find and talk to the BBC's bloggers.

User Profile

SWFWillibobs