Anyone choosing to tune into the BBC’s choice of programming over the last couple of weeks would be forgiven for thinking the national broadcaster was trying to test the emotions of the Celtic support.
We’ve already been invited to revisit our pain from yesteryear with a Scottish Cup final defeat by Rangers in 2002 and a Scottish cup semi-final replay defeat at the hands of Dundee United from 1981.
Tonight, even when they pick a game from which Celtic actually emerge victorious, they still seem determined to test the Celtic family to our emotional limits. I’m fairly certain they are building up to a re-run of our extra time defeat to Porto in Seville. Anyone think someone is enjoying themselves in BBC programming right now?
It makes me think back to the film Romantics Anonymous, where the lead characters attend an Alcoholics Anonymous-style organisation for shy, inhibited, emotionally challenged people. Leading lady Angélique, opens the film by singing a French version of Maria’s “I Have Confidence In Me” from The Sound of Music and every time she tries to attend her support group where they proclaim ‘I’m an emotional, we’re all emotionals’ she faints.
Every time I look at BBC scheduling at the moment I feel the need for such a group. Well tonight we might need a remote version of the support group as we’ll all be ‘emotionals’ this evening.
Tonight’s choice of match to test the Celtic support is Henrik Larsson’s final tear-jerking Celtic Park finale against Dundee United from 2004. As they say in the West End there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
David, our editor recently wrote that the first game he shed a tear at the football was when Tom Rogic scored the goal that sealed the Invincible Treble. If that’s the case to get through this particular game without welling up makes me think he has a heart of stone or may have been economical with the truth. (Incidentally Matt Corr’s first book is titled INVINCIBLE and is out very soon indeed, full details will be announced on The Celtic Star early next week).
And just because we’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not all out to get us springs to mind when we look ahead to this Sunday’s offering from the BBC archives. That one comes from 2003 when Celtic went to Kilmarnock and Chris Sutton accused Dunfermline of lying down to Rangers as Celtic lost out on the title on the final day.
Throwback to 2003 when Chris Sutton got a five game ban for stating the truth about oldco v Dunfermline.
"We knew that they'd lie down and they have done." pic.twitter.com/2vDuAySAHy
— Celtic Nation(Welcome to the party)🍀 (@CelticNation67) August 19, 2019
I’m certain of course that in the interests of balance, BBC Scotland will soon be showing extended highlights of the day Celtic defeated St Johnstone to stop Rangers winning a tenth consecutive title. Probably best we don’t hold our collective breath waiting for that one!
Extended highlights of Henrik Larsson’s final match at Celtic Park – in 2004 – will be on BBC Scotland and the BBC Sport website tonight from 7pm. In these times of toilet roll and tissue shortages, it may be worth digging out that handkerchief your Great Aunt gave you for Christmas all those years ago or at least ensure your wearing long sleeves.
Say after me. My name is Niall J and I too am an emotional.
Niall J
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