M J Johnson
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Books
    • Niedermayer & Hart >
      • Reviews for N & H
      • The Prologue
      • Sample the Book
      • Animations
    • Roadrage >
      • Reviews for Roadrage
      • Roadrage Sample
  • Contact Me

Sporting Failures

12/9/2012

4 Comments

 
I once played an inept Welsh games teacher in four episodes of a series for London Weekend Television called Drummonds. They were the last four episodes of the second series and there was talk of going for a third, but sadly this wasn't to be. On reflection I hope it had nothing to do with my lifelong shortcomings when it comes to sport? I don't think so, the character was meant to be accident prone! In my first episode he fell off the wall-bars and broke his collar-bone and spent the next three episodes with his arm in a sling.

This was quite possibly the nearest I ever came to being typecast as an actor. My late father was an excellent sportsman and had he been born into another era might easily have become a professional footballer; my brother too was very skilled at sport; however, when it came to me, oh dear! At secondary school on the end of term report my games teacher Robert Evans once wrote, "Impossible to comment on this boy!" I think this suggests that whenever there was a games or PE lesson, I'd generally absented myself with a (often forged) sick note! Today, in the most enlightened schools I think I would have been diagnosed as dyspraxic rather than labelled 'hopeless' or 'useless'. When I trained to become an actor at RADA the dance and movement teachers clearly thought I was either messing about or plain not trying. Surely, nobody could be that badly coordinated?

So perhaps you can understand how I don't naturally enjoy a warm glow when I think about sport. In fact, when I think of my schooldays, it's quite the opposite. Those humiliating team-picking moments in the changing rooms, when you pray you'll be picked before it gets down to the very last boy (usually not the case!).

This summer Britain has been the world's focus for sporting activity. First the Olympics, then the Paralympics, and I must say I really enjoyed every single bit I watched. It really is wonderful to see great athletes perform and an unusual experience for us Brits to see our team winning so many medals. A great boost I think to our national pride - quite welcome in light of the gloomy economic forecasts that predict some austere times may be lurking just ahead. The Olympics and Paralympics seem, too, to have helped us embrace our racial diversity and to applaud excellence in human achievement, even when it does not live up to the ideal embodiment of physical perfection. Thanks to all the athletes from all nations who took part in both the Olympics and Paralympics. Your contribution was truly awesome! I think Lord Coe and his team did a fantastic job organising it all! Incidentally, what honour can you confer on someone who's already a Lord, is there anything higher? Perhaps the Queen will consider adopting him?

And not content with a gold medal, good old Andy Murray bagged the US Open yesterday! After 76 years since the last time anyone from these islands won it, our national pride must be in serious danger of spontaneously combusting! Very, very well done that man!

4 Comments
Susy McGregor
16/9/2012 10:23:26 pm

Lol!  I can relate to this.  As a kid I use to enjoy running around and having fun but wasn't that good at sports.  I remember after a term of what I considered solid and enthusiastic participation in PE, the best my teacher could write on my report card was "Susan tries hard."    Oh well. 

Reply
Newspaper Ad Agency in Chennai link
22/2/2020 01:24:08 am

We are No.1 Newspaper Advertising Agencies in Chennai / Newspaper Ad Agency in Chennai

Reply
Turmeric Powder in Chennai link
11/1/2021 10:27:27 am

Failure is the stepping stone of success..

Reply
Apply for GST no online link
15/1/2021 07:39:04 am

Apply for GST registration online. One of our GST Experts will call you and clarify all your doubts. And then we will get your Online GST Registration done. We are no. 1 GST number online registration.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Available in paperback and ebook:
    Amazon.co.uk
    Amazon.com
    Picture
    Available in paperback and ebook:
    Amazon.co.uk
    Amazon.com
    Picture
    Available in paperback and ebook:
    Amazon.co.uk
    ​Amazon.com
    my read shelf:
    M.J. Johnson's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)

    M J Johnson

    You can join Martin on
    Facebook
    If you'd like to subscribe to this blog, click on the RSS Feed button below

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Books
    Family Matters
    Film
    Historic/Factual
    Might Raise A Smile
    Miscellaneous
    Music
    Niedermayer & Hart
    Places Worth A Visit
    Roadrage
    Tea 'n' Coffee
    Theatre
    TV Stuff
    TV Stuff
    Wales
    Wilhelm & Laszlo
    Writing

    Archives

    April 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    June 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.