Sports program on TV

Sports program on TV

Referring to the sports programs on TV, the more I see the
less I understand the behavior of Indonesian networks whose
worrying attitude of subjection toward the consortium retaining
the control of sports information is at least disconcerting. The
sentence selamat menyaksikan (enjoy the game) said by the
Indonesian commentators at the beginning of a soccer match
represents the "key of surrender" which practically means: "Now
it's your turn. Eat the cake since we are content with the
crumbs."

I cannot really understand why the Indonesian commentators,
who have repeatedly proved their skill, are relegated to the
humiliating role of question masters or of comperes to the
English ones whose job is done for the English viewers' own use
and who are well-known for mispronunciations which turn
everything into English.

Take as an example the Formula One racing driver Michael
Shumacher: As a German, his name should be pronounced as Mikel
Shumaker and not Maikol Shumakaaa. I would like to know how many
of Shumaker's Indonesian fans know his real name.

When broadcasting the Italian Serie A soccer matches with
English commentary we are assisted to a real ruin of Italian and
other foreign players' names. Should the videotapes with English
commentary be viewed by the Serie A soccer players, many of them
would get an identity crisis. For sure Kluiver, Leonardo, Diego
Simeone, Cardone and so on, would be choked to discover that
their names are Klaivaaa, Lionadooo, Simioni, Caadooni and so on.
Even Mr. Moratti would be quite puzzled to realize that, contrary
to what he believes, he is not the President of F.C.
Internazionale Milano (also known as F.C. Inter) but of a
mysterious Club called Inter Melan.

I think those responsible for TV sports programs should take
serious measures on soccer commentaries, firstly on account of
the viewers' right to be correctly informed. Secondly because
this matter clashes with the government's policy that a foreigner
shouldn't be allowed to undertake a job that could be done by
Indonesian people.

The maniacal tendency to turn everything into English at all
costs, could even cause embarrassing situations. An example? On
Sunday evenings at the end of the Italian Serie A soccer program,
RCTI submits a quiz to the viewers with two mobile phones as a
prize. A few weeks ago the correct answer to the quiz was F.C.
Internazionale, but the prize was awarded to somebody who
answered "Inter Milan", a non-existent soccer team. Somebody
could have asked for this to be invalidated if his right answer
(F.C. Internazionale or just F.C. Inter) hadn't been drawn from
the ballot box.

Anyway, since it seems that the local networks are reluctant
to give due space to their Indonesian commentators, as a viewer,
I would like to suggest a compromise. They could go on with the
English commentary but, on account of the viewers' rights, at
least they should subtitle the right names of the players.

PIERO RONCI

Jakarta