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