“Old Man Radio” Hit for a Six

By Paul Montague

It’s pretty difficult to think of a more damaging psychological hit over the boundary than being fired smack in the middle of a nationwide lockdown and when you’re already fearful for the safety of family and friends.

Did NZME have to shackle themselves of Radio Sport right this second? Almost the whole nation is taking a financial hit at the moment and many have done so for the good of society and, basically, humanity in this country.

Surely as big as organisation as that could have at least given their employees more time to process the dire news, to make contingencies for other employment, and to prepare for a fitting and seemingly likely permanent farewell for themselves and their crestfallen supporters, their audience.

Even a relegation freefall of your favourite football team through the divisions couldn’t feel this bad for listeners of the station. Commercial radio is brutal, it’s true. But the timing and speed at which the decision was taken is really shitty.

Someone said a while back (and I laughed), that Radio Sport was ‘Old man radio’. Probably accurate. But I never cared. We all need our outlet.

Radio Sport began in 1998. For twenty-two years it gave a lot of joy, laughter, entertainment, thought-provocation and no small matter of respite to so many. It’ll be missed and mourned like an old friend.

Hopefully it will return one day in some other guise. It seems rather unthinkable that it couldn’t when we live in a nation of so many sports nuts.