Everything You Think About Sport Is Wrong

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Feminism

20161212

20170405 (R4)

Simon Barnes introduces a new series challenging conventional thinking about sport, and in this first episode he argues that sport is feminism in action.

The truth of sport is that sport is always what it is,' Simon argues, and from the end of the corseted tennis player to the 2012 Olympics, he explores how female athletes have repeatedly confounded attempts to turn sport into a place where men can be blokes and women are not only barred but happy to be barred.

Speaking to Nicole Cooke, one of Britain's greatest cyclists, about her life in sport, Simon argues that sport is feminism in action, because it can't help it.

Producer: Giles Edwards.

In a new series challenging thinking about sport, Simon Barnes discusses feminism.

Simon Barnes presents a series challenging conventional thinking about sport.

Beauty

20161213

20170412 (R4)

Continuing his series challenging how we think about sport, Simon Barnes makes the case for beauty in sport.

Simon asks how an appreciation of beauty can translate into a love for football and how Roger Federer achieves art in the pursuit of victory on the tennis court. He explores the complex relationship between victory and beauty, and talks to Permi Jhooti, Britain's first Asian professional footballer, about her work as an artist depicting beauty in sport, and hears why she thinks sport offers her a unique ability to show the depth of her feeling.

Producer: Giles Edwards.

Simon Barnes continues his challenge to how we think about sport, discussing beauty.

Simon Barnes presents a series challenging conventional thinking about sport.

Intellectuals

20161214

20170419 (R4)

In the third episode of his series confronting common misconceptions about sport, Simon Barnes explains why he believes sport is for intellectuals.

From French philosopher goalkeepers to James Joyce's Ulysses, Simon argues that to rule out sport as not for intellectuals is to write off some very interesting people. He makes the case for dramatic narrative without authorial intention, and he discusses with former England cricketer Ed Smith the relationship between literary modernism, sport and intellectual life.

Producer: Giles Edwards.

Simon Barnes continues his series about sport, arguing that sport is for intellectuals.

Simon Barnes presents a series challenging conventional thinking about sport.

The Novel

20161215

20170426 (R4)

Simon Barnes continues his series challenging conventional thinking about sport, and argues that sport produces narratives worthy of a novel.

Simon argues that sport is as much a novel as Ulysses or Tristram Shandy, with a cast of characters as rich as villains Lance Armstrong, Hansie Cronje and the 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Hydrant,' Tiger Woods, and tragedies as profound as that of Oscar Pistorius. He draws parallels between Andrew Flintoff's legendary performance in the 2005 Ashes and Lord of the Rings, and he discusses the amazing - and amazing variety of - narratives in sport with David Maraniss, associate editor at the Washington Post, himself addicted to sport stories.

Producer: Giles Edwards.

Simon Barnes argues that sport produces narratives worthy of a novel.

Simon Barnes presents a series challenging conventional thinking about sport.

Nationalism

20161216

20170503 (R4)

In the final episode of his series challenging conventional thinking about sport, Simon Barnes argues that it is not about nationalism, or indeed tribalism of any kind. Instead, Simon welcomes you to join him as a member, or at least a visitor, to the nation of excellence.

Simon talks to Martina Navratilova about the modern shift towards supporting a national champion, and why this matters in sport; he laments the loss of second rate British teams at the Olympics; and maintains that excellence on the level of Usain Bolt's sprinting, Fu Mingxia's diving or Federer's otherworldly tennis can touch us profoundly.

Producer: Giles Edwards.

Simon Barnes concludes his series about sport by arguing that it is not about nationalism.

Simon Barnes presents a series challenging conventional thinking about sport.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Feminism	20161212	20170405 (R4)	Simon Barnes introduces a new series challenging conventional thinking about sport, and in this first episode he argues that sport is feminism in action. The truth of sport is that sport is always what it is,' Simon argues, and from the end of the corseted tennis player to the 2012 Olympics, he explores how female athletes have repeatedly confounded attempts to turn sport into a place where men can be blokes and women are not only barred but happy to be barred. Speaking to Nicole Cooke, one of Britain's greatest cyclists, about her life in sport, Simon argues that sport is feminism in action, because it can't help it. Producer: Giles Edwards. In a new series challenging thinking about sport, Simon Barnes discusses feminism. Simon Barnes presents a series challenging conventional thinking about sport.
02	Beauty	20161213	20170412 (R4)	Continuing his series challenging how we think about sport, Simon Barnes makes the case for beauty in sport. Simon asks how an appreciation of beauty can translate into a love for football and how Roger Federer achieves art in the pursuit of victory on the tennis court. He explores the complex relationship between victory and beauty, and talks to Permi Jhooti, Britain's first Asian professional footballer, about her work as an artist depicting beauty in sport, and hears why she thinks sport offers her a unique ability to show the depth of her feeling. Producer: Giles Edwards. Simon Barnes continues his challenge to how we think about sport, discussing beauty. Simon Barnes presents a series challenging conventional thinking about sport.
03	Intellectuals	20161214	20170419 (R4)	In the third episode of his series confronting common misconceptions about sport, Simon Barnes explains why he believes sport is for intellectuals. From French philosopher goalkeepers to James Joyce's Ulysses, Simon argues that to rule out sport as not for intellectuals is to write off some very interesting people. He makes the case for dramatic narrative without authorial intention, and he discusses with former England cricketer Ed Smith the relationship between literary modernism, sport and intellectual life. Producer: Giles Edwards. Simon Barnes continues his series about sport, arguing that sport is for intellectuals. Simon Barnes presents a series challenging conventional thinking about sport.
04	The Novel	20161215	20170426 (R4)	Simon Barnes continues his series challenging conventional thinking about sport, and argues that sport produces narratives worthy of a novel. Simon argues that sport is as much a novel as Ulysses or Tristram Shandy, with a cast of characters as rich as villains Lance Armstrong, Hansie Cronje and the 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Hydrant,' Tiger Woods, and tragedies as profound as that of Oscar Pistorius. He draws parallels between Andrew Flintoff's legendary performance in the 2005 Ashes and Lord of the Rings, and he discusses the amazing - and amazing variety of - narratives in sport with David Maraniss, associate editor at the Washington Post, himself addicted to sport stories. Producer: Giles Edwards. Simon Barnes argues that sport produces narratives worthy of a novel. Simon Barnes presents a series challenging conventional thinking about sport.
05	Nationalism	20161216	20170503 (R4)	In the final episode of his series challenging conventional thinking about sport, Simon Barnes argues that it is not about nationalism, or indeed tribalism of any kind. Instead, Simon welcomes you to join him as a member, or at least a visitor, to the nation of excellence. Simon talks to Martina Navratilova about the modern shift towards supporting a national champion, and why this matters in sport; he laments the loss of second rate British teams at the Olympics; and maintains that excellence on the level of Usain Bolt's sprinting, Fu Mingxia's diving or Federer's otherworldly tennis can touch us profoundly. Producer: Giles Edwards. Simon Barnes concludes his series about sport by arguing that it is not about nationalism. Simon Barnes presents a series challenging conventional thinking about sport.