There is a weird perception regarding those of us who do this for a living and it’s this; all of us, to one extent or another, are dying for a gig with the mainstream media.
But let me tell you a secret right now; I write what I want to.
No editorial board oversees it and no group of individuals decides whether or not I should say it.
There are legal boundaries I cannot cross.
When I hear mainstream hacks, who have ten times the muscle available to a mere blogger, use that as an excuse for what they would not say or did not say I laugh uproariously. It is pitiful.
Anyone in the mainstream media has to balance what they are allowed to say with what they want to say, and some of them use it as an excuse to say nothing at all. But when the Ibrox club’s fans sang their disgusting bile about Tommy Burns at Ross County there was no editorial reason why the broadcaster did not condemn that strongly.
In particular, there is Andy Walker. He played with Tommy.
He knew him well. He spoke movingly at the time of his death. I cannot understand what force could have been at work to prevent Walker from condemning that song in all its ugliness.
What conclusion are supposed to draw from the way in which he kept silent on it? Deafness? I don’t think Andy Walker is deaf. Those fans were loud enough that some of us were angry that Sky didn’t even attempt to mute them. The vileness which inhabits the Ibrox support always lurks under the surface, and all too often it comes out in public.
Whenever it does, the media should be united in condemning it.
All of them. Unanimously. And Walker could have led the line on the night by slamming it live on television, in turning it into a genuine moment of shame and disgrace for them, by highlighting it to the whole UK audience.
It would have been a news story on Sky for days.
Walker hid instead, behind his microphone, behind some thin veneer of impartiality, behind some concept of himself as somebody above the fray. But it’s gutless. It’s a betrayal of his friend and someone even many of those who worked in the Ibrox operations believed was a fine human being. Walker’s commentary is often a joke.
This time the disgrace was what didn’t come out of his mouth.
The guy is just a puppet like provan and Nicholas. That other mobs ex players would have been shouting from the rooftops if it was other way around
He has a coin to earn and knows not to rock the boat.
James should we be surprised. He will well recall what happened to Michael Stewart when he made his comments. Are we really surprised at that mob. I remember there little ditty on the bus re Tommy a while back.
Andy Walker is a coward but sadly there is a group of Celtic ‘ultras’ along from me in the Celtic end that often sing about Davie Cooper and soon there will be no Protestants at all. We have a small but bad element that are no better
Absolute coward Mr Walker tells everyone he’s not afraid when something has to be challenged, except when it’s them
Embarrassing nobody ever calls them out because they’re Vile and poisonous
Or what about McCoist . He was a huge admirer of TB and not a single syllable of disgust ! There are a lot of ex pros out there making a very nice living out of Scottish football ,which can be disgusting and embarrassing at times with immoral and unethical speech and grammars … It’s almost like ,if I speak up ,I might upset the apple cart . Well it’s high time some of them did .. Whoever does ,will earn the utmost respect from his / her peers very quickly …
Walker should be banned from entering Celtic Park. Do what Rangers done at the BBC
ban him. Just say the same,we can’t guarantee his safety.
Andy walker only thinks about Andy walker and is so full of himself and that is why our support have no time for him and you can bet your life if it is me tommy Kennedy on commentary the sevco fans would get my full wrath and anger
Andy walker you mean Andy wanker
There is no middle ground here; you either condemn the fascists or you support them.
That’s it and it applies to Walker and all the rest of them who say nothing.
As for SKY, they are broadcasting this filth and MUST be brought to account for it.
Spineless individual .
Was in the year below Walker at school:
amazed that he actually became a professional as he wasn’t that good,
and was certainly not a strong player.
Almost 40 years later he’s not a very good pundit – with no strong sense of responsibility?
Plus ca change, as they say in the East End. 🙂
@ Bob original. Let’s stick tae facts eh ! Actually knew someone myself who was a friend of Walkers at school, although they lost touch after secondary. Always said he wasnae surprised when AW made the grade, was always a good player in his opinion. Far as no bein a strong player, that’s just rubbish ! Seein him for myself, he was one of these players who never backed out a challenge. Ibrox thug Graham Roberts, even actually came out after he retired and named AW as the hardest (physically) player he’s played against. Apart from that, agree he should be standin up for his old team mate against this bile.
James they sang it live at Aberdeen only days before and nobody uttered a word but corrupt sky heard it said nothing and prepared to silence it live for the Ross County game. Pure scum the lot of them as for Walker no time for him at all , Sell out little weasel.
This does not surprise me one bit..Walker always was a gutless little bastard..You only have to listen to the pish he talks when the Huns are on Tv..Walker..Guidi..Keevins..Every last one of are fkn gutless..They all should be banned from Celtic Pk IMMEDIATELY
The insult of 55, 150, unpaid debt, same club, covid breaches, two bigoted riots in glasgow city centre no one brought to book for them, broken glass on pitch, celtic employee getting head split open can you imagine the publicity if that had been in an english game , napoli players forced to leave the pitch and not forgetting celtic players getting abuse on edmiston drive going into the den while police just stand back. They are above any law and the gutless media dare not comment
Looks like no-one bothered tae tell the Union Pussies Sir Walter & Super Swallee were pall bearers at Tommy’s Funeral! Of course that wiz the Oldco but then again they’re the same club.. Aren’t they??? What we heard on Fri Ngt wiz just a bunch ae wee Diks wae NO RESPECT fur anything except getting on Social Meedja & bragging about it tae their BRAIN DEED Knuckodraggin SCUM Pals!! It’s a Sad Sad wee Institutionalised Country we live in, best not rock the boat eh Andy ya SPINELESS WANKER!!
He’s a soup taker simple as that looking after after his job anti Celtic now nephew met him a few year back asked him about league winner at parkhead when he scored 2 told him he didnae remember it
He did mention the throwing of missiles at the same game, that was a plus I suppose, but he should still be ashamed not to have highlighted the TB insult, Tommy was a Prince among men and Andy Walker is unworthy to have played alongside him.
Andy walker is a DISGRACE to CELTIC F.C and not to comment on a song and back a LEGEND up because that is what Tommy Burns was a CELTIC LEGEND HH COYBIG YNWA Andy wanker is an arse hole
Viewers and listeners are protected from harmful or offensive material on TV, radio and on-demand;
the platform (Sky or whomever) have a duty protect their users from harm.
If many of complain to ofcom and this is a stick on Sky will face reproach here, only way to hurt them
Ofcom website … Make a complaint… Only takes a couple minutes
Have never heard such obsequious commentary as Walker’s that night. He was full on benefit to Rangers. No wonder he never condemned their support,
At least you have brought up this James , walker the little rat should have opened his mouth at the time and criticised all this badness towards a true gentleman and if it cost him his job so what at least he would have stood up for a friend , wouldn’t like that rat at my back in the trenches a complete failure.