Key events
Preamble
Who likes Disney sports movies? I’m partial to them myself on occasion. Sometimes the soul needs the warming elixir that can only be found in tales of bringing interracial harmony and victory to early 1970’s high school football, Mark Walhlberg being Mark Wahlberg but this time as a barman playing the NFL, or some plucky college and semi-pro hockey players defeating all of communism. Other inspirational narratives are also available.
How Wales would welcome some Disneyfication of their experience today. Trouble is these films are not documentaries, instead much of the content is “inspired” by real events; the rarity of an underdog not being absolutely lamped is that what makes the tales such a salve to the mood.
But that little glimmer of you-never-know-ism is what has fans returning despite the absolute dreck in front of them. Judging by the terrible ticket sales for this afternoon in Cardiff, fewer and fewer Wales fans can find that glimmer amidst the asphyxiating smoke of despair coming from the blaze started by their own governing body’s arson. Conversely, France arrive on the back of their most promising performance in nearly a year, with riches of squad and vibe burnished by England’s form yesterday opening the Grand Slam door.
You never know, they might make a movie about this result one day. Probably a YouTube one called “Rugby’s Greatest Hammerings, No 26”.
