davidg Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 (edited) From the herald http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/news/home-news/tam-cowan-dropped-by-bbc-scotland-after-sexist-newspaper-column.1380404388 "Tam Cowan was ousted today by BBC Scotland from his normal Saturday lunchtime radio show after the publication of a newspaper column that was widely seen as unacceptably sexist. His article in the Daily Record belittled the Scottish women's football team's 7-0 win Bosnia Herzegovina at Fir Park, which was shown on BBC Alba TV. Cowan's column, which included a number of crude jokes, caused a storm of angry reaction on social media networks, and prompted the paper to add an editor's footnote to the online version, saying it should be "taken with a large pinch of salt". However, BBC Scotland decided to ban him from Off the Ball today. Management are thought to have seen the column as unacceptable. It is not known yet if his absence is temporary or permanent. Cowan, 44, was taken off air before the show went out at lunchtime, and was replaced at short notice by Annie McGuire, who has previously worked with Jim Traynor on his BBC Radio fans' call-in. At the start of Off the Ball, co-host Stuart Cosgrove made no reference to the Daily Record column, but explained Cowan's absence by saying: "Alas, Tam's been delayed todaywe're looking for him. He's out there somewhere." Cowan's Record column began: "If I had my way, today's Premiership fixture between Motherwell and Ross County would have been cancelled. That's because Fir Park should have been torched on Thursday in order to cleanse the stadium after it played host to women's football. Why do they still persevere with this turgid spectacle? And why was it allowed anywhere near Motherwell's hallowed turf?" He added: "Admittedly, I've not seen a lot of women's footballand I'm not having a pop at the people taking part. Just the other week, I bumped into a couple of women footballers (I've still got the bruises to prove it) and they were honestly two of the nicest blokes I've ever met "Face it, folks, nobody cares about women's football. There was barely a thousand inside the ground, shocking for an international in ANY sport, and I guess putting the girlies head-to-head with Emmerdale and Eastenders was a bit daft." Among the critics on Twitter were Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, who tweeted: "Fire up the Hillman Imp, Tam Cowan's going back to the 70s with his views on women's football." SNP MSP Humza Yousaf added: "Invite Tam Cowan to come watch Glasgow Girls FC with me one day - he'll eat his words! Top quality football and great atmosphere too!" Comedian Janey Godley said: "I like Tam Cowan but am disappointed he turned into a 70s misogynist ranter & tried to pass it off as 'comedy' Jim Davidson would be proud." Leading novelist Ian Rankin added: "I wonder if anyone's told Tam Cowan that Charlotte Green read out the football results tonight (on Radio 5 Live - the first female to do so)." After the backlash, the Record's online article was amended with the inclusion of an editor's note, which read: "Folks, we would like to point out Tam is a professional funnyman and what he has to say should be taken with a large pinch of salt. Also, his views are not necessarily those of the Daily Record as a whole." The Record then tweeted: "Tam Cowan's piece today is HIS opinion. Read it and make up your own minds. Not publishing would be censorship." Cowan is an ardent Motherwell fan and Daily Record columnist since 1998, producing a bi-weekly sports column and a weekly restaurant review. He has presented Off The Ball for many years in tandem with his friend Cosgrove, who holds a senior position with Channel 4. In February 2010, Cowan presented a six-part STV documentary series on literacy and numeracy difficulties among adults. In 2011, Cowan was also a co-presenter for STV's lifestyle magazine show The Hour, with Michelle McManus. The programme was axed four weeks after a move to a weekly prime time slot and a revamp led to low ratings." Edited September 29, 2013 by davidg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ged62 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 The guy is funny, people get offended for the sake of being offended. He's right who is interested in womans football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcc Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Tam Cowan funny? Pull the other leg. Cowan should be put in the ring with John Beattie, former Scottish rugby forward and now Radio Scotland presenter, who is the father of Scottish international footballer Julie Beattie. I would pay money to see this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud the Baker Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 The guy is funny, people get offended for the sake of being offended. He's right who is interested in womans football. The guy has been telling the same jokes for 20 years and they were stale when Off The Ball started - having said this I don't think I've tuned in so far this season so he might have reinvented himself at the cutting edge of comedy......................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smcc Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 The guy has been telling the same jokes for 20 years and they were stale when Off The Ball started - having said this I don't think I've tuned in so far this season so he might have reinvented himself at the cutting edge of comedy......................... He hasn't! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ged62 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 The guy has been telling the same jokes for 20 years and they were stale when Off The Ball started - having said this I don't think I've tuned in so far this season so he might have reinvented himself at the cutting edge of comedy......................... I dont listen too it either, plus I'm talking about some of his off the cuff one liners. So that sorts that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ged62 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 (edited) Tam Cowan funny? Pull the other leg. Cowan should be put in the ring with John Beattie, former Scottish rugby forward and now Radio Scotland presenter, who is the father of Scottish international footballer Julie Beattie. I would pay money to see this. Again I'm talking about some of his one liners, all about opnions. Edited September 29, 2013 by ged62 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ged62 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Dosent matter if you think he's funny or not, I still dont want too watch womans football, so he has a point. PC brigrade want too get a grip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ged62 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 The guy has been telling the same jokes for 20 years and they were stale when Off The Ball started - having said this I don't think I've tuned in so far this season so he might have reinvented himself at the cutting edge of comedy......................... Thats like you saying you like a certain band and I dont. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gudmunder Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Oh ffs!!! It's getting beyond a joke with offending people! He rips the pish out of just about everybody, especially the gruesome twosome, and their fans don't like him for that reason. He tells it as it is, but it's only his opinion. I could understand if it's a personal attack that's plainly offensive! Looks like somebody is suffering because of the PC brigade once more. Get a grip! If you don't like his material, dont' read it, listen to it or watch it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insaintee Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Cowan out. Lenny Henry in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ged62 Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Oh ffs!!! It's getting beyond a joke with offending people! He rips the pish out of just about everybody, especially the gruesome twosome, and their fans don't like him for that reason. He tells it as it is, but it's only his opinion. I could understand if it's a personal attack that's plainly offensive! Looks like somebody is suffering because of the PC brigade once more. Get a grip! If you don't like his material, dont' read it, listen to it or watch it! Great post, exactly my point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendo Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 What gudmunder said. Although you don't get away with not being PC these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shull Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Cowan out. Lenny Henry in Tit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shull Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Tam is hilarious as was his Column which i read yesterday. I noticed it is the hatchet faces that are complaining.( Jane Godley & Ruth Davidson for fuxsake ) Shame on the BBC ! Off The Ball wid be history without Tam. He is Off The Ball. Listened to it yesterday for a bit before i decided Smooth Radio was the better option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shull Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF6jFTxZUAA No fear of sides splitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callum Gilhooley Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 I had previously been very critical of womens football, looking on it as some sort of joke which should be derided & mocked. So, i decided to watch the game on Alba to see if i was misguided & to catch up on this fantastic entertainment & skill the PC Brigade had been banging on about. Nope, Sorry. Its still pish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faraway saint Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Wile I view woman's football similar to Callum and I'm not overly offended by Cowans views I do agree that he's not particularly funny and is a bit if a dinosaur. Whither people agree with the action of the BBC or not he's been very naive to think there would not have been some negative reaction. So an unfunny article gets him the boot, that's quite funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shull Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Wile I view woman's football similar to Callum and I'm not overly offended by Cowans views I do agree that he's not particularly funny and is a bit if a dinosaur. Whither people agree with the action of the BBC or not he's been very naive to think there would not have been some negative reaction. So an unfunny article gets him the boot, that's quite funny. BOO !!! YOU'RE FIRED !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendo Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Tam is hilarious as was his Column which i read yesterday. I noticed it is the hatchet faces that are complaining.( Jane Godley & Ruth Davidson for fuxsake ) Shame on the BBC ! Off The Ball wid be history without Tam. He is Off The Ball. Listened to it yesterday for a bit before i decided Smooth Radio was the better option. The thing is he put the BBC in a difficult position, had they done nothing then they would have been given pelters. The bottom line is that you can't get away with these sorts of comments now a days as our society has changed to be more all inclusive. Hopefully he will get his knuckles wrapped and apologies so that he can continue with Off The Ball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shull Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 The thing is he put the BBC in a difficult position, had they done nothing then they would have been given pelters. The bottom line is that you can't get away with these sorts of comments now a days as our society has changed to be more all inclusive. Hopefully he will get his knuckles wrapped and apologies so that he can continue with Off The Ball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callum Gilhooley Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Perhaps someone at the Beeb would be good enough to publish a list of what can & cannot be used as material for comedy now ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faraway saint Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Perhaps someone at the Beeb would be good enough to publish a list of what can & cannot be used as material for comedy now ? Something funny? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callum Gilhooley Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Something funny? Thats Miranda Hart ruled out then . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shull Posted September 29, 2013 Report Share Posted September 29, 2013 Anyway, i think it's a bit of a smokescreen by the Beeb. Tam getting ripped into that Newcunto fan, Andy Cameron after the auld codger showed disrepect to Forfar last week, was probably the real reason Tam got banished. He'll now be on the List. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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