I'm another Radio 4 fan. When you listen to it, you stumble on sudden delights.
I'm also a great fan of Radio 7. Where else can you listen to repeats of the Goon Show?
Every so often the Beeb wants to change Radio 4 and make it less middle class and middle aged.
The youngsters have their radio programmes. Why can't we middle aged/oldies have one too?
Freeview is great too and seems to expand all the time. Film 4 will soon be available.

I used to resent the BBC licence fee until I had to watch Italian television !

I think there is still a place for intelligent television and Radio (Another radio 4 fan. I have been watcjing Francesco da Mostro's recent programs on Venice and now his series on Italy with great enjoyment - Whoops , this reply has now moved into a travel related subject!

Come on England! ('Cos you've been pathetic so far!)

Just to show my ignaorance, where do i FIND Radios 5 onwards?

(I know, I know)

We have the full Sky package and, as my husband frequently says, we have 420 channels and there's STILL nothing to watch

Sheila - 0105 for radio 5, 0144 for radio 5 live extra. Sky moved all the radio channels to 4 digit numbers starting with zero.

"...where do i FIND Radios 5 onwards?"

Or buy a DAB radio.

Sport is a very personal thing, I think Golf is boring, my husband looks at me like i've lost my mind when I say this!!!

<<Why is it that SO many people in the world play soccer???>>

I think it is played by so many people all over the world because it does not require fancy equipment and facilities, so neither poverty nor climate (except for reallly extreme climate) prevents people from playing. I really like the idea that it is so "democratic," so an extremely poor boy with talent, whose family would never be able to afford skates or admission to tennis courts or access to a safe body of water, and whose team could not afford sticks or clubs or hoops or other paraphernalia, can nevertheless become a star.

I don't like to watch any "ball sports," so I have no opinion about whether it's boring or interesting to watch for those who do like to watch games. But it seems it must be pretty exciting and interesting, since a lot of people love it.

Yes, I think you're right.
A boy from a favela or one from any backstreet can become a star.
In the US, it seems to be a middle-class thing. In most of the world, it's a way for a working-class lad to attain fame and fortune.
Here instead of soccer moms, we have working class football dads shouting on the sidelines.
It's also one of those male bonding thingies.
If my son is typical, whenever a few lads of any nationality get together, a casual game of football will begin.
According to him, wherever you are in the world, some bloke will say "David Beckham", "Manchester United" or whatever and you reply with the German/Italian etc. equivalent.

Heimdall: I agree, I think that the reason I have 'problems' getting into American sports is that they take so much longer than the officially allotted time... I went to a basketball game (which is just netball - played here by schoolgirls! - after all) and it took over 3 hours.. All those time-outs get a bit trying.

I know that test Cricket takes up to 5 days, but we KNOW that in advance!

Football's just football. I love it. Always have, always will. Apologies to those of you who don't 'get it'.. ;-)

"...one from any backstreet can become a star."

In the U.S., that can and does happen in "our" football, baseball and basketball. Soccer is far from the only sport where one can have humble beginnings and rise to the top.
I definitely do NOT have my "knickers in a twist" because I'm not a big soccer fan, but another reason Americans haven't taken to it is that our sports dance card is already full. We have baseball in summer; football in the fall; basketball and ice hockey winter and spring; and there's already overlap between seasons and sports in at both the collegiate AND professional level. Plus golf and skiing and snowboarding and beach volleyball and lacrosse and gymnastics and tennis and...few other countries in the world have the variety in terrain and/or climate to support so many different types of outdoor activities.

The game also seems to inspire a little wit - such as this suggestion in Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald: "I think it would be a nice sporting gesture if Guus (Guus Hiddink, Australia's coach) gave the Croatian team one of his spare vowels." (And thank you, Max Arnold of Avalon Beach)

David West

Do you think Argentina is going to beat Germany?

More importantly, can Australia beat Italy? I'm not laying any money on that, but it should be an interesting game, even for non-fans like yours truly.

I know this has nothing to do with football aka soccer, so my apologies in advance.

Tallulah, you said: "I went to a basketball game (which is just netball - played here by schoolgirls! - after all)." Many Brits seem to think that basketball was derived from netball, but in fact just the opposite is true. Netball is an adaptation of basketball (invented by a Canadian, James Naismith, in 1891 at Springfield, MA). Netball was also invented in America, when a lady named Clara Baer wrote to Naismith asking for a copy of the rules. She misinterpreted the rules Naismith sent her, and that's why netball has zones that players are not allowed to leave. Netball was first played in England in 1895.

My daughter played netball in her English boarding school, but never found it very exciting, partly because you aren't allowed to run with the ball. Today basketball is a popular sport for both girls and boys in the US.

Anyone interested in reading a short history of the two games, go to http://www.kansasheritage.org/people/naismith.html for basketball, and http://www.netball.org/Netball.aspx?id=18 for netball.

David West

Do you think Argentina is going to beat Germany?>>>>>>>>

Like a ginger step child old chap. I think the Argentinian side are like a supermodel at a Streatham singles night - simply in a different class. Messi will be the player of the tournament. (And I've got £20 on them at 8/1 and could do with £180 right now). It's some game in prospect isn't it? This is what the world cup is all about

I am in a lather about England later today - I hope we aren't complacent about the Ecuadorians (who I have learned eat guinea pigs - for shame. Wonder what they're like? - you must need two or three a person, they're all fluff.).

More importantly, can Australia beat Italy?>>>>>>>>

Can and will old bean. Can and will. The italians are a bunch of show-ponies who hate being tackled hard. Get into them and they'll fold. Get Cartman Viduka running at them and they'll run and hide.

Australia are better than many people (inc me) thought.

Did anyone else know that Germany was a hot country?

Heimdall: Thanks for the info but I was writing with my tongue firmly in cheek!! ;-)

I know that, Tallulah, but you gave me a good opening to rub it in a little. I freely admit that baseball was derived from rounders, though.

Ah, you were listening to Radio 4 at sparrowfart this morning, too David.

Would you have eaten its face?

Oh, Tallulah, that was tongue in cheek too ;-)

So, everyone, who do you predict will play in the finals? Brazil and _______(fill in the blank).

GERMANY, if not, we're going to make a revloution, overthrow the government and proclaim Germany winner for now and all the matches and in eternity. ;-). There simply is no alternative . If the angentinian team plays as poor as yesterday, it'll be a piece of cake!