Did anyone one else see/hear what John Inverdale said about Bartoli whilst commentating on the ladies final? Unbelievable.
He could well be the new Prince Philip.
Wimbledon 2013: BBC apologise for John Inverdale's 'Bartoli not a lookerâ comment
The BBC has apologised after one of its most high-profile presenters made a derogatory remark about the new Wimbledon womenâs singles champion.
By Patrick Sawer, and Claire Duffin6:12PM BST 06 Jul 2013
Following Bartoliâs straight sets victory over the German Sabine Lisicki, John Inverdale asked BBC Radio 5 Live listeners: âDo you think Bartoliâs dad told her when she was little 'Youâre never going to be a looker? Youâll never be a Sharapova, so you have to be scrappy and fight.ââ
Bartoli, whose passionate determination â exemplified by her repeated fist pumping â gained her the admiration of Centre Court, won her first Grand Slam title 6-1, 6-4.
At one stage during the second set Bartoliâs unrelenting focus and powerful hitting reduced her 23-year-old opponent to tears.
Once a stunned Lisicki, the 15th seed, rose to her feet, Bartoli celebrated becoming the first Frenchwoman in seven years to win at SW19 by climbing up to the playersâ box to embrace family and friends.
But in the commentating box Inverdale appeared determined not to join in the general admiration of the new champion.
He later tried to make amends by saying: âWe poked fun, in a nice way, about how she looks ... but Marion Bartoli is an incredible role model.â
After being asked about Inverdaleâs comments a BBC spokesman said last night: âWe accept that this remark was insensitive and for that we apologise.â
Inverdaleâs words prompted an outpouring of criticism on social networking sites, such as Twitter.
Sarah Mann, a tennis fan from Sheffield, said: âShame on you Inverdaleâ, adding in a tweet to BBC radio presenter Shelagh Fogarty: âYou will cry if you hear what your colleague Inverdale has just said about Bartoli.â
Several people posted links to the BBC websiteâs complaints page and encouraged others to make their feelings about Inverdaleâs comments known.
Kenny Morgan, from Wales, said: âBartoli is a fine athlete that just excelled in her sport,â while Lucy Hay, a script editor from London, said: âJohn Inverdale is never going to be a looker, or a thinker, or as good at anything at Bartoli.â
Many of the Tweets included the hashtag Everyday Sexism, which has gathered a large following with examples of causal sexism in the workplace and public life.
Inverdale ran into trouble in 2006 during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards coverage on Radio FiveLive, when he appeared to make a disparaging remark about the Duchess of Cornwall.
During the programme Inverdale asked others in the studio if they could remember the name of the horse Princess Anne rode when she won the European Championship in 1971.
After they failed to come up with an answer Inverdale said: âCamilla?â
Several people complained to the BBC in 2009 about what they described as Inverdaleâs âsexist and patronising viewâ of womenâs tennis during the Wimbledon championships.
One listener said: âJohn Inverdale is a disgrace, with his sexist patronising view of the Womenâs game. Why is he presenting the flagship show of the BBC at Wimbledon, when he clearly understands little about tennis, and constantly tries to deride and belittle the womenâs game?â
Another listener said: âI have complained to the BBC on numerous occasions about his blatant sexism regarding the women's game, but to no avail.â
Told of Inverdaleâs remarks, the new Wimbledon championâs father, Dr Walter Bartoli, said:â I am not angry. She is my beautiful daughter.
âThe relationship between Marion and me has always been unbelievable so I donât know what this reporter is talking about.
âWhen she was five years old she was playing like every kid and having fun on the tennis court.â
He said he would be celebrating with champagne last night with the French tennis ace along with members of her support team to mark a âwonderful eventâ.
He could well be the new Prince Philip.
Wimbledon 2013: BBC apologise for John Inverdale's 'Bartoli not a lookerâ comment
The BBC has apologised after one of its most high-profile presenters made a derogatory remark about the new Wimbledon womenâs singles champion.
By Patrick Sawer, and Claire Duffin6:12PM BST 06 Jul 2013
Following Bartoliâs straight sets victory over the German Sabine Lisicki, John Inverdale asked BBC Radio 5 Live listeners: âDo you think Bartoliâs dad told her when she was little 'Youâre never going to be a looker? Youâll never be a Sharapova, so you have to be scrappy and fight.ââ
Bartoli, whose passionate determination â exemplified by her repeated fist pumping â gained her the admiration of Centre Court, won her first Grand Slam title 6-1, 6-4.
At one stage during the second set Bartoliâs unrelenting focus and powerful hitting reduced her 23-year-old opponent to tears.
Once a stunned Lisicki, the 15th seed, rose to her feet, Bartoli celebrated becoming the first Frenchwoman in seven years to win at SW19 by climbing up to the playersâ box to embrace family and friends.
But in the commentating box Inverdale appeared determined not to join in the general admiration of the new champion.
He later tried to make amends by saying: âWe poked fun, in a nice way, about how she looks ... but Marion Bartoli is an incredible role model.â
After being asked about Inverdaleâs comments a BBC spokesman said last night: âWe accept that this remark was insensitive and for that we apologise.â
Inverdaleâs words prompted an outpouring of criticism on social networking sites, such as Twitter.
Sarah Mann, a tennis fan from Sheffield, said: âShame on you Inverdaleâ, adding in a tweet to BBC radio presenter Shelagh Fogarty: âYou will cry if you hear what your colleague Inverdale has just said about Bartoli.â
Several people posted links to the BBC websiteâs complaints page and encouraged others to make their feelings about Inverdaleâs comments known.
Kenny Morgan, from Wales, said: âBartoli is a fine athlete that just excelled in her sport,â while Lucy Hay, a script editor from London, said: âJohn Inverdale is never going to be a looker, or a thinker, or as good at anything at Bartoli.â
Many of the Tweets included the hashtag Everyday Sexism, which has gathered a large following with examples of causal sexism in the workplace and public life.
Inverdale ran into trouble in 2006 during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards coverage on Radio FiveLive, when he appeared to make a disparaging remark about the Duchess of Cornwall.
During the programme Inverdale asked others in the studio if they could remember the name of the horse Princess Anne rode when she won the European Championship in 1971.
After they failed to come up with an answer Inverdale said: âCamilla?â
Several people complained to the BBC in 2009 about what they described as Inverdaleâs âsexist and patronising viewâ of womenâs tennis during the Wimbledon championships.
One listener said: âJohn Inverdale is a disgrace, with his sexist patronising view of the Womenâs game. Why is he presenting the flagship show of the BBC at Wimbledon, when he clearly understands little about tennis, and constantly tries to deride and belittle the womenâs game?â
Another listener said: âI have complained to the BBC on numerous occasions about his blatant sexism regarding the women's game, but to no avail.â
Told of Inverdaleâs remarks, the new Wimbledon championâs father, Dr Walter Bartoli, said:â I am not angry. She is my beautiful daughter.
âThe relationship between Marion and me has always been unbelievable so I donât know what this reporter is talking about.
âWhen she was five years old she was playing like every kid and having fun on the tennis court.â
He said he would be celebrating with champagne last night with the French tennis ace along with members of her support team to mark a âwonderful eventâ.
