At lunchtime on Thursday Ian Crocker slipped into a lazy, comforting formula that will see him through until Saturday afternoon when the circus closes down again for a few months.
More than 20 years ago when Sky Sports virtually gave up on Scottish football they handed commentary duties for the bigger matches over to Crocker from Martin Tyler.
The West Ham fan grabbed it like a hungry dog being thrown a bone- making a career out of it sticking rigidly to the script four times a season despite reality all around him explaining that it is time to move on.
Time to prep another Old Firm. Celtic v Rangers live on Sky Sports from 1130 Saturday ??
— Ian Crocker (@IanCrocker1) December 28, 2023
THAT is sensational! https://t.co/r51kOVe2xp
— Tam sellic son (@TamseIIicsonIII) December 28, 2023
The lazy O** F*** term provides comfort to those at Ibrox as they try to cling to a toxic rivalry that was last aired in 2012 when Charlie Mulgrew, Kris Commons and Gary Hooper rattled in the final nails to the club that was soon sentenced to liquidation by Queen Elizabeth of England for refusing to pay long overdue taxes.
There was no O** F*** script for Crocker to repeat in the 2012/13 season, when the Tribute Act finally reached the top flight in 2016/17 Mark Warburton’s side were battered into submission until the former city trader was emailed that his resignation had been accepted.
Still Sky and the mainstream continued as the myth turned into a lie, not even watching Celtic win four successive trebles caused Crocks to pause from his favoured script over a long dead rivalry.
On Saturday lunchtime he will have revved himself up again, brace yourself, this is Glasgow blah blah will be trotted out in complete denial of the consequences of playing Barry Ferguson, Neil McCann, Alex Rae, Tore Andre Flo, Ronald de Boer and Bob Malcolm that killed off the club founded in 1873, or was it 1872?
Mention an incredible run of 73 SPFL matches without having a penalty awarded and Sky Sports will take a vow of silence on their Scottish football coverage.
Ther is no old firm your employer reported on rangers death pic.twitter.com/ECdgY1Agj3
— Craig Whyte (@RIPRFC) December 28, 2023
Every time a journalist/commentator spouts the ‘Old Firm’ pish they out themselves as cowards. They know that Rangers were liquidated. They let themselves be bullied into promoting a false narrative to protect a salary. They promote a lie in exchange for their integrity! https://t.co/RTD2MJFJPs
— Kevin Barry (@KBG1888) December 28, 2023
NO OLD FIRM ….. in case you forgot , here’s why pic.twitter.com/TOFalPtY33
— Jamie 1967 (@MccaffertyJamie) December 28, 2023
Ian you reported on the death of ‘Rangers’, what miracle has happened between 2012 and the present day that we’ve not been made aware of, that’s some Tarot card reporting right there my friend, it’s THE GLASGOW DERBY,never forget it! ???
— Johnnybhoy19 (@johhybhoy1960) December 28, 2023
— Celtic Curio (@Celticcurio) December 28, 2023
It bugs me that you are paid by my club to narrate our official DVD’s. I notice you didn’t use the phrase “old firm” in the one I watched. Wonder why?
— Arthur Trubshaw (@OllytheG) December 28, 2023
The old firm died in 2012 along with the old co it’s now the Glasgow derby Ian
— Dane Thompson (@Danethompson10) December 28, 2023
Say hello to Doctor Who when you see him. pic.twitter.com/6yS9bEEwWQ
— JayDubya???????????? (@johnnywatt) December 28, 2023
Has no-one told you? pic.twitter.com/oesPMZkivX
— Roger Moose (@RogerMoose4) December 28, 2023
I used to think he was impartial. ???????????? Every time he says old firm, it oozes cringe, as you know he’s doing it for bites, and to get rangers fans likes.
— CM ? (@mcbhoy) December 28, 2023
— Tam (@coybig6721) December 28, 2023
— Gary Bhoy (@timmalloy70) December 28, 2023
Lol quite surprised the written press and TV stations don’t quote big DONALD and put it out there that it was all FAKE NEWS and Rangers did not DIE.
I haven’t used O** F*** since before they went bust (I detest everything about them), but Chris Sutton used it in his article that you posted just before this one
Big Sutton should mark Crocker’ s card for him the next time both are co commentating on a match !Live and unedited ! No room to squirm out an excuse ! Caught bang to rights ! It’s a vital way to educate hypocrites like Crocker and his SS employers that the truth will always out …
It was 1872! The Batttle of the Boyne was 1691.
I actually like Ian Crocker as a commentator though he’s had some real shit for sidekicks.
He’s interesting, bright, humourous and knowledgeable about fitba and generally speaks things as he sees them. Where’s the problem. Everyone in media, perhaps putting food on their family’s table, KNOWS the truth. Until the rags and other media are forced to bring THAT truth out you’ll get no change.
It’s not necessarily their fault, it’s most definitely their employers. Starve the said employers of the oxygen of money and the new huns will be separated from their dead, bastard parent for all time.
Start with BBC Scotland, there’s the main Achille’s Heel. PTL next.
Anyway Crocker, IMHO, is most definitely an excellent commentator just following ‘rules’ like all the rest, from BOTH sides.