THERE are often moans about BBC losing some of its bluechip sports.
Grumbles about their coverage of those sports they have left.
But surely there can be no complaints about the continuingly excellent Sports Review of the Year as was screened last night.
As a paying punter at the NEC, I was one of the 8,000 treated to two hours of slick, action-packed, informative and, in the case of Sir Bobby Robson, seriously moving entertainment which just proves when it comes to events like this Auntie Beeb has no equals.
Difficult to believe Gary Lineker was initially derided as he tried to fill the unfillable boots of Des Lynam in presenting British sport.
Now as polished an operator as they come, aided and abetted by Sue Barker and resident Brummie Adrian Chiles, the production was flawless.
A few highlights?
The outside broadcast from Las Vegas with Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe.
Surrounded by three or four rows of corner men and mates – including a certain Richie Woodall – there seemed almost the air of a load of blokes turning up for a drive-in movie.
The pair’s constant banter, and the unshakeable face of Lennox Lewis, was a real picture, while Hatton’s “I slipped” reference stole the show.
But in Calzaghe, a worthy winner of the competition, quite probably 12 months after he should have done.
The arrival on stage, on his machine of world superbike champion James Toseland.
Before then launching into a spectacular blues rendition on the old Joanna.
Can a bloke do any more to win?!!
The presence of a sprinkling of stars from the Midlands.
Alex McLeish, amusingly told by Chiles his reward for nearly taking Scotland to the European Championships was a new life in Birmingham, both Mick McCarthy and Tony Mowbray in attendance, and Steve Bull on stage as part of the tribute to Robson.
Which brings us neatly on to the highlight of the night.
Presumably there was barely a dry eye in the house as Sir Bobby shuffled on stage to receive his Lifetime Achievement award to be met by a rousing two-minute standing ovation.
The body may be frail amid a seemingly endless battle against cancer and most recently a brain tumor but the mind is still sharp as a tack.
And noble too of Sir Alex Ferguson to put aside his long-standing dispute with the BBC to actually present the award.
Of course there will be one or two complaints about what was and wasn’t shown.
The lack of even a mention for the county cricket season perhaps, the choice of England’s rugby team as “Team of the Year” amid far more consistency from more minor sports elsewhere, and maybe Tim Henman deserved just a little more air-time given the way he has carried the sport of tennis for over a decade.
But overall what a fantastic night, for audience and viewers alike.
And amid rumours Birmingham might not be granted a third year in the hotseat 12 months from now, organisers would be well advised to consider one of sport’s golden rules: “Never change a winning formula.”