Why Radio Sport missed the mark

Radio Sport presenter Daniel Mchardy summed Monday’s ‘‘Extra Time’’ show the best.

‘‘It’s all a little bit self indulgent,’’ he said during the three-hour special on Monday morning, as Radio Sport signed off for good.

Not only was it self-indulgent, it also reaffirmed why Radio Sport had become less relevant in modern day.

The Old Boys’ Club was out in force on Monday, with more time dedicated to pigeon racing than to women in sport.

The victories of the All Whites, Black Caps and All Blacks were regaled by broadcasters and (male) athletes alike.

Twenty-two years of sporting highlights were meant to be brought to the fore, but only one presenter – Mchardy – mentioned women in sport at all.

He chose the Central Pulse’s 2019 ANZ Premiership win as his sporting highlight from the last 22 years, with producer Louis Herman-watt adding how it was nice to ‘‘get off the beaten track’’ by choosing netball.

The Silver Ferns’ incredible 2019 World Cup win was not mentioned, nor were the Black Ferns’ five Rugby World Cup wins – all of which happened while Radio Sport was on air over the past 22 years.

The Black Caps’ near win at last year’s Cricket World Cup was mentioned numerous times, but the only time New Zealand has actually won the Cricket World Cup – by the White Ferns in 2000 – was not.

Only four female voices were heard among the sea of middleaged men on Monday’s show.

White Ferns Sophie Devine and Katey Martin thanked the station for its coverage of cricket over the years.

Journalist Rikki Swannell and producer Rowena Duncum shared their Radio Sport stories.

Swannell was proud of the coverage the team did in 2011 for the Rugby World Cup but said a lot of what happened behind the scenes was not for ‘‘public consumption’’.

In a light-hearted way, Duncum shared a story about how one presenter had ‘‘stalked’’ her.

They gave a glimpse into what it’s like for women in these spaces – often seen as ‘‘other’’, who encroach on what has traditionally been a man’s world.

Martin Devlin did in fact mention a woman as he rounded out the show on Monday. He shared about when he was first offered a full-time job at Radio Sport he ‘‘went down quicker than Paris Hilton’’.

Thankfully there wasn’t a lot of mention on Monday’s show about former Radio Sport presenter Tony Veitch, who was rehired by the broadcaster after he admitted his involvement in domestic violence.

Last month Stuff journalist Dana Johannsen wrote about her career at Radio Sport, that lasted seven months.

‘‘In one of my first weeks on the job a well-known host flung a young producer over his shoulder and unclipped her bra in the middle of the office,’’ she said.

‘‘No-one said a word. Of if they did, it couldn’t be heard over the guffaws.

‘‘There was a suffocating blokieness about the place.

‘‘Despite various attempts to introduce women into the on-air mix over the years and broaden its appeal, Radio Sport was never able to shake that macho appeal.’’

While many are lamenting Radio Sport’s demise, it could be a good thing for women in sport.

By taking all these blokes off the airwaves, the percentage of female sports journalists is higher than ever before.

And females are more likely to write and talk about other females in sport.

If Radio Sport hopes to return – which the presenters on Monday’s ‘‘Extra Time’’ said they would like to happen – then maybe representing the diverse population this sport loving nation has might be a good start.