“It is more boring than the news now.”
Joe Brolly is now more famed for his TV career and punditry than the huge success he had on the pitch as a player.
That’s a huge compliment to someone who played a key role in bringing its county their only All-Ireland success and is testament to the entertainment, value and insight that he brings to the screen.
Obviously, he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and people love to hate him just as much as they love to love him, but regardless, the whole point of TV is to present these polarising figures that can generate talking points and debates to fill the papers, and break the ice over a few pints in the local.
However, Brolly’s TV career with RTE came to a sudden halt, and the Derry man has since been very critical of The Sunday Game.
Speaking to Tomas Ó’Sé on the Comhrá Le Tomás, the 1993 All-Ireland winner let rip at his former employers.
“When I started on the television, it was great fun. You had freedom and independence.. You were treated with respect and you could go there, and it was most enjoyable.
“Then, obviously things changed from the top and it was a very different set-up then. You were like schoolchildren being sent texts and being told what to do.
“And now, it’s like a f****ng morgue, and they are set on podiums… This podium thing.. What are they going to do? A party political broadcast? It is more boring than the news now.
“There’s no sense from RTE now that this is supposed to be entertainment, and makes people talk about it on a Monday morning. I genuinely mean that, and I don’t think there is anybody who thinks that.
“I feel sorry for the pundits and everyone involved. Des Cahill said it. He said the fun is all gone out of it. It’s not the same anymore, and where is the debate and the passion.
“At the end of the day, this is our recreation and our love. We talk about games and we want honest responses to it.”
Brolly also questioned some of the pundits who were selected to be on the show, claiming that they may not have the personality required to be on TV.
“It’s very formulaic and they are not talking about the bigger picture or things that are interesting.
“I think there is a fundamental thing here, you shouldn’t be getting people to come on the TV if they are no good on the TV.
“If it is someone who is usually really boring in real life.. I mean what sort of criteria is that? I think that is the problem. You have a structure and approach that is the opposite of entertainment.”
