Pundit's wife just gave birth and he's staying for the end of the match....

[PosieComeHereMyPreciousParker]

John Barnes is commenting on the Chelsea/Liverpool game and has just announced whilst one air his wife has given birth, when asked is he off now he said "No, I'll stay until the end as we're 2-0 down" or similar.

Am I unreasonable to think he's a bit of a dick?

Dick for sure. He must have known she was in labour and gone to the match anyway

Sorry you are watching football so obviously have an interest in the game and players and it has taken you until now to realise John Barnes is a dick????

well, he's missed the birth now so I s'pose there's not much point in being there for his wife!

YANBU btw - he shouldn't have been there at all if his wife was in labour/likely to go into labour.

YANBU
Even if she didn't want him there for the birth, you'd think his priority would be with his wife and new baby, not 22 men kicking a ball around.
Depends on your priorities I suppose.

It's his 6th or something like that, I think. Maybe it's lost its thrill ....

YANBU.

This sort of thing only goes to perpetuate all sorts of sexual stereotypes as well, a role model for boys doing that, what does it teach them.

what's the score?

I guess it depends on what he'd agreed with his wife.

Maybe they'd already discussed such a thing happening and it was agreed that he would stay "at work".

On the face of it yes he sounds like a right dick, but as we don't know the conversations that have taken place in private I guess we don't know

I hate football anyway, so you are pushing at an open door with the "dick" statement (as it were)

A joke?

Yeah but at least he hasn't missed two superb goals from Torres

my oh knows him in real life and he is a dick!

He used to live on the same road as my grandfather when playing for Liverpool - one heck of a commute btw. He was married and I think had a child then - is this the same relationship, as that was a v long time ago.

Dick.

I'd kill him. But then again maybe he needs the money? Or is useless at hospitals. Etc Etc. I would still kill him though.

Maybe Mrs Barnes didn't want him there and told him to go?

If I was his wife I'd seriously consider kicking him in the footballs.

My grandfather thought he was very friendly & well mannered... but then he saw the good in everyone, even his burglar.

So why else is he a dick, apart from missing the birth?

I think only his wife could say whether or not he is a dick. After all, it could be she has told him to stay away!

I don't have any interest but as a treat DH has been allowed to have it on, DS1 sort of likes Liverpool and DS2 likes Chelsea.....neither in a football scarf/strip wearing sort of way or even enough to know who's top of the league!!

I know a man who on the day his wife was hving a sceduled section ,just dropped her off at hospital and then went and taught her sunday school class, took the service and gave the organist a lift home (he was the minister) before popping down to the hospital to see what had happened. Doesn't make him a 'dick' - that was just what they did in those days. Insisting fathers should be present is a modern thing and not everybody goes along with it. I assume Mrs Barnes is happy enough - if she isn't then yes he should be ashamed. In the absence of any evidence though I refuse to condemn him.

" as a treat DH has been allowed to have it on"

That is a joke, surely?

I agree with Northernlurker, btw.

Well, I don't suppose his wife is completely alone. And she is probably more than capable of telling him that she needs him to be at the birth if she was that worried.

I expect she is more than happy. I would be if my DH was earning that sort of money.

well said Northern.

We don't know what discussions went on at home about where he would be/what he would do.

We have four children and so our weekend is not for DH sitting and watching football....this is 2010 you know!