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?

But he could still be a dick tho no?

I didn't care about my DH seeing me in labour erm he's seen my cumface!! so me sweating,straining, sucking gas and air bringing our daughters into the world was hardly a shock..

I wanted him there and he wanted to be there actually he was very impressed, got to cut the cord of both his girls and enjoyed the gas & air

He could well be. He's certainly an awful pundit and one of the worst managers to ever be given a job.
But you have to counter-balance that with the the fact that he's responsible for the world in motion rap.

Chances are he's a cock (for a host of different reasons but not this one), but I was defending him because I think people were quick to jump on him due to a pre-disposed dislike of football/footballers rather than based on anything factual to do with this as a self-contained incident.
I'm just not sure if people would be chastising Trevor MacDonald or Jeremy Paxman if they found out about 10 minutes from the end of a live broadcast that their child had been born but decided to keep quiet and finish out the programme before heading off to meet their kid.
TBH I think Richard Keys has put him in an awkward position but probably did so thinking it would be a nice jokey-story.
If it hadn't been mentioned on air and had been reported as a lighthearted side-story, for example in the following manner
"spare a thought for John Barnes, who found out during a live broadcast yesterday that his wife had given birth to their 7th child. It was triple joy as at the time birthday boy Barnes (47 yesterday) was watching his beloved Liverpool team beating league champions Chelsea. Ever the professional though Barnes awkwardly stumbled through his half-time analysis without ever revealing his good news to the viewers. With his professional duties dealt with he left without even staying to see his former teams glorious triumph. Fans will be delighted to hear that mother and baby are doing well (however it's too early wether the same can be said for Liverpool)."

And the reaction to the story would be very different. Unfortunately for him it was mentioned on air. Now we don't know if his reaction was genuine ambivalence to the childs birth, an attempt at an awkward joke having been put on the spot or he simply wasn't thinking and didn't want to go through with an awkward exit from a live broadcast and just wanted to get his slot done with. Lets face it, nobody has ever looked dignified getting up and leaving a live show ahead of schedule and being de-miked etc.

I cavassed opinion from my DH and he thinks it was just a joke gone awry...so maybe he's not a dick after all

You have made some very good points Quimby

That was nice for you and your partnermumcentreplus. Perhaps Mr and Mrs Barnes wanted to experience the birth of their child differently to you though.

Maybe...we just don't know do we..

no we don't. Which is exactly why people were saying "you don't know what happened so you can't judge".
Rather than people who've come out straight-away and said things like "dick for sure/stayed to watch the rest of the match what a cock) etc.
We have so little information that it just seems ridiculous to cast judgment, yet any other thread on here asking things like "aibu to want xyz around my birth/ aibu to think people should respect my and dh's wishes to be respected around birth " will almost universally wiith the response "yanbu, your birth your decision" (obviously within reason.)

ahh..that would be boring though...

what i prefer is minisule bits of information that enflame and excite an immediate reaction or opinion...

followed by more clarifying information or opinions that could then change said original opinion...

and final definative information that makes your original opinion the right one after all .

ie John Barnes didn't leave/didn't seem to give a toss when he heard his wife had given birth

Opinion = Dick

Addition information and opinions John B & Mrs B may have a special arrangement etc etc

Opinion = Maybe not a Dick

John Barnes stayed for a further 40mins cracking dodgy jokes about wifey and her fanjo

Opinion = Total Utter Dick

op has decided hes a dick-dont go introducing variables such as discussion and solution.far easier to jump to conclusion

friends husband is in media,and a big story broke when she went into labour,she said cover it.twas such a biggie.she had a doula with her

There aren't any variables that stop me thinking a man that didn't want to either be with his other children whist his wife was in labour, his wife whilst she was in labour or his new baby when first born is a dick. He wasn't breaking a story he was putting football first, watching football first....a league game, not the world cup final. The other pundits thought it was odd too.

bet hes proper choked at that summation

There is always the possibility his wife didn't want him there.

The choices some couples make may seem odd to others but as long as they are happy with them who are we to say they are odd/ a dick etc.

He's fair game, he didn't have to announce it on national TV.

doh.hes a tv scheb where else is he going to announce it?down the kings arms over pint.dont think so