History plays a part without a shadow of a doubt.
When did we start talking about religion?? Oh hang on...
The topic of badges will sway my vote
As in it tastes like piss
“You’ve got a special message for one of our commentators?” the interviewer asked.
Bravo responded: “I just want to say hello to Mel, beautiful Mel, I was lucky enough to meet her once in Sydney. I just want to say hi and I see she’s still looking beautiful.”
The camera panned to McLaughlin in the studio, who appeared visibly embarrassed.
“That was slightly uncomfortable,” co-presenter Ricky Ponting said.
McLaughlin then attempted to change the topic of conversation.
“Let’s, ah, well ... let’s concentrate on what he did in the field first ... over to either of you, I don’t really care right now.”
There was no “don’t blush, baby” in Bravo’s interview and he wasn’t brought up on the comments later.
Last night, Channel 10 commentator Mark Howard described the confrontation with Gayle as inappropriate and highlighted McLaughlin’s professionalism in the face of flirtation.
“It must be pointed out that Mel is a wonderful, professional, informed sports broadcaster and a valued member of Network Ten and on reflection, I don’t think that’s appropriate for what’s required in that format,” he said after the awkward interview.
“Chris is an entertainer and he’s a joker, but I think he probably went a bit too far there. I hope we don’t see any of it again, and Mel will be back for her next interview, prepared and ready to go as she always is.”
It’s not just cricketers who have struggled to hide their affection for McLaughlin during live interviews.
The reporter showed her class when she received an unexpected kiss from Socceroos star Tim Cahill following a 2012 match.
Despite being clearly caught off guard by the sneaky peck from the Australian striker, McLaughlin powered through and gave a skilful post-match interview.
At the time of the Cahill kiss McLaughlin was a presenter and sideline reporter with Fox Sports and quickly became a favourite with the fans.
A tongue in cheek blog post penned by SportsBet when the news broke that McLaughlin was leaving Fox Sports perfectly captured the heartache felt by fans: “Remember the scenes when Kim Jong-il passed away in North Korea? Multiply that by 10. Yep, utter devastation.”
During her time with Fox Sports she aided immensely the promotion of the A-League and was embraced by supporters of the beautiful game.
Such was the level of affection for the sideline reporter that Western Sydney Wanderers fan even sang about her during games.
In 2013, one dedicated fan on the Western Sydney Football website started a “Mel McLaughlin Appreciation Thread” — almost all of the posts are Wanderers supporters professing their love for the journalist.
God she's awkwardMaybe the C10 reporter has slept with a West Indies cricketer in the past??
Maybe other Aussie athletes??
Maybe why these sports stars are making such strong advances toward her??
Not saying it's appropriate behavior from them in her workplace!!
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Chris Gayle isn’t the first cricketer to pick-up Big Bash commentator Mel McLaughlin
January 5, 20169:07am
Channel ten sports broadcaster Mel McLaughlin has faced more than one pick up attempt in her career.
THIS isn’t Mel McLaughlin’s first time at the rodeo.
As Chris Gayle faces a grilling over his “disrespectful and simply inappropriate” comments to the Channel 10 reporter last night, social media has been quick to point out a January 2014 interview with Trinidadian cricketer Dwayne Bravo. During the live cross, Bravo made special mention to Ms McLaughlin after receiving his medal for man of the match.
