HOT OR NOT: Michael Johnson's punditry is superb viewing but Danny Rose has not had his finest week

  • Burnley issued refunds to fans at the Hannover match as it was called off
  • Ryan Atkins has come out and is England's first gay referee
  • The coverage on the BBC of the US PGA Championship could improve 

It's Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail's IAN LADYMAN reveals what's been making him feel warm and what's been leaving him cold this week. 

 

HOT

MICHAEL JOHNSON


Cheerleading is rife among the BBC team at the athletics and to an extent that’s fine. There is nothing wrong at all in celebrating British success. But Johnson provides the safety net with opinions as sturdy and upright as his running style and the great 400m runner’s debate with Steve Cram over the Justin Gatlin affair made for great TV.

Michael Johnson's punditry on the BBC has made for fascinating viewing

Michael Johnson's punditry on the BBC has made for fascinating viewing

BURNLEY

The Lancashire club saw their pre-season friendly with Hannover abandoned at half-time after the German fans decided they wanted to take bits of Turf Moor home with them. Burnley reacted quickly to what was an unexpected PR crisis by refunding all ticket prices. Any fans who don’t turn up for their money back can rest assured it will be given to a local charity.

RYAN ATKIN

Pressure on LGBT footballers to reveal their sexuality is unfair and unkind. Football’s ongoing issues with prejudice are not theirs to solve. Having said that, Atkin’s decision to come out as English football’s first gay referee says much for his own strength of character. He says he may get abuse from players and supporters and, sadly, he may be right.

Referee Ryan Atkin is the first football official to 'come out' in the United Kingdom

Referee Ryan Atkin is the first football official to 'come out' in the United Kingdom

 

NOT

BBC GOLF

So much to say about the Beeb’s coverage of the USPGA but so little space. So let’s leave it at this. For those golfers who love a bit of nostalgia and sentimentality, this was indeed a step back in time.

BRADFORD BULLS

Twenty years ago the iconic club won their first 20 games of the rugby league season. Now the Bulls will play in the third tier of the game after relegation from the Championship. They won Super League in 2005 but next season Bradford will travel to rugby league outposts such as Coventry, London, Gloucestershire and Oxford.

Danny Rose has had a bad week after his complaints about life at Tottenham in an interview

Danny Rose has had a bad week after his complaints about life at Tottenham in an interview

DANNY ROSE

The Tottenham full-back deserves to be paid the going rate but two questions emerged from his decision to complan so vigorously about his lot in a newspaper interview this week. Firstly, why did he sign a new contract a year ago? And what will interested clubs like Manchester United make of his decision to throw a bomb in to his club’s preparations for the new season?