Paralympics paralysed by the red button

It would be nice to think that the BBC wouldn't need to justify itself to us with items like 'why the paralympics matter' on the BBC Sport website. But then when you have resigned one of the biggest sporting competitions in the world to the depths of the red button though perhaps you do have to begin to account for your actions.

It's difficult enough to tell that the games are even available to terrestrial viewers and doubtless some of the 400-plus staff that the BBC sent to Beijing for the Olympics didn't even know that there was a second sporting festival to follow. One can well imagine the scene as production confront Claire Balding in downtown Beijing: "Er Claire, a favour..." "Oh yes, what's that then?" "Well, do you think you could stay out here for another three weeks or so creating for the red button and the website? Tell you what, to show we're serious we'll even give call ourselves 'BBC Sport - the paralympic broadcaster', how does that sound?"

Credit is due to the BBC, they will certainly cover the paralympic games with the same sort of verve they did for the older brother. They'll just have to remind us that they're doing so. Would the games have been better served by continuous mainscreen coverage on Sky Sports 3? And if the Beeb are to stay out in Beijing, they shouldn't be embarrassed to do so. The games will be hugely impressive, massively entertaining and great fun - the BBC should make more of the opportunity to broadcast them or the BBC Sport stable will continue to weaken.

The Annabel and Greg show as Andy hits new heights

What a pleasure it is to see Annabel Croft back on our screens. Yes, someone in Sky Sport's production team should ask her to change shampoo, buy a comb and find something other than the armless tops she's so fond of but you can't beat Mrs Croft for a good old fashioned BBC accent. Her glance would wilt flowers too and, sat next to Mr Rusedski (whose accent is about as British as Kevin Pietersen's) she had plenty of chance to use it.

"That's why I believe he's going to be number one in the world!" Rudsedski roared as Andy Murray blazed his way into the US open final. "And that's why I believe he's going to be beat Mr Federer" he continued, "I know I picked Federer to win, but Murray's going to!" concluded Rusedski as Annabel Croft rolled her eyes.

Of course, Rusedski knows all about the glorious trappings that accompany making the final of the US open. In 1997 the big serving Canadian export was runner up, beaten by Pat Rafter in the Flushing Medows final. BBC sports personality of the year awards followed and, well, that was about it really. Rusedski hit the wall about as hard as one of his aces down the T and never really looked like he merited his world number four ranking (a spot Murray will achieve at the conclusion of the US Open). Still, as Murray exchanged small talk after the game with the film star Will Ferrell - carefully televised by Sky's host broadcaster - Rusedski could contemplate how best to stretch his arm round Annabel's tender neck. I know where I'd rather be.