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It's Been Grand: ... Now it's Final
Eddie Hemmings and Mike 'Stevo' Stephenson, the Sky Sports double act synonymous with rugby league for over a quarter of a century, are finally calling it a day. In 'It's Been Grand' the two veteran commentators tell the story of how their on-screen partnership was formed through a chance meeting. And they relate many of their tales of adventure, mayhem, mishap and success from their early days at BSB through to the present day with Sky TV. The stories include losing a Mercedes and gaining a Ford, creating 'Boots 'n' All' by pester-power and an inebriated invader on the TV gantry. They also relate many of their tour down under adventures such as a confrontation with a drunk former girlfriend, birthday celebrations with the Great Britain Test team and a bedroom with clean sheets but no walls. And others are not spared the Stevo and Eddie treatment either with tales of a free lunch at the expense of John Kear, the story of five Martin Offiah's and Maurice Lyndsey and the knife-throwing Apache. Alas, with Stevo's retirement at the end of the 2016 season, the partnership is coming to an end. But enjoy the fun, the japes and the catastrophes and celebrations of the last 28 years of rugby league TV commentary in Eddie and Stevo's 'It's Been Grand'.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 25, 2017
A chummy, pleasant read but lacking a decent story arc and anything juicy. Stevo's own autobiography is more entertaining and Eddie's chapters are a little dull. Ok for rugby league fans but not a "must have" purchase.
February 3, 2017
Eddie and Stevo – as a Rugby League fan, you either love ‘em or hate ‘em. I’m firmly in the former camp, and although this book is unlikely to change any opinions, I think it’s an entertaining read for anyone who has enjoyed a Rugby League match on Sky Sports over the past couple of decades, if not a bit of a missed opportunity.
Don’t come to this expecting an in depth autobiography – it’s more like an extended version of an after dinner speech, plenty of tales of nights on the booze (and boy are there a LOT of tales of nights on the booze), fun and friendship. It’s hard not to wonder if this book was rushed out to commemorate Stevo’s retirement, as it could do with a lot of editing. Not just spelling mistakes and clumsy phrasing though; Eddie and Stevo take it in turns to narrate each chapter, and this leads to a lot of repeated content. I understand how with some of the conflicts over the years, they would each want to tell their side of the tale. However this rarely leads to anything new on the second telling of the anecdote – take the tale of Stevo’s drunk ex in Aus. Eddie tells us the story pretty amusingly, however when Stevo gets to his side of the story he gives us no further details as to how he knows this woman or how he felt. He isn’t obliged to, of course, but the anecdote isn’t so blindingly funny to warrant it being repeated twice in ten pages with next to no details being added the second time. This happens numerous times throughout the book, and when the book is just a touch over 200 pages long, it gives the impression that ideas for content were pretty light.
Likewise, it’s a tad disappointing that the focus is so much on their earlier career together. Super League – now about to enter its 22nd season and only the first without Stevo – doesn’t properly get discussed until around two thirds in. Considering that is how a lot of the audience will know the authors and it is by far the competition they have worked on the most, it gives the book a lopsided feel.
I would be lying to say the book didn’t elicit more than a chuckle or two from me – I didn’t learn a huge amount but it was enjoyable whilst it lasted. Much like the commentary of the dynamic duo themselves then. They have certainly earned their place in Rugby League history – this book may not do them the full justice they deserve, but it’s certainly a decent T.R.Y for mine.
Don’t come to this expecting an in depth autobiography – it’s more like an extended version of an after dinner speech, plenty of tales of nights on the booze (and boy are there a LOT of tales of nights on the booze), fun and friendship. It’s hard not to wonder if this book was rushed out to commemorate Stevo’s retirement, as it could do with a lot of editing. Not just spelling mistakes and clumsy phrasing though; Eddie and Stevo take it in turns to narrate each chapter, and this leads to a lot of repeated content. I understand how with some of the conflicts over the years, they would each want to tell their side of the tale. However this rarely leads to anything new on the second telling of the anecdote – take the tale of Stevo’s drunk ex in Aus. Eddie tells us the story pretty amusingly, however when Stevo gets to his side of the story he gives us no further details as to how he knows this woman or how he felt. He isn’t obliged to, of course, but the anecdote isn’t so blindingly funny to warrant it being repeated twice in ten pages with next to no details being added the second time. This happens numerous times throughout the book, and when the book is just a touch over 200 pages long, it gives the impression that ideas for content were pretty light.
Likewise, it’s a tad disappointing that the focus is so much on their earlier career together. Super League – now about to enter its 22nd season and only the first without Stevo – doesn’t properly get discussed until around two thirds in. Considering that is how a lot of the audience will know the authors and it is by far the competition they have worked on the most, it gives the book a lopsided feel.
I would be lying to say the book didn’t elicit more than a chuckle or two from me – I didn’t learn a huge amount but it was enjoyable whilst it lasted. Much like the commentary of the dynamic duo themselves then. They have certainly earned their place in Rugby League history – this book may not do them the full justice they deserve, but it’s certainly a decent T.R.Y for mine.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews