Did Arend Jan Boekestijn also want a ball? Hmmm, yes, he wanted that. Next to the former VVD MP sat entrepreneur Chris Woerts, also hungry for meatballs. The balls were on the table where only the real VIPs were allowed to sit – the three Today Inside-men and regulars Telegraph-guest Wierd Duk – but the bonus guests at the bar were also allowed to eat with it, so Arend Jan walked back and forth with two plates. On the screen in the studio was a large photo of balls, and under the table with the balls was another screen with a photo. From balls.
There is now a special Oranje broadcast twice a evening on SBS6 VI on display, so that the viewer knows what the men think of the World Cup and also what they are eating today. For those who missed it: in addition to meatballs, there were boiled potatoes and Brussels sprouts on the menu on Wednesday evening, which were consumed during the broadcast. René van der Gijp, sitting behind a large tube of mayonnaise, rubbed his greasy fingers on his hands, so that he now had greasy hands. He washed down the meal with red wine for that little bit of extra sharpness in the analyses. Others opted for water or cola.
René van der Gijp, sitting behind a large tube of mayonnaise, rubbed his greasy fingers on his hands, so that he now had greasy hands
Chris had already started drinking Coke early in the morning. “So good,” said Chris. He and his wife had already woken up at half past five. “I think, well, there are only two things I can do: or a little to playor a coke. Wathink? Both.” Wilfred Genee really liked that. Later, Chris got another laugh by visibly struggling with the texture of the balls – they were way too hard. Still, he stuck his fork into such a ball and brought the thing to his open mouth, his tongue sticking out in joyful anticipation. Unfortunately: half the ball fell to the ground. Arend Jan almost laughed himself off his chair (“ji-hi-hi-a-ha-ha”). Wilfred hoped they had recorded it correctly; those images just had to be repeated.
Sometimes it threatens Today Inside Orange let’s talk about football for a moment. Then someone says about a goalkeeper: “What a weak goalkeeper, isn’t it.” Fortunately, adjustments are made quickly. To world politics, for example, or to fellow media people (Arend Jan’s podcast colleague Rob de Wijk is an “incredibly arrogant, stubborn jellyfish”, I understood from Johan ‘the candle’ Derksen), or to analyzes of other programs in which football is analyzed. “Do you know what I think, Wilfred,” said Wierd. “So when you see those young boys who are now at Talpa, while the old guard is now at the NPO – what a difference that is. Now I’m an old fart too, but I do think: those young boys, that brings a completely different dynamic.”
Name men
Earlier that evening, a football program had indeed been shown on SBS6 in which two twenty-somethings had been sitting at a table. One of these was the son of René van der Gijp (and the other, by the way, the son of Heleen and Ton van Royen). The rest of the football programming was reserved for VIwhere the average age at the table was 67* and Johan now joined Wierd’s commentary on non-SBS6 football programs. “I also think that our format is better. If you have all that chatter about the football problems of those former football players… it just goes on and on,” said former football player Johan. “We are much more varied.” “The average viewer falls asleep,” Chris shouted. “It’s a bit of incontinence TV for retirement homes.”
The men then continued to name men they liked and disliked. Henry Schut? Boring. Kieft? Pickles. Van der Vaart? Cheerful boy (he is 43). With each name I sank a little deeper into my couch. I watched the second broadcast with my eyes closed.
*Fun fact: if you include Arend Jan and Chris, the average age remained exactly the same.
