Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with Tracey Holmes

Four Diegos Profile:               

Television sporting personality and one of the bright lights of the SBS TV World Cup Coverage of France 98.

Her segments on the streets of France’s World Cup cities radiated colour, excitement and humour, and in the studio she achieved the impossible when succeeded in prompting a smile from Johnny Warren.

Four Diegos Verdict:              

With a bit more work Holmes could very nearly get a gig with the Diegos.

Tracey please call!!

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Tracey Holmes

Holmes ready to give Les a ‘squirrel grip’…

Diegos: “We've said time and time again on this show that perhaps, the most memorable moment of the SBS TV coverage of the World Cup, was when you threatened to give Les Murray a squirrel grip on air.

Did you at any stage have to carry through with your threat?”

Holmes: “Well no. When l got back to the studio that afternoon Les had to admit that he didn't know what a squirrel grip was.

Diegos: “Did you feel the need to show him?"

Holmes: “I decided not to. I thought it best be left to some of the male members of the SBS team to clarify things for him."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Holmes on the streets at France 98…

Diegos: “When you reported live from the streets of some of the World Cup cities, it seemed as though you were never far from the running pitched battles between the hooligans and the police.

How dangerous was it for you, and did you at any stage feel like doing a Mike Munro in ‘A Current Affair’ and chasing a hooligan down the street with camera in toe, trying to get an interview?”

Holmes: “We did actually do that on a couple of occasions. l don't know how l got the job, but I was rostered on SBS's 'Hooli- cam'.

I enjoyed it from a journalistic sense but in reality, it was quite frightening and a really horrible part of the World Cup. This was especially so after the Argentina game when England was knocked out of the tournament.

It was just awful. At one point l was standing next to a mother who was with her three little kids. People were picking up blocks of cement and smashing them on the ground so that they could get hand sized pieces that they could throw at each other and smash shop windows.

We actually were forced to hide inside a television compound that belonged to Argentine TV.  The lady and her little boys, who were wearing their England soccer shirts, were in tears because this was a side of the game that they had not seen before and one that didn't really want to be part of.

These scenes made you feel that there was a real need for the English authorities to stand up and say to these hooligans, that you are not representing us or our sport the way we would like you to and therefore we won't allow you travel anywhere for 10 years.

Something serious had to be done because it was a horrible situation." 

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Holmes on soccer in Australia…

Diegos: “You have done a lot of reporting on a variety of sports over the years. Prior to the gig on SBS you were a member of the ‘Grandstand’ team on the ABC.

“In your opinion, were does soccer stand in the minds of Aussie sports lovers?”

Holmes: “Its interesting isn't it. This is a debate that has been going on for many years. What is so interesting is that as far back as 20 years ago, people were saying that soccer was ready to take off in this country.

It’s the same discussion that people are having now. You keep thinking - what is the catalyst going to be? Soccer's been on the edge for so long. It seems the only thing it needs to do is to take that big plunge and dive in.

I guess it also depends on what city you're from. Perth Glory and the support they have at home are absolutely incredible. You guys know what the feeling is like in Melbourne. In the past it has been regarded as the real heart of soccer in this country but then again, we've got a different atmosphere in Sydney this year with the Northern Spirit.

I guess it’s the coming together of all of the factions and all the different elements that make up soccer in this country. Soccer Australia over the past few years has been trying out different things and moving in different directions. The same applies to sponsorship.

It seems the game has finally been able to attract the corporate world to soccer. With the downfall of some sports like Rugby League, particularly in Queensland and NSW, a new market is opening up.

When soccer is so strong for young kids and the youth market in this country, there's no reason why it can't explode.

I don't know what the ignition point is going to be, but we've got the talent and its all here, ready and waiting. I just don't know what the catalyst is going to be."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Holmes on soccer on Aussie TV…

Diegos: "What's your view on the coverage of soccer on commercial TV at present?"

Holmes: “I always thought it was going to be sad when SBS lost the rights because they did it so well.

Their coverage from the last World Cup was fantastic. Unfortunately, it looks as though the cost factor may prevent them from securing the rights in the future.

That always seems to be the way with the coverage of sport in this country. You have minnows like SBS and the ABC who take a sport to a certain exciting level that in itself, makes it worth a whole lot more money.

As a result, they can't afford to buy the rights anymore. So it moves on to commercial TV that has a whole different structure.

Its one of those inevitable changes that no one really wants to see but you know is going to happen. So you have to just stand up and take what's forked out l guess."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Holmes on World Cup hairstyles…

Diegos: “The Diegos are curious about your World Cup hairstyles. Some days you went for the ‘Gordon Gecko Wall Street’ look and on other days you went for the blow waved all-purpose look.

What factors determined which style you went for?”

Holmes: “It actually depended on the mood l woke up in. I have one of those really nice heads of hair, which is greatly determined by the weather.

If it’s rainy, windy and there's a bit of moisture in the atmosphere, my hair gets a bit frizzy and that's when l go for the slick back look."

Diego:" At one stage it looked as though Johnny Warren and you were competing for the best hair look. Is that true?"

Holmes: “We used to compare hair colours and hair products each morning before we went on air.

I must say, l discovered that he has got a few hair tips that l didn't know about."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Tracey’s World Cup favourite…

Diegos: “Tracey we have the highest regard for you as a top line sports commentator and presenter. But The Four Diegos, being the perceptive hot bloodied males that we are, have also noticed that you are a woman.

Using any criteria you wish, who was your favorite World Cup player and why?”

Holmes: “Actually l liked Chilavert the Paraguayan goalkeeper…"

Diegos: “Ah, a loose cannon yet ruggedly handsome…."

Holmes: “Yes exactly, and I've heard that you four guys are fairly similar in looks and attitude."

Diegos: “Is it the white singlet tucked into the wrestling togs, black shoes and black socks that does it for you Tracey?"

Holmes: “Yes! I don't remember Chilavert having a moustache as large as you guys, but the other similarities are uncanny. What did impress me about Chilavert is that he comes from a country were a lot of people have to struggle.

I remember him being asked before their last game of the tournament, if he was feeling the pressure to win, and he replied, I’ll tell you what pressure is, pressure is when you can't afford to buy food to put on the table for your kids at night, that's pressure.

What we're talking about here is a soccer game, and we are so lucky to be able to represent our country and come to a tournament like this with the rest of the world watching us.

But in the end, there still has to be an element of fun, no matter how seriously you take this game. You still have to be out there to enjoy it and once you're not enjoying it anymore - give it up because there is some bigger problems in life that need to be addressed.

I liked what he said and of course, in addition to not knowing what's going to happen next with the guy, made him quite fascinating."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Tracey and the probing Four Diego Heart balm…

Diegos: “" Tracey, now its time for ‘The Four Diegos World Cup ‘France 98 Heart Balm’ where we ask you to give us your brief inner most private thoughts on the following topics…

Posh Spice?"

Holmes: “I reserve my judgment."

Diegos: “Christian Vieri?"

Holmes: “Beautiful!"

Diegos: “Ronaldo’s convulsive fit?"

Holmes: “Interesting. I think the whole saga needs further looking at."

Diegos: "Gerard Depardieu?”

Holmes: “Sensational! He sums up everything about France."

Diegos: “Les Murray & Johnny Warren’s late night parties?"

Holmes: “The Best!"

Diegos: “You have moved successfully from a radio background into TV. You now have your own show – ‘The Tracey Holmes Show’ on Sports Australia Optus Vision.

What’s the next move for you – will it be ‘Midday with Tracey Holmes’ on Channel 9 or perhaps, Tracey Holmes IMT?”

Holmes: “Actually what l was hoping for was something like 'The Four Diegos and Tracey Holmes."

Diegos: “Well Tracey, we really wanted to talk to you about that. We'll have our people 'Do Lunch' with your people perhaps. Until the next World Cup Ole! Adios Amigo!"

Holmes: “Thanks Diegos. Send me a poster of 'The Four Diegos' in the white singlets and I’ll hang it next to my Jose Luis Chilavert poster in the bathroom. Adios Amigos!"

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999