No, just intrepid hacks arriving well-equipped for an assignment at the area's newest football ground, Don Valley Stadium.

Yes, binoculars have quickly become an essential part of a football writer's Saturday afternoon baggage at Rotherham United's new home.

Peering across the vast expanse trying to pick out the shirt number of some unknown from Aldershot or Barnet on the far side is pretty hard for the best of eyes.

Those regulars covering the Millers fortunes quickly decided it would be handy to have a pair of binoculars to hand. Mind you, I suppose we'll still manage to get things wrong!

Taking in the view are, from left, Pete Moxon (White's News Agency), Charlie Graves (Rotherham Advertiser), Yours Truly and Rother FM's Gerry Somerton.

No doubt eagle-eyed viewers, perhaps with a magnifying glass, will have spotted that my pair appear old enough to have seen war-time use helping Russian convoys in the North Atlantic or peering from a tank top at Rommel's Desert Rats.

But, while they seem as heavy as a full teapot, I can't only see those tiny numbers I can even pick out how many spots a player has got on his face.

So, no excuses when I get it wrong this season then!

Meanwhile, I must confess I haven't really got into the Olympic Games yet. Awkward TV times and not been around for evening highlights.

Did catch some radio commentary the other day but wondered why it was on.

It was rowing and the commentator was BBC's Alan Green, better known for his Premier League commentaries, effusive in his criticism.

He bandies around words like 'wretched' and a'wful'. So often I listen to him talking and feel he's disrespectful to the game and to players.

But where do we find him in China? Trying to get us all worked up about some single skulls rowing race - and only a HEAT at that - with competitors from the Czech Republic, New Zealand and Uzbekistan.

As Green might say, who cares? Who's interested? And he's doing LIVE commentary. Again, as he'd say, it was an absolute joke.

Talking of radio, Wednesdayites love John Pearson, their former striker.

He's a match summariser for BBC Radio Sheffield and Owls fans love it when they hear him cheering when Wednesday score.

They love his blue and white eyes. They love how he's always optimistic about Wednesday's chances.

But did he drop a big one this week when letting hope and optimism get in the way of judgement?

On Tuesday, he told the world, in rather convincing tones, there was no way Rotherham United would score all five penalties. Why, I don't know.

After Rotherham had slotted four, he reminded listeners that they wouldn't score all five!

Then the fifth went in.

John, who also played for Rotherham in his career, was left choking on those very unfortunate words and hopes.

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