ON a day when TV showed the Japanese Grand Prix three times, Paula Ratcliffe's world record breaking Chicago marathon, Leigh's RL Grand Final and the big snooker final, I discovered the International King of Sports on Channel 5.

I've seen it all now. The world really has gone mad.

The series of bizarre events, all covered earnestly, included a backward 200m race.

Then followed association bobbage which involved competitiors, wearing flippers, jumping into a pool from graduating heights on a high board and landing without getting their heads wet.

This was followed by international skids, imagine sliding on ice in the street when we were kids and you've got it, and the tennis whack which entails cracking a ball into the air and seeing how long it stays up.

Hilarious stuff. You surely can't be expected to take it seriously.