With sports on hold, a rugby announcer is commentating on daily life—and it's fabulous

With the sports world to a screeching halt (along with the rest of the world) due to the coronavirus pandemic, athletes, coaches, and other sports professionals have found themselves totally out of their normal routine.
Sports commentators are included in that lot. It's a little hard to commentate on a sport when there are no sports happening.
But that hasn't stopped rugby commentator Nick Heath from doing his job in a creative, unpaid, but highly entertaining way anyway. Heath has started posting videos to social media of his color commentary on everyday life—much to the delight of everyone.
His #LifeCommentary posts include a video of two dogs—whom he refers to as "Vanilla" and "Chocolate"—racing around a park.
Dogging. #LifeCommentary #LiveCommentary https://t.co/BuRkVWAGjX— Nick Heath (@Nick Heath) 1584812078.0
"The Interminable Wait" highlights people running the "supermarket gauntlet challenge" and waiting for the trolley as "the warm-up event for the international airport boarding gate heats taking place all over the world."
The Interminable Wait. #LifeCommentary #LiveCommentary https://t.co/5nSAlnVq2c— Nick Heath (@Nick Heath) 1584809104.0
Clearly, some of the people he's filmed are not practicing proper social distancing measures, but don't let their fueling of humanity's demise stop you from enjoying Heath's commentating.
Keepy Uppy Academy Finals #LifeCommentary #LiveCommentary https://t.co/OhRlXOcDGz— Nick Heath (@Nick Heath) 1584977983.0
Who knew that a handful of moms pushing their kids in a stroller could be so thrilling?
International 4x4 Pushchair Formation Final. Live. #LifeCommentary #LiveCommentary https://t.co/BGGh01m1k1— Nick Heath (@Nick Heath) 1584450750.0
Heath just has a way of making the most mundane everyday actions sound exciting and entertaining, such as this "Find a Bargain Steeplechase."
Find A Bargain Steeplechase. Live. #LifeCommentary #LiveCommentary https://t.co/ny3ru4XN8u— Nick Heath (@Nick Heath) 1584545948.0
Even just watching people crossing the street becomes an exciting event. Who's going to get across first?
After the lunch break now... 2020 Crossroad Dash. Live. #LifeCommentary #LiveCommentary https://t.co/QFkW0SUqy8— Nick Heath (@Nick Heath) 1584459117.0
People are loving Heath's color commentary on life as they sit in their homes deprived of live sports commentary, as evidenced by his Twitter following growing by more than 50,000 in just a couple of days.
"It was just going and having a bit of fun and keeping my followers on social media entertained," Heath, 41, told USA TODAY Sports. "But it obviously has blown up a bit since."
Thank goodness for people like Nick Heath, who have the ability to make the most of a sincerely crappy situation and use their unique talents to keep people's spirits up in creative ways. We need these people now more than ever.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.