THE SORRY WORD TO OLD CODGERS

I have an apology to make.

You see, I am delighted to have been invited to join the commentary team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, with the combined Nine Network/Foxtel production.

It's going to be a fantastic event and I'll be calling the Short Track Speed Skating with the legendary Steven Bradbury -- the first Australian to win a Winter Olympics gold medal.

It will be my first experience at the Winter Olympics. But while I'm new to this Winter caper, I've been covering international sport for over 20 years.

However, I was somewhat taken aback when a media release announcing the team referred to 'the veteran broadcaster Mike McCann'. Veteran!!! Well... well, I guess I am.

It's amazing how the years fly in sport. Young pups on the sporting field continue to be young pups until... well, until they are forced out to make way for new blood. Like Brett Lee, the great Australian fast bowler, I'm sure he feels young and ready to take on the world. We found out this week his body is telling him otherwise. That, indeed, he's a 'veteran' fast bowler.

As a commentator, I must confess I've never been averse to describing footballers, cricketers, swimmers or whoever, as 'veterans'. Looking from the outside, it seems bleeding obvious.

But now I realise it doesn't seem quite so obvious to those involved. And maybe, unlike me, they may take umbrage at that assertion. And no, it doesn't mean they are over the hill. Just that they have a lot of experience under their belts...

I'm a veteran, and proud of it. But it did come as a bit of a shock when I was told the news. In future, I'll be a little more circumspect in using the term.

Now, time for my afternoon nap.