ON TELEVISION: It was really an afternoon for radio. Between the FA Cup final on BBC1, the Scottish Cup final on SkySports 1, the snooker on BBC2 and AIL rugby on Network 2, the remote control couldn't cope.

As an aside, the thought crossed my mind that in the absence of this splendid device, I could have engaged in a highly productive fitness regime, getting up and down from the couch and negotiating the distance to and from the television set, each time I wanted to switch channels. Like we did in the old days.

In the event, Saturday's viewing seemed a decidedly simple prospect as I relaxed on Friday night, watching The FA Cup Classic on BBC1. This was an impressive, open-air concert from Cardiff, from where presenters Stephanie Hughes and Steve Rider attempted to lift our spirits through some wonderfully noble sounds.

By an interesting coincidence, it was transmitted at around the same time as The Late Late Show's competition to find an Irish song for next month's World Cup.

But the Beeb sought loftier climes by reminding us of Italia '90 with Nessun Dorma and Euro '98 with Ode to Joy from Beethovan's Choral Symphony.

From a viewer perspective, the clearly inclement weather couldn't dampen a sparkling rendition by Lesley Garrett of Beat Out Dat Rhythm from Carmen Jones, and Russell Watson's version of O Sole Mio. And by way of emphasising the soothing effect of such sounds, Chelsea's Emmanuel Petit was interviewed saying that he always listened to classical music before an important match.

It represented quite a contrast with Channel 4's Football Fight Club on Tuesday night, which dealt with soccer hooligans looking for softer targets abroad in the face of tighter security at home.

Anyway, I nodded off, satisfied that Saturday afternoon's viewing had been sorted out. If only the life of a couch potato were that simple. The plan was emphatically scuppered by rather tedious exchanges between Arsenal and Chelsea in the early stage of the FA Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium.

Things seemed a lot livelier in the Celtic and Rangers clash at Hampden Park. But it was Stephen Hendry who grabbed the lion's share of my attention as he swept remorselessly to a crushing, semi-final win over Ronnie O'Sullivan in the World Snooker Championship at The Crucible.

While key individuals in the Chelsea and Celtic teams were failing to come to terms with the importance of their respective team challenges, Hendry provided a majestic display of competitive steel in man-to-man combat. And he did it against an opponent who had deliberately set out to provoke him through newspaper comments.

Mind you, the manner in which the Beeb's Hazel Irvine danced around the issue was most irritating. Without explaining what O'Sullivan had said, she repeatedly asked Hendry to comment, while employing a "I-must-ask-the-question-but-I-dare-not-upset Stephen" approach.

In the event, Hendry deserved to win many new admirers as he said dismissively: "That's peripheral stuff which doesn't really matter." Then, when asked how badly he wanted to win an eighth world title, he replied: "I thought after winning seven that I had had enough, but now I want to win as badly as ever. It's just in me." With that, it came as no surprise to hear him describe himself as a great admirer of grand prix racing champion, Michael Schumacher.

"Stephen's concentration has been unbelievable in this match," said the 1985 champion, Dennis Taylor. And Steve Davis went so far as to claim: "This may be Stephen Hendry's greatest match." Despite the rather negative comments I made about current snooker in this column two weeks ago, I would agree wholeheartedly.

And the remark by O'Sullivan? I had to wait for the Sunday papers to learn that it had to do with the re-hashing of a much-publicised incident in their meeting at the same stage of the 1999 championship. That was when the Londoner apparently "lost a lot of respect" for his rival, after Hendry had made him play again after a miss had been called by the referee, though O'Sullivan felt he had made a genuine attempt to hit the ball.

When it was all over on Saturday, O'Sullivan had no regrets. Indeed he expressed himself as being "happy" and that his comments had "buzzed it up a bit - there was great tension out there." And one thought of the cool control of Hendry, the supreme competitor.

With all the switching about, I had to wait for replays to see any of the goals from Cardiff and Hampden. But my attention was exclusively on the Scottish venue to catch Rangers manager Alex McLeish talk of "A classic, classic final - great for football in general."

While, by way of balance, there were camera shots of Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, who hid his crushing disappointment with commendable dignity.

On the Beeb, the growing confidence of Gary Lineker was evident in an amusing exchange during half-time in the FA Cup final. When panelist Peter Schmeichel attempted to defend his point of view after it had been rubbished by Alan Hansen, Lineker turned to the Dane and said soothingly: "Whatever you say, he (Hansen) will find fault." And so say all of us.

On Saturday night, Network 2 had a first for these islands in a live transmission of the Kentucky Derby, presented in Dublin by Robert Hall, with Dermot Weld and Ted Walsh. From the opening shot of ravishing, floral displays to the local gentry singing Stephen Foster's My Old Kentucky Home, Churchill Downs was a riot of colour.

There was also a more practical use of colour on the bottom of the television screen, as the NBC Network displayed the colours, number and name of each of the first four horses in the race at any given stage.

So, after his marvellous success in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket that afternoon, was Aidan O'Brien set for an American breakthrough with Johannesburg and Castle Gandolfo? Walsh had his doubts. Indeed any punter tempted to reach for the phone and contact his friendly bookmaker, would have pulled his hand back, on noting a fascinating observation by the bould Ted.

If O'Brien felt deep down that either horse could win, he asked, why was he in Newmarket instead of Churchill Downs. Eighth and 12th place finishes behind War Emblem seemed to answer the question.

PICK OF THE WEEK

MONDAY

BBC2 (2.55pm, 8.0pm) - World Snooker final, Stephen Hendry v Peter Ebdon.

BBC1 (12.40pm) - Match of the Day: Ray Stubbs introduces Women's FA Cup final.

TG4 (11:20pm) - Ard san Aer: highlights from yesterday's NHL at Semple Stadium.

TUESDAY

TG4 (7:30pm) - Greyhound View. (9.0) - On the Limits Sports: This week's motorsport action from the Formula 1600 Rally.

UTV (10.20pm) - England's World Cup Showdowns: 1986, 'The Hand of God'.

BBC1 (11.05pm) - Football: Against the Wall: Alan Hansen investigates the cash crisis crippling the game.

WEDNESDAY

Network 2 and BBC2 (7.30pm) - UEFA Cup final from Rotterdam, Feyenoord v Borussia Dortmund.

FRIDAY

TG4 (10:55pm) - AFL: Aussie Rules.