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The Worlds greates rugby commentator died yesterday and will be sorely missed . An incredible professional his research was meticulous. He brought the game to a World audience and has the respect of millions. RIP Bill
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Won’t be a dry eye among the older people of Hawick at this news. Lovely guy R.I.P.
Some sports commentators "are" some sports. They go together like they were meant to be:-
Murray Walker was Motor Sport
Sir Peter O’Sullivan was Horse Racing
"Whispering" Ted Lowe was Snooker
Bill McLaren was RugbyLegends, the lot of ’em. There legacies will live long after they’ve gone.
Errm…you’re not going to like this. I have been told that Bill McLaren was a true gent but I simply couldn’t stand his commentaries. His cliquey Borders’ old-pals act really grated on me and to be honest he used to just miss things during play. Remember watching England internationals in the 70’s and 80’s and praying that the suave Nigel Starmer-Smith was on duty!
Ted Lowe was even worse. Not a clue about the tactics or psychology of the game and he was staggeringly still being employed up to the mid-nineties despite having no concept how sophisticated the snooker-watching audience had become. “The pink’s worth six points…” etc
And as for Murray Walker….!
Being the first in the job doesn’t half help you to become “The Voice Of..”
Mike
Mike,
Didn’t say they were my favourites in these sports, just pointing out that the sport and the commentator go hand in hand.
I dont watch much rugby (odd 5 nations match – or is it 6 now?), snooker I am a massive fan and they have some great commentators like Willie Thorne, people who you can actually learn from while watching the snooker.
You do get my point though…probably is a case of becuase they were first in that they are revered.
Have to agree with you Doug about Willie Thorne, I think he is outstanding. Actually dares to criticise the players which is so refreshing.
Pensioning off Clive Everton was a big mistake as he always had good insights into the players states of mind.
Mike
15 stone of prime Scottish beef on the hoof
I liked him, his voice, his passion for the game and his studious impartiality but its no doubt a fondness coloured by him having been around all my life, like London Buses, Woodbines and Furlongs
If he was a poor reader of the game in comparison to the oh so serious analysts around today, so be it: it matters not
Kenneth Wolstenholme and John Arlott were probably crap analysts too, but those voices…I liked them too
Who next I wonder: Peter O’Sullevan, Harry Carpenter, David Coleman, Peter Alliss?
Very sad news. One of the greats, totally unique, completely irreplaceable. He was a pleasure to listen to.
RIP Bill McLaren.
Talking of who ‘was’ the voice of varoious sports I got to wondering are there any voices who currently ‘are’ the voice of a particular sport.
Regarding bygone heroes, I really liked Alan Weeks. Very atmospheric voice and well suited to the minority sports he used to cover.
Talking of who ‘was’ the voice of various sports
Another must be John Snagge, who’s Boat Race analysis on a particularly foggy occasion famously descended into: "I can’t see who’s in the lead but it’s either Oxford or Cambridge".
Mike
Dan Maskell for me was up there with Peter O’Sullevan as being the ultimate ‘voice’ of his sport and he had the technical knowledge to go with it IMO…it was a joy and an education listening to his tennis commentaries.
Bill McLaren was a great commentator; probably the most informed, well researched and most knowledgeable rugby union enthusiast there has ever been. He was respected by all nations and I have yet to hear a bad word said against him by any Scotland OR non-Scotland rugby player – past or present.
Other sports commentators whom I think were a joy to the ears, were, Peter Bromley, BBC radio – horse-racing; David Francey, Radio Scotland – football (60s & 70s ); Raymond Brooks- Ward, BBC show jumping; and Kent Walton, ITV World Of Sport wresting.
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