My favourite sports commentator was always Sid Waddell. He was a legend in Britain for his darts commentating and later commentated on pool in the states.
Here are some of his best.
On winning -
“When Alexander of Macedonia was 33 he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer… Eric Bristow’s only 27”.
“He’s as happy as a hound-dog who’s won a years supply of Boneo”
On losing-
“Bob came on like the laughing cavalier…now he looks like Lee Van Cleef on a bad night”.
On feeling the pressure
“He’s perspiring like a pudding in a pot”
“His eyes are bulging like the belly of a hungry chaffinch” - My personal favourite
On silence in the hall-
“There was less noise when Pompeii was swamped in lava! Absolute pandemonium here! Barmaids are frozen like Greek statues watching! No beers being served! Everybody’s eyes are absolutely hooked on that board.”
“The atmosphere is so tense, if Elvis walked in with a portion of chips, you could hear the vinegar sizzle on them.”
“Under that heart of stone beat muscles of pure flint.”
Anyone got any other wonderful commentator quotes?
Over 25 years after his death, Howard Cosell remains the most well-known sports announcer of all time. The arc and influence of his career is still felt in every sports broadcast we view today.
Cosell turned his back on a law career - he graduated from NYU School of Law - and caught a shooting star by covering Muhammad Ali in his early days. Then Cosell became the face of Monday Night Football and a key part of Olympics coverage for ABC.
Known for his tremendous ego as well as his talent, Cosell’s most famous call came during a MNF game on Dec. 5, 1980, when he announced to a shocked nation that John Lennon had been shot to death in New York City.
I’ve watched some of the banter of Howard and Muhamad Ali, wonderful, and last the tests of time.
But Sid was in a class of his own for the one liners
“Look at that man go, it’s like trying to stop a water-buffalo with a pea shooter.”
Also as an aside, the only two times I witnessed my father cry was when his mother died and the day John Lennon was murdered, I woke up to see him in absolute tears in the kitchen.
Here in England Cricket rules. Brian Johnston was a cricket commentator who got very excited and was prone to gaffs, but his most famous was introducing the players for the Test Match, and he said:
“Good afternoon everyone, at the moment we have in action the batsman is Holding the bowler’s Willey” (this was Michael Holding and Peter Willey)
The late lamented Ted Lowe, or “whispering” Ted Lowe, was the best snooker commentator of all time, and always got very caught up in the action.
Lowe uttered the occasional on-air gaffe, one of his most famous quotes being, “and for those of you who are watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green.”
I loved “whispering” Ted. Remember him during an Alex Higgins match, “and Alex will roll the red to the middle pocket” as Alex proceeded to smack the ball as hard as any middle pocket shot ever.
A part of my life certainly and was the voice of snooker for as far back as I could remember.
Hi Craig
I reckon this would depend what poll you look at. I think when you live in such a vast country it becomes the world, however in actual fact only 4.5 of global population. Lots of commentators for different sports from all over the planet, I couldn’t name any football or baseball commentators from the states. Different worlds.
I was thinking more along the lines of the greatest quotes over the years the ones that stick in your head.
And even then that’s only the English speaking ones.
" William Tell could take an apple off your head, (Phil) Taylor
could take out a processed pea".
Sid was the son of a Northumberland mining family who got a scholarship to a fine school and onto a degree in Modern History
from Cambridge University, a class act.
Hey grapevine
I actually think that Brian Johnston quote is the all time greatest gaff
And although not so popular here in Scotland I have always loved the game of cricket, ever since Freuchie from Fife won the British village cup in 85, now that was a surprise.
I would imagine it all depends on what country you’re from and the repetition of hearing the same sportscasters. Actually I spend more time at live sporting events then listening to commentators.
I realize that I may be a bit “off base”, but this comes to mind when seeing great quotes from commentators. Even though this one was just a one time thing it will be forever engraved in my memories.
GEEZ, soon as i saw the topic i knew the answer was Howard Cosell but u beat me 2 it:). He was the best, Monday night football (my favorite sport) and loved his relationship with Ali, they would make me lmfao:).
Can’t believe no one has brought up Chris Berman. He was funny for a few years, than sort of became a caricature of himself. But who can forget some of his nicknames? Andre “Bad Moon” Risen. Jeff “See Through” Blauser. Mike “Nova” Scioscia. Bernard “Innocent Until Proven” Gilkey.
