When Alexander of Macedonia was 33 he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer - Bristow is only 27!
August 12, 2012 5:11 AM   Subscribe

 
Sad news
posted by fallingbadgers at 5:15 AM on August 12, 2012


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posted by jonnyploy at 5:20 AM on August 12, 2012


I don't know his name, but I'll bet I know his voice.
(.)

I was always a bad shot
posted by Mezentian at 5:32 AM on August 12, 2012


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posted by doctor_negative at 6:08 AM on August 12, 2012


At least he lasted longer than the goalie.
posted by spitbull at 6:30 AM on August 12, 2012


➳◎
posted by lalochezia at 6:30 AM on August 12, 2012 [3 favorites]


"He looks as uncomfortable as a penguin in a microwave."

Legend

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posted by metaxa at 6:40 AM on August 12, 2012


Damn, misremembered: s/uncomfortable/happy as
posted by metaxa at 6:41 AM on August 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


There's only one word for that: tragic news.
posted by tigrefacile at 6:44 AM on August 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


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“It's Jocky on the oche ...”
posted by scruss at 8:11 AM on August 12, 2012


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posted by DreamerFi at 8:15 AM on August 12, 2012


I was never much of a fan of darts, but would keep watching if Sid was doing the commentating. Not only was he that entertaining, he always seemed such a warm and positive bloke too. Pleased to hear hiis end came peacefully with his family by.
posted by Abiezer at 8:19 AM on August 12, 2012


He also wrote Jossy's Giants, which I loved as a kid (and have never seen ever again since).
posted by dng at 8:26 AM on August 12, 2012


Jossy's Giants, I mean.
posted by dng at 8:27 AM on August 12, 2012


He also wrote Jossy's Giants, which I loved as a kid (and have never seen ever again since).
That was great, wasn't it? Never saw the other one they list, Sloggers, though apparently he got an award for that script. Was amused to see he'd written a "racy" novel about a groupie that got banned from WH Smith's.
posted by Abiezer at 8:28 AM on August 12, 2012


I hope it was actually about a groupie being banned from WH Smiths, possibly for doing inappropriate things to the darts magazines.
posted by dng at 8:33 AM on August 12, 2012 [1 favorite]


My favourite bit of Waddell, which never seems to be quoted, but I remember hearing live was: "I don't know if Steve Beaton is related to the cooking Mrs Beaton but he's putting Eric in a stew tonight!"
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 8:50 AM on August 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


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posted by the_very_hungry_caterpillar at 8:58 AM on August 12, 2012


Waddell on Eric Bristow winning the the World Darts Championship:

When Alexander the Great was 33 he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer. Eric Bristow is only 27

Lots of darts fans have a got a little salt in their eyes today.
posted by das1969 at 9:24 AM on August 12, 2012 [3 favorites]


Sad loss. I'd expect the first episode of Fighting Talk to carry a mention of this when they resume the new season.
posted by arcticseal at 11:07 AM on August 12, 2012


When Alexander the Great was 33...

I remember it as the even more wonderfully high-falutin' "When Alexander of Macedon was 33..."
posted by howfar at 1:12 PM on August 12, 2012


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posted by sgt.serenity at 1:30 PM on August 12, 2012


"That lad could throw 180 standing one-legged in a hammock..."

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posted by NordyneDefenceDynamics at 4:37 PM on August 12, 2012


One hundred and... eighty!


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posted by OHenryPacey at 4:37 PM on August 12, 2012 [2 favorites]


I've always liked watching darts on TV, although here in the States it's very difficult. I recently came across a broadcast of (I believe) the 2011 European Championships on the NBC Sports Channel, and I was captivated by the "score announcer."

I'm sure that most afficianados of darts will know who I mean immediately, but basically he sounds like Lemmy from Motorhead, and when someone throws a triple-20, he does this great "One hunnnnnnnnnnnnnndredEIGHTYYYYYY!" shout which is awesome. Also, he looks like he'd be a great character in a Guy Ritchie film.

Can anyone tell me who this is?

Also, . for Waddell. From the sound of things, he was like Chick Hearn, Vin Scully, and Bobby "the Brain" Heenan all rolled into one.
posted by ShutterBun at 4:48 PM on August 12, 2012


The obituary in the Telegraph is full of fascinating details:

"Whilst at Cambridge, he instigated the first ever intercollegiate darts championship, and attempted unsuccessfully to convince the athletics union to award a Blue to the participants. The low point in his sporting career came in 1962, when he led the St John’s team to defeat against four trainee vicars from Selwyn College."
posted by DanCall at 1:12 AM on August 13, 2012


My family is full of dart nuts (to the point that my parents run dart tournaments, my siblings all shoot, and I go to them, even though I don't shoot.) When the larger tournaments on being broadcast, the link to the livestream is sent throughout the family (as we cannot get darts on tv here.) One of the most oft quoted things in the family is One Hundred and Eighty in the way that you only heard from Sid Waddell.

I'm very sad that the world of darts has lost him. RIP, Sid.
posted by SuzySmith at 12:11 PM on August 13, 2012


when he led the St John’s team to defeat against four trainee vicars from Selwyn College.

I remembering him mentioning that in an interview once... they thought 'it's only a bunch of vicars, we'll thrash them!' so they went on the Timmy Taylors beforehand and were thus somewhat wobbly when they eventually got to the oche. Big mistake.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:35 AM on August 14, 2012


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