Any darts fans here? Sad to say the great Sid Waddell has passed away today. He had bowel cancer. I was never a player,apart from the odd game during my underage drinking days,but when darts came to the small screen it was a must see. Who can ever forget Jockey Wilson,or Leighton Rees? Sid Waddell had a way with him,and his commentaries were brilliant. Horse racing had Peter O'Sullivan. Golf had Peter Alliss. Football had Brian Moore. Snooker had Ted Lowe. Cricket had Richie Benaud. Darts had Sid Waddell. I can pay Mr.Waddell no greater compliment than including him in the above list. R.I.P.
Absolute legend who was the voice of darts and came out with some pearlers. I only learned today that he also wrote Jossy's giants. RIP Sid
He was highly educated,SA9,Cambridge I think. The "pearlers" you refer are highlighted on the BBC site,and are really extremely hilarious.
Some of his pearlers were actually quite intellectual with historic references and a tint that only he could put on them, while some were just plain nuts that you couldn't imagine how anyone could just come out with. There will never be another Sid Waddell “When Alexander of Macedonia was 33, he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer ... Bristow’s only 27.” "William Tell could take an apple off your head, Taylor could take out a processed pea." "The atmosphere is so tense, if Elvis walked in with a portion of chips, you could hear the vinegar sizzle on them." "If we'd had Phil Taylor at Hastings against the Normans, they'd have gone home."
I first saw him on "Indoor League" which he co-presented with Freddie trueman. I think he also thought up the idea & produced it as well. In the grand scheme of things it was a bonkers idea, but worked extremely well. Who`d have thought that a programme about pub games would be popular? I was really sad when he moved to Sky, mainly because I did`nt have Sky. BBC`s loss, for years he was missed. One of my favourites ......... ----------- Jocky Wilson .............. what an athlete! As well as ----------------------- Darts players are probably a lot fitter than most footballers in overall body strength. He looks about as happy as a penguin in a microwave. It's like trying to pin down a kangaroo on a trampoline.
He looks about as happy as a penguin in a microwave. It's like trying to pin down a kangaroo on a trampoline. This is what I mean, how the hell did he think things like this up? And not just that, if anyone else came out with these classics you'd think they were insane, but the way Sid came out with it off the cuff with such energy was nothing short of genius. Another one I remember him coming out with that I haven't seen quoted since, was referring to the flight of Dennis Priestly's Darts as being like "A rattle snake with a hernia" I mean WTF?? What a guy
