A fabulous commentator - a real passion for his sport, and with James Hunt formed the possibly the first great commentator and ex pro co-commentator team. Obviously best known for his F1 commentary-, he was excellent at all motorsport including my personal favourite Rally Cross.
Just heard that Marvin Hagler has died , that period of Hagler, SRL, Hearns and Minter was to me boxing at it's best with Hagler my favourite, the Hagler Hearns fight was not a fight it was a war RIP Marvellous Marvin
I knew Alan Minter who like me was a South London boy, he always said he never wanted to fight Hagler as he knew he would get beat.
Clive James once said of him" even in moments of tranquillity , he sounds like a man whose trousers are on fire " He was also an advertising jinge writer who created or co created Trill makes budgies bounce Opal fruits made to make your mouth water
My wife has just said that when Spurs play, she prays that Spurs win so the result 'Doesn't affect the family'. I didn't think I was that bad. She said she watched a match at work (in a care home) and 'Gary Silly Hair' scored two goals.
I was a big fan of Alan Minter after his fights with Kevin Finnegan. I remember watching the Hagler fight and being dumbstruck at how Hagler destroyed him. Apparently, Minter never wanted the fight as he never believed that he would win it. Hagler was on a different plane as a fighter and a proper legend. RIP.
Hard hitter, and extremely durable when himself hit. No need for superior technique when you start with that.
Memory is a strange thing. My recollection was that Minter gave him a great fight but was undone by cuts. But I haven't seen the footage in a while.
The Finnegan fights were really wars. Both fighters were in terrible shape after them but they went the distance...but that was nothing compared to 5 rounds against Hagler. Despite sticking to it, Minter looked like he'd been hit by an express train... please log in to view this image
Seeing Ginola reminds me that on this day in 1999, I was at Barnsley behind the goal when he scored ‘that’ worldie of a goal.
Nine years ago today that Fabrice Muamba had a heart attack on the pitch at White Hart Lane. I wasn't there to witness it, but it was a televised match between us and Bolton on the BBC and I watched things unfold in horror. Chilling stuff. His heart was stopped for 78 minutes and the presence of a heart specialist in the crowd helped to resuscitate him. I won't post a clip of the terrible event itself, but here's his return the Lane and a rare standing ovation for someone that played for Arsenal: He's still only 32. He'd probably still be playing, if it wasn't for that unfortunate health issue.
I was there that day. Travelled home convinced he had died. Will never forget the atmosphere that day, horrifying. The crowd was as one in trepidation.
I was there for that one believe it or not not gonna lie was ****in fuming it got called off and I had to go all the way back to Huddersfield. That was my first live game for years...came back for the replay though.
