Waddell dies aged 72
Waddell
dies aged 72
Sky Sports darts
commentator passes away after cancer battle
Sid Waddell: Colourful commentary style (from
skysports)
Darts commentator Sid Waddell has died at the age of
72, his manager has confirmed.
Waddell
had been battling bowel cancer since last September and the news of his death
was confirmed on Sunday morning.
A
statement from his manager Dick Allix read: "With great sadness, we
announce that following a long illness, broadcaster and author Sid Waddell died
peacefully with all his family around him late last night, Saturday August
11th, 2012."
Known
as the 'voice of darts', Waddell was a central part of Sky Sports' coverage of
PDC darts events since 1994.
He
commentated for the BBC prior to that, having already helped bring darts to
television screens as the producer of ITV's Indoor League show in the 1970s.
Waddell
was known for his colourful and excitable commentary style, with his best-known
lines including "There's only one word for it - 'magic darts"'.
While
watching Eric Bristow become world champion, he also noted: "When
Alexander of Macedonia was 33, he cried salt tears because there were no more
worlds to conquer...Bristow's only 27."
Waddell's
other commentary work included pool's Mosconi Cup, while he also made a one-off
appearance as the BBC National Lottery's "Voice of the Balls".
In
addition, the Cambridge
University graduate had
11 books published and wrote the sport-based BBC children's programmes Jossy's
Giants and Sloggers, receiving a nomination for best scriptwriter from the
Writer's Guild of Great Britain for the latter.
Tributes
Former
players and broadcasting colleagues queued up to pay tribute after news of
Waddell's death.
Twice
BDO World Championship finalist Bobby George wrote on Twitter: "So sad to
hear of the passing of the legend Sid Waddell or Sidly as I used to call him.
Sincere condolences go out to the family x."
Wayne
Mardle, the 2003 World Matchplay runner-up, added: "So so gutted, The
legend Sid Waddell passed away last night. Thoughts are with his family right
now."
Sky
Sports' Dave Clark, who worked with Waddell for many years, tearfully
remembered his former colleague on Sky Sports News.
"He
was the voice of darts," said Clark.
"Darts isn't going to be the same without Sid Waddell.
"He
had a child-like exuberance, he'd be bouncing round like a young puppy in the
commentary box, and mix that with the intellect of Einstein.
"He
was a brilliant man, a genius of the microphone - I'm going to miss my old
mate, that's for sure.
"I
know he's been really battling this cancer for a long, long time and what I
hear from the family is it's a blessing that he's gone, but a tragedy."
Fellow
Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling, added: "It's shattering news. Back
when I was working with him he made more of an impact than any of the players
did. He is totally irreplaceable.
Impact
"There
has never been such a sports commentator to make such an impact. He had a
wonderful turn of phrase. He was the leader of the gang and we were all in his
gang.
"On
the big occasion he was always there - if he wasn't there it wasn't a big
occasion. He was the doyen of sports commentating."
BBC
Sport's Gary Lineker wrote on Twitter: "See that Sid Waddell has lost his
fight with Cancer. He really was the voice of his sport. A brilliant, witty,
colourful commentator."
Tributes
to Waddell extended beyond sport, with former deputy Prime Minister John
Prescott tweeting: "Farewell to Sid Waddell - a man who did so much for
darts and voiced so many memorable moments. A double top bloke."
Bristow
told Sky Sports News: "Sid was top dog wasn't he? He's not going to be
replaced, he was a one-off.
"I
remember a game he was commentating on, Cliff Lazarenko was playing Jocky
Wilson. Cliff was about 22 stone and Jocky was about 17 stone and he said they
were two athletes. I just cracked up."
Humour
A
statement from Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis read: "We all
remember Sid's wonderful words, his great sense of humour and his passion for
the sport he loved.
"Sid
was a friend to all of us at Sky Sports, at the heart of our darts coverage
since the early 1990s. He was a wonderful man and we will miss him deeply.
"Our thoughts are
with Irene (his wife) and family at this very sad time."