David Coleman: Former BBC sports broadcaster dies at 87

[CTID Hants]

RIP David

Full story at bbc.co.uk

[Ted Hughes]

Thought he was already dead.

Always thought he was hopeless but RIP all the same.

[branny]

RIP. maybe not a great commentator but a broadcasting legend. The Spitting image send up of him commentating over a grandstand end credits type sports montage is still one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

[nottsblue]

Rip. Coleman is everything Chiles aspires to be and fails miserably. Great broadcaster with huge knowledge on lots if sports.

[Spurge]

RIP. maybe not a great commentator but a broadcasting legend. The Spitting image send up of him commentating over a grandstand end credits type sports montage is still one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

I think it says a lot about the person when they are widely considered as being poor at the job they are meant to do, but is still manage to be considered as a legend. It's a rare talent only Murray Walker could perhaps be compared in this respect

And yes the spitting image send up you refer to was classic.

He will be missed RIP.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Rip. Coleman is everything Chiles aspires to be and fails miserably. Great broadcaster with huge knowledge on lots if sports.

Trouble is, he just didn't know enough about football.

Always thought he was a closet Scum fan; we used to call him 'Gush Coleman' for the way he used to effuse over them.

[nottsblue]

Trouble is, he just didn't know enough about football.

Always thought he was a closet Scum fan; we used to call him 'Gush Coleman' for the way he used to effuse over them.

Is there a commentator who isnt a closet rag? It seems to be an unwritten rule. I think Coleman held his own. Clearly not in Barry Davies' league with football but not as bad as some of the muppets out today

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Trouble is, he just didn't know enough about football.

Always thought he was a closet Scum fan; we used to call him 'Gush Coleman' for the way he used to effuse over them.

Is there a commentator who isnt a closet rag? It seems to be an unwritten rule. I think Coleman held his own. Clearly not in Barry Davies' league with football but not as bad as some of the muppets out today

Sadly true.

The whole media is infested with them.

[BobbyJ1956]

He was responsible for several "Colemanballs" as they came to be called. I remember "for those of you watching in black & white Liverpool are playing in red." And at the Olympics "Juantorina opens his legs and shows his class." He might also have been the geographically-challenged one who said "They'll be dancing in the streets of Raith tonight."
RIP, David Coleman.

[South Stand Balti]

RIP I have very fond memories of him as a sports commentator when I was growing up.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

He remains my favourite commentator to this day. RIP

[frankswift]

Is there a commentator who isnt a closet rag? It seems to be an unwritten rule.

Errrr... Stuart Hall?

[nottsblue]

Is there a commentator who isnt a closet rag? It seems to be an unwritten rule. I think Coleman held his own. Clearly not in Barry Davies' league with football but not as bad as some of the muppets out today

Errrr... Stuart Hall?

Grant you that one. They are few and far between though i'm sure you'll agree.

[hartfordsheartbeat]

I have a feeling it was Ron pickering who uttered he "opens his legs and shows his class".

[zuricity]

I have a feeling it was Ron pickering who uttered he "opens his legs and shows his class".

Nope it was David.He also said "To get a gold, you've got to come first".

[frankswift]

Grant you that one. They are few and far between though i'm sure you'll agree.

I do agree. It's more than unfortunate that the only one I can think of is a convicted sex offender. I don't think I'll play my joker here.

[clawbaggio]

He also called Asa Hartford a "whole-hearted" player

[Blue Since 76]

Some of the quotes which made him a legend:

"That's the fastest time ever run - but it's not as fast as the world record."

"He is accelerating all the time. The last lap was run in 64 seconds and the one before that in 62."

"There is Brendan Foster, by himself with 20,000 people."

"Forest have now lost six matches without winning."

"The front wheel crosses the finish line, closely followed by the back wheel."

"And the line-up for the final of the women's 400 metres hurdles includes three Russians, two East Germans, a Pole, a Swede, and a Frenchman."

"It's gold or nothing...and it's nothing. He comes away with the silver medal."

"The Republic of China - back in the Olympic Games for the first time."

"It's a great advantage to be able to hurdle with both legs."

"If that had gone in, it would have been a goal"

[Beefymcfc]

Legend in my era, his voice is synonymous with sport. I never really watched QoS after he left, he had that presence that made the programme.

We move on though, he had a decent innings, as they say.

[JonnyAsh]

My fav was, "There's no better sight than watching Kathy Cook opening her legs down the home straight!"