Sid Waddell
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Sid Waddell (born August 10, 1940 in Alnwick, Northumberland) is a British born "Geordie" commentator and television personality. The son of a Northumberland miner, he obtained a scholarship to Cambridge University where he graduated with a degree in modern history.
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[edit] Early TV Career
Shortly after finishing University, Waddell joined Granada Television working with Michael Parkinson on documentary programmes. In 1972 he moved to Yorkshire Television where he created the show Indoor League [1] which featured various pub games including darts. Between 1972 and 1974, he was a producer for over 600 editions of local news programme, Calendar.
In 1976, he switched to the BBC and his prior experience with televised darts helped him to become one of the commentators on the first World Professional Darts Championship when it began in 1978. He stayed with the BBC until 1994.
[edit] Other Television Credits
During his time with the BBC, Waddell penned ten episodes of a successful children's television series, Jossy's Giants in 1986. He was also the writer of two series of another children's show Sloggers which ran from 1994 to 1996.
His credits also include working with the eccentric scientist Magnus Pyke and was Alan Whicker’s producer on Whicker’s Women in 1972.
He worked on The Russell Harty Show and in 1993 did a series for Tyne Tees Television called Waddell’s World in which he was a butler to a posh Tweeddale family, a caravanner and on the dole.
He made one performance as the "Voice of the Balls" on the National Lottery Red Alert on BBC in 1999. He claims to have been sacked for being "too Geordie". [2]
[edit] PDC Darts
Contrary to popular belief, Waddell wasn't part of the PDC revolution from its beginning. Dave Lanning and John Gwynne were the commentators on the first PDC World Championship in 1994. Waddell was still with the BBC for the first BDO Championship after the split in 1994, although it was later in the year that he joined the Sky commentary team.
Waddell now commentates on all major PDC televised darts tournaments as well as a number of billiards tournaments and pool competitions - including the Mosconi Cup.
He has written eleven published books, including a biography of John Lowe and autobiographies of Jocky Wilson and Phil Taylor.
[edit] Waddell Quotes
His skewed eloquence has won him great affection among fans and fellow commentators. Some Waddell quotes are listed below.
"He's got a heart as big as Moby Dick!"
"That's the greatest comeback since Lazarus."
"Bristow reasons ... Bristow quickens ... Aaahhhhh, Bristow."
"Jocky Wilson ... what an athlete."
"That was like throwing three pickled onions into a thimble!"
"He's about as predictable as a wasp on speed."
"Look at the man go, its like trying to stop a water buffalo with a pea-shooter."
"When Alexander of Macedonia was 33 he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer - Bristow is only 27"
"Like the lion in winter, like the leopard in the snows of Kilimanjaro, Lowe is full of experience; he will survive."
"The atmosphere is so tense, if Elvis walked in with a portion of chips... you could hear the vinegar sizzle on them."
"He's like a hippo in a power shower."
"Well as giraffes say, you don't get no leaves unless you stick your neck out."
"It's the nearest thing to public execution this side of Saudi Arabia."
"He looks about as happy as a penguin in a microwave."
"The pendulum swinging back and forth like a metronome."
"The fans now, with their eyes pierced on the dart board."
"That's like giving Dracula the keys to the blood bank."
"As they say at the DHSS, we're getting the full benefit here."
"There hasn't been this much excitement since the Romans fed the Christians to the Lions."
"This lad has more checkouts than Tescos."
"By the time of the final on Sunday he should be fit to burst!"
"There's only one word for that - magic darts!"
"Keith Deller's not just an underdog, he's an underpuppy!"
"Even Hypotenuse would have trouble working out these angles."
"Steve Beaton - The Adonis of darts, what poise, what elegance - a true Roman gladiator with plenty of hair wax."
"Eat your heart out Harold Pinter, we've got drama with a capital D in Essex."
"There's no one quicker than these two tungsten tossers..."
"Phil Taylor's got the consistency of a planet... and he's in a darts orbit!"
"Steve Beaton, he's not A-donis, he's THE donis."
"If you had to throw a knife at your wife in the circus, you'd want to throw it like that."
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.sidwaddell.compsyswebdesign.com/w.htm
- ^ http://www.sidwaddell.compsyswebdesign.com/pre.htm
[edit] External Links
- Sid Waddell official website includes more quotes from Waddell
