The Quite Remarkable David Coleman BBC2 now

[Gwylan]

I guess it's an age thing. My son's 18 and he hadn't heard of him either.

But he only retired from TV in 2000, that's not exactly a lifetime ago. He was just SO well-known. Raymond Glendenning, who was the David Coleman before David Coleman, retired when I was 7 but I'd certainly heard of him when I was 18.

I made a joke about Coleman doing general elections - according to Wikipedia (not always reliable), he did cover the 1959 GE for the BBC.

 

[Spiros]

Some genuine examples from the man himself ...

And there goes Juantorena down the back straight, opening his legs and showing his class

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

A truly international field, no Britons involved.

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

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.

Don't tell those coming in the final result of that fantastic match, but let's just have another look at Italy's winning goal.

For those of you watching who do not have television sets, live commentary is on Radio 2.

Both of the Villa scorers - Withe and Mortimer - were born in Liverpool as was the Villa manager Ron Saunders who was born in Birkenhead.

He's 31 this year - last year he was 30.

He won the bronze medal in the 1976 Olympics so he's used to being out in front.

We estimate, and this isn't an estimation, that Greta Waltz is 80 seconds behind.

Linford Christie's got a habit of pulling it out when it matters most.

The late start is due to the time.

He's got his hands on his knees and holds his head in despair.

He's even smaller in real life than he is on the track.

This could be a repeat of what will happen in the European games next week.

It's a battle with himself and with the ticking fingers of the clock.

Here are some names to look forward to - perhaps in the future.

In the Moscow Olympics Lasse Viren came in fifth and ran a champions race.

He just can't believe what's not happening to him.

One of the great unknown champions because very little is known about him.

There'll be only one winner now - in every sense.

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

(At the velodrome) The front wheel crosses the finishing line, closely followed by the back wheel.

I do remember some years back watching the Olympics and they were showing women's weightlifting (pre red button days so couldn't change the sport). As a leading competitor came to the stage he said something along the lines of 'Here comes the Romanian for the clean and jerk. I saw her snatch this morning and it was quite incredible!' I can't believe he didn't really know what he was saying.

 

[Peter Grummit]

It was the sort of programme the BBC do well, partly because of the wealth of footage they can dig out. It did feel like he had died and it was an obituary tribute. He clearly was very good at the anchor and interview stuff and the emotion in the commentary I personally like. But I do remember him as an annoying 'know-all' particularly on those vide-printer results. Stelling does it much better!

PG
"He's gone too early!"