Sid Waddell dies aged 72.(Darts)

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.
"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."