RIP Bill McLaren (CBE, MBE OBE)

[Squiggles]

One of the finest sports commentators to have ever lived.

'The voice of Rugby'

RIP

 

[Judge Jules]

Seconded.

 

[doctor_mac]

They'll no be dancin' in the streets'o [enter name of random place in Rugby supporting world] tonight...

RIP

His voice will always be synonymous with my memories of 5 nations rugby.

 

[Rosco]

I wish I could say the same Doc.

I'm going to remember him mainly from the commentary he provided for Jonah Lomu rugby on the playstation back in the day.

Superb commentator and we'll never see his likes again.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

A great commentator and a decent man too by all accounts.

RIP Mr McLaren

 

[Pesam]

He was right up there with the greats, Peter O'Sullivan, Bryon Butler, Cliff Morgan, David Coleman, Brian Johnson, Peter Jones......................... and one or two others I've obviously forgotten.

I don't know why their voices seemed more evocative than the current crop but IMO most of the current commentators pale in comparison tho the aforementioned gentlemen.

RIP Bill.

 

[Judge Jules]

Mostly agree, the exception being Coleman who I found overrated. I didn't like his nasal voice or the way he just clammed up and fell silent when a goal went in. John Arlott incidentally is one name I'd definitely add to the list - magnificent at his best, though he could be dull occasionally.

I think those guys provided more atmospheric commentary because they were all so different from one another. Nowadays they largely seem to come off an assembly line somewhere.

 

[Bologna]

Even today, having lived abroad for 15 years, when I watch the 6 Nations the lack of Bill's voice leaves a void.

RIP

 

[themn]

RIP

 

[Whaddapie]

Some voices are simply synominous with their sports... It's hard to picture one without the other.

Snooker - "Whispering" Ted Lowe
Cycling - Phil Ligget
Cricket - Richie Bennot
The blokes from darts and tennis whose names escape me...

But, for me, without question, the very top of that list belongs, and always will, to Bill McLaren. Simply a wonderful commentator, who loved every second of what he did - He didn't commentate on matches so much as broadcast the joy he took from the sport.

RIP

 

[vantage]

[quote author=Bologna link=topic=38521.msg1038550#msg1038550 date=1263981817]
Even today, having lived abroad for 15 years, when I watch the 6 Nations the lack of Bill's voice leaves a void.

RIP
[/quote]
Yeah, agreed. RIP Bill.