the quote referred to Cuban runner Juantorena at the 1976 Olympics, and was "....just opened his legs wide and showed us all his class". Ironically, Coleman didn't say it - it was delivered by colleague Ron Pickering.
I went off him after his "who cares who's third" comment when Hemery won gold in Mexico. The poor sod running his guts out for third place was John Sherwood from Selby...........
You certainly don't miss anything Chewn.It is certainly a far cry from the days of David Coleman, Bill Beaumont et al.Now we have got those broadcasting nobodies Sue Barker,Matt Dawson and Phil Tuffnell.R.I.P. David Coleman I think you were better on Athletics than Football,still believe kenneth Wolstenholme was better on Football.
My abiding memory of David Coleman is actually an indirect one: during the 1972 Olympic village terrorist siege my mum sat up, after I was sent to bed, to watch the soon-to-be gruesome story unfold. All she talked about the next day was the extraordinary way Coleman had presented the events: with a calm dignity which was entirely appropriate.
Not many sports commentators win special Olympic awards. I always think of him as THE voice of athletics and I loved his Grandstand teleprinter commentaries: 'Good heavens! that's the first time this season that Chesterfield have failed to score away from home against a team beginning with S!' Or similar. You always felt that he truly was astounded by a lot of what he was watching. RIP indeed
Always remember his football commentaries. Didn't matter how big the match was or how great the goal the first goal was always described with a simple "1-0".