been here before Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 (edited) Probably the finest sports journalist that has ever put pen to paper died today aged 84. As well as his majestic football writing, his book McIlvanney On Boxing is unmatched when it comes to how to write about sport. A colossus with a career lasting 50 years his prose will never likely be matched. There were 2 writers and commentators on sports Id love to have had even half the talent of. One was McIlvanney and the other was Bob Crampsey. Ironically for men whose undoubted gifts lay with the written word, they both had very distinct, unmistakable voices. Edited January 25, 2019 by been here before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Albert Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 A great sports journalist but even more simply a great writer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graygo Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 A talented family when it came to writing. RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambos are go! Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Made you proud to be a Scot with every word from his mouth or pen. RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shanks said no Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 When he spoke, you listened. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zico Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 1 hour ago, Francis Albert said: A great sports journalist but even more simply a great writer. Absolutely. Forget his amazing writing on boxing that got him into the (very US-centric) boxing hall of fame or his other fantastic sports writing on football, horse racing, golf etc. He was simply a great writer. RIP Hughie. P.S. for anyone that hasn’t read it, I cannot recommend McIlvanney On Boxing enough. Whether you love or hate boxing, his chapter on Johnny Owen will break your heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridge of Djoum Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 (edited) A sad day indeed. Sadder when you think who’s left to carry the sports journalism torch in Scotland. Chris Jack Keith Jackson Michael Stewart anyone who hosts BBC Sportsound. Edited January 26, 2019 by Bridge of Djoum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red21 Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 There's a paragraph in an article he wrote about Johnny Owen that's so powerful... It was boxing that gave Johnny Owen his one positive means of self-expression. Outside the ring he was an inaudible and almost invisible personality. Inside, he became astonishingly positive and self-assured. He seemed to be more at home there than anywhere else. It is his tragedy that he found himself articulate in such a dangerous language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Albert Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Perhaps uncharacteristically a little cruel but on Joe Bugner: he had "the physique of a Greek statue but with fewer moves" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William H. Bonney Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 There was a fantastic quote by him on off the ball today regarding kilwhinning. Something like 'even jaws would circumvent it to avoid contact with the locals'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambos are go! Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 (edited) He described the Road between Edinburgh and Glasgow as the longest 50 miles on the planet. IIRC. He knew us so well.. Edited January 26, 2019 by jambos are go! Additional comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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