Sad news

[bigchiefally]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/sou ... 468319.stm

Not sure if this the right forum for this one, but a sad bit of news here. For many of us he was the iconic rugby commentator.

[browner]

The best.

[bogboy]

Sky could use a commentator like him -- he never exceeded his quota of superlatives - was never guilty of" total tunnel vision" -- never over stepped the verbage -- the current bunch of commentators rabbit rubbish endlessly are so bias and anyone who has appeared in an England shirt is the greatest player of his generation --- earache

[ColinM]

Only another Bill McLaren could find the words to describe him. But there was only one.

My thoughts are with his family. Utter gentleman.

[Windeos]

What a great man, great wee video here of him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S617AieOPJo

[Cascade]

He was indeed the very best. One of the most iconic sports comentators, never mind rugby. I think in this case it's right to use the word legend.

[the original kimble]

In a league of his own.

tok

[pwrmoore]

No-one else even comes close. A legend in his own lifetime and his commentaries are inextricably linked with my first ever experiences of international rugby when each team played in a different shade of grey.

THE MAN

[Satans little helper]

Very sad, the man who introduced a whole generation to " a little bit of handbags"... top man, I'm going to revote for the knighthood on faceboke.

[BR]

100% professional, but 100% passionate at the same time.

[tighthead]

My earliest memory of a rugby match on TV as a child was hearing Bill's voice, I was sad when he retired, very sad now.
Great commentator, great gentlemen, "they will be mourning on the streets of Edinburgh, Dublin, Cardiff and London tonight."

[mikerob]

I was at the last game he commentated upon at Lansdowne Road (Ireland v Scotland in 2002?) and there was a long, long period of applause from the entire crowd when this was announced on the PA....obvious how much affection there was for him amongst the rugby-going public.

[FRB]

Sad news and condolences to his family and friends.

Like many, I grew up listening to him and enjoying his eloquent, fair and accurate commentary.

The current crop of commentators just do not come close....

[Cap'n Grumpy]

Very sad news. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

Rugby is not about one man and one man cannot represent all that is good about the sport ...... but he came darned close.

[Solid Air]

Sad news, his family, friends, Hawick, and rugby will miss him

One of my favourites, about Phil Bennett "They say down at Stradey that if ever you catch him, you get to make a wish."