Death announced of racing broadcaster John McCririck

Gavin "shels"

https://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2019/0705/1060338-death-announced-of-racing-broadcaster-john-mccririck/

Boxing.Fan

mod edit <snip>

NIMAN

Well that escalated quickly!
Must be a record.

Boxing.Fan

NIMAN wrote: »

Well that escalated quickly!
Must be a record.

He was anti Irish scumbag. Any chance he got he would run us down. He may be missed in England but not here.

tipptom

Boxing.Fan wrote: »

He was anti Irish scumbag. Any chance he got he would run us down. He may be missed in England but not here.

He was a bit of a little Englander,didnt stop him running to an Irishman when he was going bust though
Hilariously bought back into contention years later when Barney Curley decided to give him an interview that he never asked for after accusing Curley of stopping a horse on Attheraces and was left speechless and stuttering meekly "Yes Barney" when faced up.

PhuckHugh22

RIP.

Great supporter of Racing. Extremely passionate and engaging. Not his biggest fan myself but i met him once after racing and he couldnt have been nicer. He will be missed.

Francie Barrett

Boxing.Fan wrote: »

He was anti Irish scumbag. Any chance he got he would run us down. He may be missed in England but not here.

He's also the guy who called the city of Liverpool a cancer.

Boxing.Fan

Francie Barrett wrote: »

He's also the guy who called the city of Liverpool a cancer.

Yeah that was a little harsh.

convert

Ok, guys, let's keep this respectful. Ever hear of don't speak ill of the dead?

Morgans

https://twitter.com/GinaBryce/status/1147095094123737088

Obviosuly became a parody of himself in later years, but his presence in the media scene - complaining about bookies overrounds and shaving fractions of starting prices - where he stood up for the punter is badly missed these days. There appears to be very few people who worked with him who have had a bad word to say about him. (Not just today but throughout the trial with Channel 4). He was a public schoolboy and relied on it when he had to, but he had far more depth than the cartoon character he became after his racing days were done.

The anti-irish thing, jays, reminds me of the time John Upson got death threats for saying you wouldnt see the farce at the start of the Grand National in an Irish Point to Point. Death threats.

Gael23

His anti Irish sentiment will indeed tarnish his memory this side of the Irish Sea.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6252403/John-McCririck-reveals-hes-NOT-DYING-explains-gaunt-frail-appearance-flu.html

tipptom

Morgans wrote: »

https://twitter.com/GinaBryce/status/1147095094123737088

Obviosuly became a parody of himself in later years, but his presence in the media scene - complaining about bookies overrounds and shaving fractions of starting prices - where he stood up for the punter is badly missed these days. There appears to be very few people who worked with him who have had a bad word to say about him. (Not just today but throughout the trial with Channel 4). He was a public schoolboy and relied on it when he had to, but he had far more depth than the cartoon character he became after his racing days were done.

The anti-irish thing, jays, reminds me of the time John Upson got death threats for saying you wouldnt see the farce at the start of the Grand National in an Irish Point to Point. Death threats.

Does the stupid Upson threats somehow say that McCrirrick was not anti Irish.
There's a reason that no Irish jockey or trainer wanted anything to do with him and when they had to be on the same programme with him they would just laugh at his BS or just plain ignore him.

He was from an era of society and class that looked at Irish people as inferiors and didn't think there was anything wrong with saying it.

I worked in British racing in the early 80s and as an Irishman you wouldn't want to be sensitive but Irish and British people in racing there were closer in work and play than any other industry over there IMO.
No one be they Irish or British had any respect for him in racing as a racing commentator.

Morgans

tipptom wrote: »

No one be they Irish or British had any respect for him in racing as a racing commentator.

I couldnt care about what was said before this statement. But this statement is wrong.

PhuckHugh22

In fairness Tom you haven't a clue what you are talking about.

IAMAMORON

I thought he was a character and I always took him with a pinch of salt.

He was a great advocate for punting and racing, never shy of voicing his opinions and he took all his criticisms on the chin.

He stood up for all punters, while a lot of the industry doesn't, we are constantly seen as second class citizens even though without us there would be no racing.

He understood that.

Any decent Irishman should be able to take some criticism and a beating now and then, it is in our blood.

RIP.

The Tetrarch

I agree with the above post.
We do not need to react to anti-Irish comments. Our people and horses speak for us.
McCririck made a living out of controversy, just as the present day English racing presenter who criticised Australian horses does.

Morgans

tipptom wrote: »

He was a bit of a little Englander,didnt stop him running to an Irishman when he was going bust though
Hilariously bought back into contention years later when Barney Curley decided to give him an interview that he never asked for after accusing Curley of stopping a horse on Attheraces and was left speechless and stuttering meekly "Yes Barney" when faced up.

This is kinda the attitude.

While Barney Curley was getting his big break (another public schoolboy) by being involved with Emil Savundra, and pulling stunt after stunt in an effort to cheat the system, John McCririck was winning investigative journalism prizes for stopping scandals in the Tote where head had to be fired as a result, Extel commentary service. Yet, its Curley who is the hero when getting all high and mighty when McCririck had commented on a different programme that a Curley horse wasnt running on its merits. Guess what lads, the horse wasn't running on its merits.

NIMAN

Barney Curley was a public schoolboy?

Gimme A Pound

convert wrote: »

Ever hear of don't speak ill of the dead?

Yeah, it's a phrase I don't agree with.

Of course there's nothing wrong with speaking ill of the dead if it's based on their behaviour. Dying doesn't cancel it out.

Controversial people will be discussed when they die - and as long as the language used is not abusive and lies aren't told, this should be fair game.

And no, Irish people - despite the tendency to forelock tug - shouldn't just let anti Irish prejudice (that's not the same as constructive criticism or jokey slagging) slide. Doesn't mean things like "good riddance" are ok to say though, or that his merits as a broadcaster shouldn't be acknowledged.

The White Wolf

I always thought there was an air of spoof from him so I never took the harsher things he said too personally.

For the comedy gold alone of that Barney Curley interview and his clash with Ruby on Tubridy, I sincerely hope the man has found peace now.

Pissartist

he was funny on celeb big brother, some moobs on him

Morgans

NIMAN wrote: »

Barney Curley was a public schoolboy?

Well, Jesuit Boarding School, until his father couldn't afford it.

Brock Turnpike

The White Wolf wrote: »

I always thought there was an air of spoof from him so I never took the harsher things he said too personally.

For the comedy gold alone of that Barney Curley interview and his clash with Ruby on Tubridy, I sincerely hope the man has found peace now.

Are these available to view online?

IAMAMORON

Classic Barney

flos1964

The White Wolf wrote: »

I always thought there was an air of spoof from him so I never took the harsher things he said too personally.

For the comedy gold alone of that Barney Curley interview and his clash with Ruby on Tubridy, I sincerely hope the man has found peace now.

Have a look and see who came across as the dirtbag on that...liked McCririck...would imagine most off it was an act unlike Ruby...RIP.

Slattsy

Meh

soundman45

Morgans wrote: »

https://twitter.com/GinaBryce/status/1147095094123737088

Obviosuly became a parody of himself in later years, but his presence in the media scene - complaining about bookies overrounds and shaving fractions of starting prices - where he stood up for the punter is badly missed these days. There appears to be very few people who worked with him who have had a bad word to say about him. (Not just today but throughout the trial with Channel 4). He was a public schoolboy and relied on it when he had to, but he had far more depth than the cartoon character he became after his racing days were done.

The anti-irish thing, jays, reminds me of the time John Upson got death threats for saying you wouldnt see the farce at the start of the Grand National in an Irish Point to Point. Death threats.

flos1964 wrote: »

Have a look and see who came across as the dirtbag on that...liked McCririck...would imagine most off it was an act unlike Ruby...RIP.

Ruby has contantly shown total disdain towards the "punter" in telly interviews with quotes such as, punters are nothing to me I ride for the owners and trainers, good jockey granted but a nice guy???? dunno, McCririck talked some crap but alot of sense at times and was usually entertaining, he had his place in racing tv back in the day but was he any worse than that clown Matt Chapman or any more irritating than Brian Gleeson.

tipptom

Morgans wrote: »

I couldnt care about what was said before this statement. But this statement is wrong.

I have been involved in racing all my life and rode in Ireland and England and know a lot of trainers and jockeys up and down both countrys and all people involved in racing and hardly any of them had any time for him as a commentator.

Some viewed him as a bit of a clown that he put across and some just plainly disliked him and his views and would try to avoid him like the plague.


That's my experience of what people think of him within racing, what's yours to say its plain wrong?

tryfix

He was good value on TV, an outrageous arse but his colourful presentation style was good for racing viewing figures.

I used to love it when the gurning yobs would come up behind him doing rabbit ears and all sorts. John would be all flustered and shouting "behave yourselves" with a face on him like a spanked child.

Breaston Plants

https://youtu.be/UXAK-2TQ_bA

Pissartist

Pissartist wrote: »

he was funny on celeb big brother, some moobs on him

And the horror of those underpants! R.I.P. Big man. Condolences to the Boobie.

IAMAMORON

tipptom wrote: »

I have been involved in racing all my life and rode in Ireland and England and know a lot of trainers and jockeys up and down both countrys and all people involved in racing and hardly any of them had any time for him as a commentator.

Some viewed him as a bit of a clown that he put across and some just plainly disliked him and his views and would try to avoid him like the plague.


That's my experience of what people think of him within racing, what's yours to say its plain wrong?

This is the biggest problem in racing. " the people in the know ". Especially the Brits, but your all well up to it down the Premier county, it's gas what a couple of hundred acres of gallop and a string of 50 horses will do to your personality.

The fact remains he was a great character who stood for the punter and stood up to the cliques, that is why they didn't like him.

In the meantime we are left with Mick Fitzgerald and Brian Gleeson. Mother of Christ.

Morgans

tipptom wrote: »

I have been involved in racing all my life and rode in Ireland and England and know a lot of trainers and jockeys up and down both countrys and all people involved in racing and hardly any of them had any time for him as a commentator.

Some viewed him as a bit of a clown that he put across and some just plainly disliked him and his views and would try to avoid him like the plague.


That's my experience of what people think of him within racing, what's yours to say its plain wrong?

As I intimated, best of luck to you and your exploits and history in the racing industry and if you didn't come across anyone you liked our respected him, well and good. I couldn't and am not remotely interested in stating you are wrong. However, to say no one in Britain or Ireland respected him as s racing commentator is wrong. From then, the awards he won then, the work he did behind the scenes for greatwood, IJF, and those repeating how much he was respected today.

Then again Barney Curleys interview was hilarious.

Imhof Tank

He was so refreshing in the early days of Channel 4 racing with his "steamers" and the tic tac routine - Burlington Bertie, One Hundred to Thirty! Levels you Devils! Earhole! While at the time on the BBC they had Jimmy Lindley and John Hamner to lull you to sleep.

The race riding advice was 100% tongue in cheek and no badness in it, all except certain jockeys could see that.

His act was a throw back to the days of the turf's colourful characters before the racing media was taken over by the likes of Ed Chamberlain with his cheap salesman routine and fake pc-ness.

He basically created the clown character with the bizarre outfits, carved out a niche for himself in the game, and got nearly 40 years at the very top of his industry out of it. Salut Big Mac!

The Tetrarch

McCririck was the white Prince Monolulu. Crowds gathered around him, and occasionally riled him.
Now we have presenters in the social stable reading out what people wrote on twitter. How very boring.

BumperD

He was very knowledgeable. The Sunday forum on ATR demonstrated that. Don’t recall ever hearing an anti Irish line from him so not sure what all that is about, maybe it’s dated. I remember seeing him on tv a year or two ago and all the weight lost which was not a good sign.

Bullwall

Like all of us , he was a product of his time and place . I think he did some good for racing and some good in his personal life .That's how we all should be judged .
RIP John

daheff

convert wrote: »

Ok, guys, let's keep this respectful. Ever hear of don't speak ill of the dead?

Dont get me wrong. I'm sorry to hear of his passing, but ignoring his ignorant side because he has passed isnt right either. That also made up part of his character & who hes was.

IAMAMORON

Guy is a legend , I am so happy that he pissed off so many stuck up in the know assholes. Especially the VETS , doping up fillies. Scumbags.

The booby knew, I would say Jenny is shattered now, he will be sadly missed.

android1

He was a huge presence on the racing scene. He wasn't a balanced, nice, reasonable or fair man.

supremenovice

I grew up watching Channel 4 racing reluctantly because of my aul lad.
The Morning Line was a staple every Saturday morning. Anyway, as I became old enough to bet myself, I became interested in racing too and I guess I always just accepted McCririck for his faults and all, kind of like your gruff, ignorant uncle whos always at family events but you actually get on alright with and have a bit of banter with cause you get used to him and he's not going anywhere. Whenever I was watching racing with a non-racing fan, particularly a girl, they'd always be disgusted with his hairy face and gaudy jewelry and mannerisms, but I had looked past it at that stage. I never doubted his professionalism in fairness with his stats well prepared and always fighting the corner of the punters.
I actually was disappointed he got booted off Channel 4 too, I really liked the old guard team of Tommo and Francome et al.
RIP

Panrich

Definitely a one-off. He was past his sell by date though when he was let go from channel 4.

Used to see him a fair bit around tracks in the UK in the mid to late 80s. I made an occasional stab at hello but never got any encouragement.

The Tetrarch

John McCririck's obituary in The Guardian was written by Julian Wilson, who died in 2014.

Odyssey 2005

RIP John McCrirrick
Funeral service will be from the house at 10/1
Followed by burial at his local graveyard at 5/2
Refreshments at the local working men’s club at 5/4

Gael23

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

RIP John McCrirrick
Funeral service will be from the house at 10/1
Followed by burial at his local graveyard at 5/2
Refreshments at the local working men’s club at 5/4

5/1 he will be cremated and strewn all over cheltenham racecourse

Bullwall

Gael23 wrote: »

5/1 he will be cremated and strewn all over cheltenham racecourse

Apparently the old Alexandra Park racecourse is the site , if the wife can find it .

PhuckHugh22

Alistair Down is some wordsmith. This is a cracking piece whether one likes the man or not.

https://www.racingpost.com/news/john-mccririck-1940-2019/flamboyant-and-fearless-but-above-all-a-passionate-defender-of-the-punter/389293?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=RP%20-%20News&utm_content=John%20McCririck&utm_term=Null

BumperD

PhuckHugh22 wrote: »

Alistair Down is some wordsmith. This is a cracking piece whether one likes the man or not.

https://www.racingpost.com/news/john-mccririck-1940-2019/flamboyant-and-fearless-but-above-all-a-passionate-defender-of-the-punter/389293?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=RP%20-%20News&utm_content=John%20McCririck&utm_term=Null

Best writer by a street. Huge amount of support and positive messages for John. One piece I read mentioned how shy and private he was compared to the loud bashful persona on front of the camera, which was simply part of his act. Really miss characters like this. Looking at the old C4 lineup in the above article compared to where we are today with social stable stuff etc ugh

Aidric

PhuckHugh22 wrote: »

Alistair Down is some wordsmith. This is a cracking piece whether one likes the man or not.

https://www.racingpost.com/news/john-mccririck-1940-2019/flamboyant-and-fearless-but-above-all-a-passionate-defender-of-the-punter/389293?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=RP%20-%20News&utm_content=John%20McCririck&utm_term=Null

Down is a cut above the rest and a beautiful writer to boot. This piece humanizes McCririck in a way that someone not close to him could never have managed. I take issue with his assertion that McCririck was a punters champion. He was in the pocket of the bookies like most in the racing industry.

Kid Charlemagne

Aidric wrote: »

I take issue with his assertion that McCririck was a punters champion. He was in the pocket of the bookies like most in the racing industry.

Can you elaborate?

Kid Charlemagne

Imhof Tank wrote: »

the likes of Ed Chamberlain with his cheap salesman routine and fake pc-ness.

Couldnt have put it better.

Chappers the only one with any personality. Kevin Blake at least knows what hes on about. The rest are nauseating.