Sport

Jimmy Magee - in his own words

A selection of quotes from the late broadcaster

Veteran RTÉ sports broadcaster Jimmy Magee has died aged 82, in a 2008 interview he lived up to his reputation as "the memory man" by sharing his earliest All-Ireland final memory from 1943. Video: RTÉ
Wed Sept 20 2017 - 12:00

Athlete John Treacy

“The crowd stand for the Irishman from Villierstown in Waterford. The little man with a great heart . . .”

- on Treacy’s silver medal marathon run at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Swimmer Michelle Smith

“Yes, I did think she was getting a hard deal. I thought at the time and since it was a worthy occasion for Michelle and for us. It was an awful pity that it didn’t materialise for what it was worth. It was worth more than it got, I think. I do remember it with some fondness, very much so, very much so.”

- on the controvesy surrounding the swimmer, who won three gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She was banned in 1998 for four years for adulterating a urine sample.

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Boxer Katie Taylor

“One day she may be a trainer coach . . . but she probably won’t have anyone as good as herself to train or coach.”

“Whether you’re watching this on television and looking at this later on a DVD or as somebody’s prize collection. I should think you’re happy to be living in the year 2012 when a 26-year-old Irish woman from Bray in Co Wicklow came to London for the games of the 30th Olympiad in the company of Zaur Antia the Georgian coach and her own beloved father . . . And still one stop to go on the Dart line.”

- on Taylor’s semifinal bout at the 2012 London Olympics.

“This young girl from Bray, young lady from Bray, young woman from Bray. That should cover it all.”

Boxer Paddy Barnes

“It’s a rip-roarer, an absolutely titanic struggle if that’s the right thing to say about a Belfast man.”

Boxer Kenneth Egan

“Brings back memories of the man in the studio there, Michael Carruth, what a day that was in Barcelona! It’s funny that we won two gold medals - well, I’m counting chickens here - in a city with a B as its initial letter!”

- In positive mood during Egan’s medal fight with China’s Xiaoping Zhang at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“He was on the brink of everlasting fame, but there’s many a boxer who lives in this world of ours who would chew your elbow off for a silver medal.”

- staying positive after Egan’s loss.

1986 World Cup in Mexico

Different class . . . DIFFERENT CLASS”

- on Diego Maradona’s goal against England.