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Post by Wynn Chester on Apr 5, 2018 21:05:53 GMT
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Post by jno on Apr 6, 2018 3:11:19 GMT
Wow! Now this IS a shock. Bristow vs Lowe was a major major event in the 80s (especially in my house), and although I always saw Lowe as the good guy, arguably Bristow did more to promote darts than anyone back in the day, just by being himself. A very sad day this and may the crafty cockney be throwing 180s up there in heaven. RIP to a legend.   |
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Post by daz on Apr 6, 2018 5:42:38 GMT
First news I saw when I put on the TV this morning, very sad news. I too being a child who grew up in the 80s have great memories of watching darts and Bristow was a huge part of that. When I was a kid I certainly thought of him as the bad guy, but appreciated him much more as I got older. I watched a programme with him on it and speaking about his rise through darts, from challenging guys in bars in whatever part of London he was from for money when he should have been at school, to world champion. Will never see the like again. Yet another part of my childhood gone.  RIP Eric |
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Deus est regit qui omnia.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2018 6:09:54 GMT
Really sad news. Eric was the first darting legend. He spotted Phil Taylor and sponsored him and look where The Power went. Bristow was a great scorer and very intelligent commentator. Along with Jocky, John Lowe, etc. Eric helped bring the game out of the pub and into incredible TV popularity in a big way. Eric never gave two hoots what he said, he always told people as it was. I admired him for that.
Shame that Eric had been ostracised by Sky TV when he died. Eric had chain smoked his entire adult life. 60 is no age.
RIP The Crafty Cockney.
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Post by Arch Stanton on Apr 6, 2018 7:12:56 GMT
I cannot believe this guy was only a couple of years older than my brother and that he was born in 1957!
Absolute darts legend. The biggest name in darts in the 80s for me.
Sure he was a 'character', but it's that mentality that creates winners.
Goodbye Eric.
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Post by ace5150 on Apr 6, 2018 7:47:22 GMT
60 or treble 20 is too young.
I liked his straight forward honesty, he didn't care if he upset anyone in his appraisals and you have to respect that.
MvG and The Power are better and will win more, but like the crowd sang last night, "Theres only ONE Eric Bristow"
Here's his film, Arrows.
Not a good week to be in your 60s this week.
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Post by flyingsquad on Apr 6, 2018 8:23:52 GMT
I was shocked when I heard this whilst watching the Darts Premier League last night.
The first Darts match I can remember watching on TV was the 1980 World Championship Final where he beat Bobby George. He helped to put Darts where it is now. I like to think of him up there playing Jocky Wilson with Sid Waddell and Dave Lanning commentating and also being with Jim Bowen throwing for the Bronze Bully.
RIP Eric
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Post by thewoodster on Apr 6, 2018 10:34:02 GMT
RIP Eric “the crafty cockney” Bristow.
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Post by Zimbo on Apr 6, 2018 10:58:16 GMT
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Post by ace5150 on Apr 6, 2018 11:04:58 GMT
As Sid Waddell famously said,
"When Alexander of Macedonia was 33, he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer....Bristow's only 27"
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Post by Terry on Apr 6, 2018 16:45:38 GMT
Sad news indeed....Bristow, Lowe, Wilson and Kirby....during that time I enjoyed darts the most.
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Deus est regit qui omnia.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2018 0:20:43 GMT
A legend.I'm sure I'm not the only one who lost interest in darts post Bristow.
RIP Eric.
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Deleted
Deus est regit qui omnia.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2018 7:28:48 GMT
Keith Deller made a very good point about Eric on Thursday night that without Eric there is no way Darts would have become the massive sport it is today.
Eric sponsored The Power and if he hadn't Taylor would probably be still making toilet fittings in Stoke. Bristow was one of the major ring leaders in the Big Darting Split when the 16 top players broke away from the BDO to form what would become the PDC. If the BDO had been left to their own devices darts would have died as a TV sport.
I am glad that Eric was still allowed to work for the PDC because his silly comments shouldn't have prevented him from working in the sport he loved so much. I hope Sky TV see their ban as rather harsh. A 6 month suspension would have been enough punishment over a crass remark.
I read Eric's autobiography 'The Crafty Cockney' many years ago and in that he says he knew his unhealthy lifestyle was killing him. He basically said he didn't care as it was his life.
The thing I liked the most about Eric was his honest and straight forward take on life. There was never any BS with Bristow. A true sporting legend and the best darts player of all time. A good bloke who will be missed by everyone.
RIP
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Post by plasticpenguin on Apr 7, 2018 12:19:40 GMT
R.l.P. Eric.
What a horrible week for losing ex sportsmen
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Post by bodiesstuntdouble on Apr 7, 2018 15:44:14 GMT
60 or treble 20 is too young. I liked his straight forward honesty, he didn't care if he upset anyone in his appraisals and you have to respect that. MvG and The Power are better and will win more, but like the crowd sang last night, "Theres only ONE Eric Bristow" Here's his film, Arrows. Not a good week to be in your 60s this week. I'm glad you mentioned his film (saved me doing so) - it's a captivating period piece of a lost England not unlike a feature length episode of Minder in some ways - a world of dingy clubs , mini cabs and b&b's RIP Eric |
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Post by ace5150 on Apr 7, 2018 16:23:25 GMT
R.l.P. Eric. What a horrible week for losing ex sportsmenI keep reading people are living longer but loads died young lately, Cyril Regis was another quite young one. Lots of sportsmen hung up their kits for good lately whereas the ancient rockstars like Ozzy and the Stones just keep on going. I deduce from this that being a fit sportsman might mean you die younger than a booze and drug addled rocker who never done any exercise. I might cancel my gym membership and pop down the local crack house instead. Better to be safe than sorry! |
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Post by plasticpenguin on Apr 8, 2018 0:47:30 GMT
R.l.P. Eric. What a horrible week for losing ex sportsmenI keep reading people are living longer but loads died young lately, Cyril Regis was another quite young one. Lots of sportsmen hung up their kits for good lately whereas the ancient rockstars like Ozzy and the Stones just keep on going. I deduce from this that being a fit sportsman might mean you die younger than a booze and drug addled rocker who never done any exercise. I might cancel my gym membership and pop down the local crack house instead. Better to be safe than sorry! Your not too far from truth. Firmly believe that when anyone pushes their bodies to the limit... and stop their bodies go from extreme to another. Whereas someone like Ronnie Wood has been on benders since he was about 9 - the alcohol has marinated his organs. |
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Post by Arch Stanton on Apr 8, 2018 6:52:09 GMT
I might cancel my gym membership and pop down the local crack house instead. Better to be safe than sorry! Plus that leotard never really suited you Ace.  |
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Post by plasticpenguin on Apr 8, 2018 14:22:21 GMT
I might cancel my gym membership and pop down the local crack house instead. Better to be safe than sorry! Plus that leotard never really suited you Ace. No. And it leaves pressure marks around the...   |
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Post by Portland Road on Apr 10, 2018 3:50:34 GMT
R.I.P. Eric Bristow.
From a charismatic breed of sportsmen that you don't seem to get anymore.
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Post by plasticpenguin on Apr 10, 2018 4:22:36 GMT
R.I.P. Eric Bristow. From a charismatic breed of sportsmen that you don't seem to get anymore. That's true. TBH, though, there weren't that many back in his day: Jocky Wilson and Bobby George perhaps fell into that mould.... |
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