|
We Love David Duffield Reader
Submissions Part2
Post Tour de France 2001
The interest in David Duffield reached
fever pitch toward the end of the Tour de France 2001. Emails were
received and the best ones are below for your enjoyment.
From:
Ryan
Subject:
duffield
One Duffieldism that I
thought you would have got,
Now the (Saeco, Telecom
etc.) team are starting to go = Team is working hard at the front. Usually
uttered after the team has been working at the front for well over 20k.
Also can be applied to a rider who has been at the front for at least half
an hour.
Other classic Duffers
characteristics include,
Confusion over which rider
he is watching. Even if one was 10 minutes behind in the peleton and the
other was in the front with a break of 3. This happens frequently when he
is not sure who is in the break and if a team mate attacks from the
peleton he thinks that is the rider attacking the break. Most recently
when Cardenas won his stage and he was not sure whether he was watching
Laiseka or Etxebarria.
As you have mentioned in
other areas, failure to pay attention to what is going on. Which he does
realise and then apologises for another 5 minutes by which time the race
is usually finished.
One last one. This usually
happens to Sean. Duffers asks a question, short pause and before Sean
answers he then continues to evaluate all possible answers that Sean could
give. Usually ends with Sean just saying YES when Duffers finally finishes
his question.
I have watched Eurosport
for two years now and suffered. Lots of people in our club like Duffers,
but I think he is the worst commentator I have ever heard. Unfortunately I
have no choice if I want to see any cycling coverage in the UK. The whole
idea is to analyse the action from an informed point of view. He does
appear to be informed but in no way able to analyse what is going on
(probably comes from being a tester in his racing days). Comparisons to
Murray are just not fair. Murray has made some fantastic mistakes but his
following of the action has never faulted, despite mis-identifications,
jinxed timing and poking Nigel Mansell on the huge bruise on his head.
Still Duffers does deserve recognition for his "attempts" to try
and popularise cycling and his dedication to the cause.
Like the site. Keep up the
good work.
Ryan
Birmingham Cycling Club
www.birmcc.org.uk
I guess with David you have
to do part of the work when watching a race. You look after the
technicalities of who's in the break and who's off the back and leave the
entertaining stories of cheese, hard work, Fausto Coppi and rabbits called
sixpence to DD. Lets see what the others say...
From:
Edmund
Subject:
Dufferisms
Hi, love the site!
Here are some tasty snippets which spring to mind:
Calling the banned Spinachi bars "Spinergy" bars (David, they
make wheels!) In the early days of EPO awareness, he was calling
haematocrit "haematoclit" bless 'im......like that one, David!
The little Columbian climbers who "weigh 7-stone wet-though" The
marvellous moment during the Giro 2001 when the riders were getting
hassled from the Simoni supporters and just as David was stepping into the
pulpit to preach how something had to be done with the wild tifosi, Belli
plants his right fist on a culprit's coupon (the hapless victim turned out
to be Simoni's cousin or something)...David's joyous reaction was
priceless, and just a leeeetttle out of line considering they threw Belli
off the race for that! The similar defining moment when Guidi was knocked
down by that geeky lad brandishing a camera on Alpe d'Huez...David said
something like..." and I hope that all the people who are friends of
this man, never, ever speak to him again...!", while sounding like he
was frothing at the mouth...no, sorry.."spitting nails"!
I have a feeling we have a long way to go before exhausting new material
for your site...
Ed Edinburgh
p.s. I like to sometimes
watch Euro while listening to France Inter commentary on Long Wave
radio...they also have live reports from the motorbikes and wow can they
make it exciting!
Haematoclit??? What did he
think epo did? Is it oestrogen based?
From:
Ben
Subject:
duffers
hi addiscombe cc
i too have been a fan of the duffers stream of (un)consiousness for many
years. i write a road race report for the de laune cc magazine and always
give it a title from some of the phrases that he uses over and over again
(these can be viewed on our web page: www.delaunecc.org).
the personal favourite from this tour was him reading out the complete
menu from his hotel on the 21/7/01 stage.
regards ben
de laune cc road race sec.
Gotta love those transition
stages when the racing is so quiet that out comes the trusty menu from the
night before. Good to see the De Laune on the web with such a good site.
From:
Brian
Subject:
Duffieldism
You ask for clarification
of the phrase "the rough end of a ragman's trumpet".
There is a north of England working class expression of great surprise:
"well f**k me with a ragman's trumpet". I'm sure that you'll see
the connection .......
Hope that this helps.
An excellent website BTW.
Brian
It helps.. Too Much!
From:
Phil
Subject:
No Subject
The Duffers site is
fantastic!
My familiarity with the Duffieldism's on the site is unnerving - obviously
I'm spending far too much time watching old TDF videos on rainy Sunday's -
time to get a life.
We all have our favourites, but surely his legendary condemnation of the
hapless young lad who knocked Beppe Guerinni off his bike on Alpe D’Huez
in 1999 must rate as the apotheosis of Dave's genius.
Remember the scene - the "yard of pump-water"-like Guerinni is
riding to victory when, following a bit of a fandango
go-right-go-left-go-over-the-bars, Beppe hits the floor.
Duffers: “Awwww nooooo!.....what a stupid, stupid man......if I knew
that man I wouldn't want to be friends with him ever again."
Steven Roche (stifling a giggle) summed it up for all of us watching: “Well
said Dave, and keeping it clean as well,"
This clip deservedly made it on to one of those bloomers-style shows on
ITV.
Dave and Sean are the Eric and Ernie of sports commentary e.g:
Dave: "WhatdoyoureckonSean?Dearviewer,especiallythoseofyouswitchingonEurosportexpect
ingtoseethetennisandinsteadseeingallthesechapsonbicycles,Seanisfourtimeswinner
ofthegreenjersey, [no explanation what the green jersey is of course]
AnywaySean,isDekkergoingtostayawaytotakethestageoristhebunchlyingdoggobeforego
inglicketyspit [another one!] andreelinghimin,ehSean?
Sean:
"Yes."
Mygirlfrend, who has never
watched cycling in her life before, is now addicted to Eurosport. Like
most neophyte viewers she is often driven to distraction by Duffers but
soon she will come to understand. Cycling ain't cycling without the Man.
Full marks to Addiscombe CC for providing us with a forum to express our
devotion. Surely it is about time his nuggets were immortalised in print -
so to speak.
Cheers, Phil
Thanks Phil, interestingly
its the wives and girlfriends that are amongst his biggest fans (and
consequently send him pictures of their pussies - see Duffield Facts) and
Its probably because he is always *trying* to explain what bike racing is
all about. Although its normally to the disappointment of the boring know
it all *expert* amateur road racers out there , some of which have now
started to send me abusive Duffield mail. Can you believe it? Plonkers.
From:
Niall
Subject:
Duffers
My favourite Duffieldism is
when Dave get all euphoric and exclaims "THIS IS WHAT BIKE RACING IS
ALL ABOUT"
Cheers, Niall
This is exactly the sort of
thing that gets kids into cycling. Mad action on the screen and Duffield
going crazy on the mic. Its got to have an effect in getting people into
cyclesport somewhere. Well spotted Niall, keep 'em coming.
From:
Alijosa , Singapore
Subject:
duffield
Hello there I've had a
chance of listening to cycling commentary in many languages and David
Duffield beats them all. Name a person who can enterntain you for five or
more hours during a long stage. Sure, others may be more knowledgable and
proper but also oh so boring. And David...well, there's always something
to talk about.
One of the Duffieldisms
that you migt have forgotten to mention: "....and the proverbial has
hit the fan" , probably meaning: ...and the action in a group of
riders has started.
Thanks Alijosa for that
one. How on earth do you manage to get to hear DD in Singapore? You're
right of course - there is always something for DD to talk about. Granted
it might sometimes be at the wrong time but there's always something to
talk about!
From:
Justi
Subject:
Duff Duff
It always worries me when
he says 'by the way...' because you know he's going off somewhere -
usually something to do with food, while the race is reaching the most
exciting point and Sean Kelly is saying 'Er, David, that's the 1 kilometre
banner they'll be going under..'
Enjoyed the site though.
Justi
Thanks Justi - By the
way....
From:
Mike
Subject:
The god of cycling
No-one has mentioned is
ability to consume local wine/beer and off-the-track delicacies.
my only complaint is that
he is a such an obvious fan of Armstrong. He does sell UK cycling better
than anyone else.
By the way has anyone heard
his story about fat-bottomed ladies and those without clothing for a PR
shot? Is it me but are Eurosport reducing his contribution and commentary
time.
Duffers isn't duff just
"going off on a tangent".
Mike (Kingston/Thames)
It would be interesting to
go out to dinner with him one night on the Tour. If anyone has met him in
a restaurant is there any chance you can do a report for us? And does
anyone reckon Russell Williams really eats that many baguettes as DD makes
out?
From:
Mike
Subject:
Peter Farazijn
It's out of date and in
dutch but go to www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/9863
and click on the relevant bit.
Ciao again.
Thanks Mike. Did you send
us this in a "By the way" off on a tangent tribute to DD? Its a
good page isn't it and Peter Farazijn was an interesting rider.
From:
Martyn
Subject:
Duffers
Here is one that seems to
have disappeared a bit this year in favour of "the battling ossy"
The bold Stewy or anyone else that attacks and gets 10 seconds down the
road. Not to mention the great ride at the Tour of Langkawi.
Indeed. And now DD can't
mention the Bold Stewy without mentioning his Cobra sports car either.
From:
Paul
Subject:
We Love David Duffield
Love the site.
I remember reading in Cycling Weekly about David's three-wheeled exploits
in the late 1950's/early 1960's, and I'm sure I met him, at least once,
while on Sunday rides with the Kingston Wheelers. He would have been on
his way home from a time-trial but I don't recall daring to speak to him -
he was an awesome figure even then, because of his achievements and his
obvious madness!
In between throwing my shoes at the television, I love the man! Long may
he continue to delight and infuriate us, as he would put it (and does,
many times a day), "too, as well" (i.e. also).
Paul, Surrey
Thanks Paul. Not many
people contact us regarding DDs riding exploits. It would be interesting
to find out more about what he was like in those days.
Thanks everyone for the emails. Please keep
sending any info you might have on the great man and for those of you out
there who don't like David's style of commentary then in the words of the
man himself:
"If you can't stand the heat of the
kitchen then don't come into it!"
Has anyone got any pictures of
themselves with David? It would be great if we could display them on here,
perhaps with his autograph is someone has that as well.
Other Duffield Pages in The Agreeable World:
We Love David Duffield Intro and Index
|