Commentary faux pas watch - John Motson

I was inspired to mention this after reading this little comment by the Sports Guy

''First, the Pirates had a starter named Paul Maholm; one of his strengths in the thumbnail scouting report for him was, "He comes right after hitters." I love that.''

In English Soccer there is a consistently bland commentator called John Motson, who would have been proud of the above comment. Motson has established a sort of 'criticism free' zone through sheer perseverance. I think he started commentating sometime during the Eemian interglacial Period. Think Joe Morgan but with a fur lined, beige coat.

He has always provided frequent quotable moments, such as ''The World Cup is a truly International event.'' and an old favourite of mine; ''Brazil - they're so good it's like they are running round the pitch playing with themselves.''

My all time favourite occurred during an otherwise mundane English premiership match in the late nineties. All you need to know to enjoy this is that Manchester United had two players once called Roy Keane and Nicky Butt. While describing a move where Keane gave the ball to Butt on the wing and then moved back infield towards the centre, Motson said, and I quote..

''Keane, comes inside Butt.''

You can't make stuff like that up.