Sid Waddell dies aged 72 - The Guardian

Tributes have poured in for the darts commentator Sid Waddell after Sunday morning's announcement of his death at the age of 72. Waddell, whose diagnosis with bowel cancer was made public last September, died on Saturday night.

A statement from his manager, Dick Allix, read: "With great sadness, we announce that following a long illness, broadcaster and author Sid Waddell died peacefully with all his family around him late last night, Saturday 11 August 2012."

Bobby George, twice a British Darts Organisation world championship finalist, was among the first to pay tribute, writing on Twitter: "So sad to hear of the passing of the legend Sid Waddell or Sidly as I used to call him. Sincere condolences go out to the family x."

The three-times world champion John Lowe tweeted: "Darts has lost its champion of the commentary box, Sid Waddell, sincere condolences to his family, good bye dear friend."

Raymond van Barneveld, the Dutch winner of four BDO world championships and one as part of the Professional Darts Corporation, wrote: "Can't believe the news that Sid Waddell died yesterday i am emotional right now such a great personality and a good friend gonna miss you."

Waddell, Northumberland-born and a Cambridge graduate, was a central part of Sky Sports' coverage of PDC darts events since 1994. He was known for his colourful and excitable commentary style, with his best-known lines including: "There's only one word for it – 'magic darts'."

He also noted, while watching Eric Bristow become world champion: "When Alexander of Macedonia was 33, he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer … Bristow's only 27."

His long-term colleague Dave Clark tearfully told Sky Sports News: "He was a brilliant man, a genius of the microphone – I'm going to miss my old mate, that's for sure. He had a child-like exuberance, he'd be bouncing round like a young puppy in the commentary box, and mix that with the intellect of Einstein."

Clark added: "I know he's been really battling this cancer for a long, long time and what I hear from the family is it's a blessing that he's gone, but a tragedy."

Waddell also had 11 books published, ghosted the 13-times PDC world champion Phil Taylor's autobiography, The Power, and wrote the sport-based BBC children's programmes Jossy's Giants and Sloggers, receiving a nomination for best scriptwriter from the Writer's Guild of Great Britain for the latter.