'I don't want to overstate it, but I do think so much of our history has led us to this moment'

TV VIEW:It has been another vintage year for telling moments on the telly in this sporting world, writes MARY HANNIGAN

From the BDO World Darts Championship at the Lakeside in January to the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace yesterday, with the Olympics, Euro 2012 and a few other bits thrown in, it’s been a dizzying year for those fond of watching sport on the telly.

In an attempt to relive the year’s finest sporting moments on telly, it’s awards time.

Question of the year

After the astoundingly fabulous, awesome, marathon, epic men’s Australian tennis Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal, Eurosport pundit Greg Rusedski asked, not unreasonably: “In what other sport do you play six hours of tennis?”

His colleague Virginia Wade had no answer.

Toughest link

Sue Barker, after the Djokovic v Nadal joust: “Next on BBC 2, the World Bowls Championship final from the Potters Leisure Resort in Norfolk.”

Observation

Sky Sports’ Mark Robson, during Munster’s Heineken Cup game away to Northampton, noting ‘ROG’ embossed on Ronan O’Gara’s boots: “That’s just one letter short of God backwards.”

Analogy

“They’re a bit like Pamela Anderson: when they’re good they’re great, when they’re bad they’re awful.”

George Hook on Ireland after their Six Nations defeat by Wales. Brent Pope and Conor O’Shea were way too afraid to ask for clarification.

Restraint

Sebastian Coe, on the BBC News, as the Olympics were about to kick off: “I don’t want to overstate it, but I do think so much of our history has led us to this moment.”

Positivity

“What positives will Giovanni Trapattoni take from tonight?” Sky Sports’ Julian Warren asked Jason McAteer after the Republic of Ireland’s game against the Czech Republic. “The major positive is this winning mentality,” Jason said. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Interview

After Bubba Watson won the Masters, he had the distinct honour of appearing on David Letterman’s show.

Just two of the highlights: Letterman: “Fifty per cent of the recent winners at Augusta have been left-handed.”

Bubba: “Yeah, but 50 per cent are right-handed too.”

Letterman: “How would you describe your personal style of play, your personal approach to golf?

Bubba: “Awesome.”

Tribute

“From the tip of Malin to the southerly point of the Drowes river; to the hills, the valleys and the towns along the majestic coastline; through the wild wilderness of the Bluestacks – this will be celebrated like no other.”

Martin Carney after Donegal did their All-Ireland winning thing.

You were saying?

“This is probably Alex Ferguson’s greatest achievement.”

Niall Quinn on Sky Sports when he reckoned, along with the rest of humanity, that the league title was heading Manchester United’s way.

And then?

Sure, you know yourself.

Exchange

Pat Spillane: “I went on Wikipedia to find out what I scored in Championship football.

“I think I scored, I’m not too sure, 13 goals and 150 points. The point I’m trying to make, the bottom line . . . ”

Joe Brolly: “The bottom line, Pat, is that you’re great.”

Retire already

“You’d be hoping now that maybe he would take time out, maybe to be cutting the lawn, or take up a bit of golf, or train the Kilkenny footballers for a change, or something like that. This is never-ending stuff.”

Corkonian Tomás Mulcahy after Brian Cody led Kilkenny to yet another All-Ireland success.

Pardon?

“There are no tools you can use out there. You’ve just got to go with what you have in your pants.”

Nicolas Colsaerts summing up his Ryder Cup (Day One) experience on Sky Sports. His interviewer thanked him and moved swiftly on.

Did he actually just say that?

“I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it. I’ll have ****ing sex tonight and everything.”

Trainer Peter Casey to Tracy Piggott after Flemenstar won in Leopardstown in January.

“You can’t say that on television,” said Tracey.

It was too late, he just did.

You were saying?

“If Di Matteo can get a team with John Obi Mikel to the Champions League final then he deserves the Nobel Prize.”

Eamon Dunphy.

And soon after, the Oslo-bound Roberto (and John) won the Champions League.

Yep, it is

“Is it me?” Katie Taylor at the end of her Olympic final.