Farewell ‘Arry
Posted on March 23, 2010
I can’t say that I was deeply saddened by ‘Arry Carpenter’s peaceful death yesterday, how can you be sad about someone who has dies at 84 after a fantastic life? However ‘Arry’s death did bring back poignant memories of my childhood addicted to sport of any kind, be it those muddy floodlit football highlights on Sportsnight that my parents would reluctantly let me stay up and watch on Wednesdays, Wimbledon, The British Open, Grandstand, and of course, and probably most famously the Boxing coverage of all the great fights. Any lad brought up on Sport dring the 60’s 70’s and 80’s will have fond memories of Harry Carpenter, if they don’t, they don’t like sport.
‘Arry will probably best be remembered for his emotional slip during the 1989 heavyweight between his great friend Frank “know what I mean Arry” Bruno, and Mike Tyson, who was at his devasting, vicious, and frightenening best. Everyone knew “Our Frank” was going to get a good hiding, but for just a few seconds Bruno rattled Tyson, prompting Harry to lose all professional impartiality by lovingly yelling “Go on, get in there Frank”.
However my favourite ‘Arry faux paux was after the 1997 Boat Race when he elegantly and innocently said: “Ah isn’t that nice, the Cambridge president is kissing the Cox of the Oxford crew.” A double entendre that would not be forgiven on the BBC today, and would have resulted in Carpenter being sacked, and replaced by some bloke in flash suit called Declan who has just graduated from Dublin University.
Anyway, I will let those of you are interested Google all the press tributes on line which are better articulated, and more detailed than what I can come up with, but I guarantee you won’t find a bad word about ‘Arry anywhere, and if you are a Sports fan of my age group, when you see all the old clips on TV, you will realise part of your childhood just died. The smug and flash presenters on TV sport now aren’t fit to lace ‘Arry’s boots. Click here for a poignant clip of Sportsnight.
Trevor and Amy
March 24, 2010 (6:25 am)
The "Go on, get in there Frank' quote still raises the hairs on the back of my neck!
Bruno was always going to lose to Tyson, but for a moment 'Arry said what we all felt.
The likes of 'Arry will never be repeated – as you say much safer to go for an ex sports star or flashy presenter.