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That iconic commentary of the 4x100m Australian men’s medley relay win at the Moscow Olympics was Norman May’s signature call of his 35 years as the sporting voice of the ABC on radio and television.
The man widely and affectionately known as ‘Nugget’ died yesterday, aged 88.
When it came to passion, accuracy, and computer-like recall of sporting facts and figures there’s never been a better commentator, nor a better bloke.
And it all happened by accident on a bus in 1957 sitting next to Dick Healy, a senior sporting exec at ‘Aunty’.
‘Nugget’ was a champion surfer who played rugby, and a former Combined GPS firsts leggie who was asked by Healy if he was doing anything on Saturday, to which ‘Nugget’ replied nothing.
“You are now, the ABC is covering the surf carnival, and you’re with me,” said Healy, little knowing that would be the end of “Nugget’s” five-day-a-week job as an insurance clerk, and the start of an illustrious career as a sporting commentator that included 11 Olympic Games, 11 Comm Games, Test cricket, rugby, swimming, and motor racing.
And two flies crawling up a wall, if required.
Always the team man, Nugget and Alan McGilvray, the doyen of cricket commentators, were inseparable during the summer, then Nugget had the same close association with Trevor Allan, the Wallaby skipper of the 1947-48 tour to Britain and France, in the winter.
When the ABC lost the cricket and rugby rights, Nugget put the extra time available into raising money for the Australian Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams, travelling the country speaking at various lunches and dinners – he was tireless.
And it was constantly recognised with one award after another – the Order of Australia in 1983, the Olympic Order in 1997, the Australian Sports Medal in 2000, and inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2004.
But being tireless was Nugget in everything he did, especially with his closest mate, the triple Australian representative Dick Thornett of rugby, rugby league, and water polo fame, who for the greater part of his life was a publican.
If there’s one other part of Nugget’s life that was an important as sport, it was having a drink.
And if you ever wanted to find Nugget, he would be at Dick Thornett’s latest pub where both had such magnetic personalities, the clientele was a bonanza from all sorts of sports.
In the 55 years I’ve been privileged to know Nugget, I’ve only seen him eat once, at a Gordon rugby pre-season lunch in the 1970s, where he picked at a fish entree.
After another rugby function at Kings Cross, Nugget suggested we go back to his unit nearby.
After awhile, he asked if I was hungry, and I was, so he said see what’s in the frige.
That was an education, there was only a mountain of beer cans with not enough room for a crumb, let alone something solid.
“There’s always two pork chops in every can,” was his reply.
But I’ve left the best until last.
Some 40 years ago, Nugget was pulled over by the police on the Manly peninsula, where his driving capabilities were legendary,
“You’ll have to take a blood test Mr May,” said the young constable..
“Can’t, I’m a haemophiliac”.
“The it’s a breath test”.
“Can’t, I’m an asthmatic”.
“OK, see that straight line down the middle of the footpath, walk along that for ten metres”.
“Can’t, I’m too pissed”.
The local judge did Nugget, and the general public, a huge favour by banning the sporting commentating icon from ever driving again.
So rest in peace Norman Alfred Vale May, there will never be another one like him.
Pure gold.