TEN (IN)FAMOUS RUNNERS UP
24th November, 2014
Now the dust has finally settled and I'm over my initial disappointment of missing out on both the TPL and the FA Cup titles, I feel it is time to celebrate ten of the world's greatest ever second bests. Ladies and gentleman I give you...Ten (In)Famous Runners Up:
1. Sex Pistols: God Save the Queen
In spite of a nationwide ban in the high street stores and virtually no airplay, the Sex Pistols second single was reportedly still outselling its nearest rival by 2 copies to 1. However, the UK authorities felt that such an anti-monarchy statement shouldn’t be top of the Hit Parade during the Queen’s Jubilee Week in 1977 and stepped in to ensure that it was kept off the top spot. Therefore, its official highest chart placing was number 2, with Rod Stewart’s double A side I Don’t Want To Talk About It/First Cut is the Deepest claiming the coveted number one.
2. Orvil Newton (Stuart Whitman): Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
Stuart Whitman’s character looks all set to win the inaugural London to Paris flying race in Ken Annakin’s 1965 film. However, he loses time when he stops to rescue his Italian rival Count Emilio Ponticelli from a burning plane. This show of heroism allows dastardly Englishman Richard Mays (James Fox) to claim first place. However, there’s a happy ending for the penniless cowboy, as Mays insists he shares the prize money with him and he also gets the girl (Sarah Miles).
3. Cliff Richard: Congratulations
In the sixties, Cliff Richard was already a huge star and an incredibly popular figure, with a string of hits under his belt. When he entered the Eurovision Song Contest held at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1968, he was a big favourite with his song "Congratulations". In fact there was so much hype around his entry that he himself was convinced that he would win. However, the Spanish entry by someone rejoicing in the name Massiel, came out on top, one point ahead of the Bachelor Boy. Cliff himself has since revealed that he was so nervous during the voting process, he had to go and hide in the toilets.
4. Jean van de Velde: The 1999 Open Championship, Carnoustie
The Frenchman was the clear leader was the clear leader when he arrived at the 18th tee, needing only a double bogey six to win the tournament. He had played error-free golf for much of the week and had birdied the 18th hole in the two previous rounds. Despite holding a comfortable three-shot lead, Van de Velde chose to use his driver off the tee, and proceeded to drive the ball to the right of the burn. Rather than laying up and hitting the green with his third, he decided to go for the green with his second shot. His shot drifted right, ricocheted backwards off the railings of the grandstands, landed on top of the stone wall of the Barry Burn and then bounced fifty yards backwards into knee-deep rough.
On his third shot, Van de Velde's club got tangled in the rough on his downswing, and his ball flew into the aforementioned burn. Undeterred, he took off his shoes and socks and stepped through shin-deep water to try to hit his ball out. Ultimately, he took a drop and proceeded to hit his fifth shot into the greenside bunker. Van de Velde blasted his bunker shot to within six feet from the hole, and made the putt for a triple-bogey seven, dropping him into a three-way playoff with Justin Leonard and Paul Lawrie. Lawrie would eventually triumph in the playoff, leaving Van de Velde as joint runner up.
5. Niki Lauda: 1976 Formula One Championship
In spite of suffering horrific injuries following a crash in the West German Grand Prix, the Austrian driver was back behind the wheel only six weeks later to resume his battle with Britain’s James Hunt for the title. Amazingly, Lauda missed out on the championship by just one point, after being forced to retire in the final race in Japan. I can still hear Radio 2 co-commentator Barry Sheene shouting "It's Lauda. It's Lauda" as he identified the driver pulling out of the race and I listened beneath the bed sheets in the middle of the night.
6. Steve Davis: 1985 World Snooker Championship
Davis whitewashed Irishman Denis Taylor in the first session and won the first of the second session to lead 8–0, before his opponent won the ninth frame on the pink. Taylor then won six of the seven remaining frames to trail only 7–9 overnight. Going into the final session, Davis won two of the first three frames to lead 11–8, before Taylor levelled the match at 11–11. Davis won the next two frames on the final black to lead 13–11, before Taylor again drew level at 15–15. Davis then won the next two frames to lead 17–15, only for Taylor to once again achieve parity at 17–17 and force the deciding frame.
The 35th and final frame lasted 68 minutes. At one stage, Davis led 62–44, with only the last four colours on the table. Taylor stayed in contention by potting the brown, the blue and the pink.This meant that the title would be decided on the very last ball, the black. After a few safety shots and near misses, Taylor left Davis a fairly easy pot. To everyone's surprise, Davis missed, leaving Taylor a fairly straightforward pot on into the same pocket. This time the man in the funny looking spectacles made no mistake and sunk the black ball to go ahead for the first time in the final and win the championship.
7. John Hurt: The Elephant Man
An astonishing performance by Derbyshire born actor John Hurt in David Lynch’s remarkable film about Victorian “human curiosity” John Merrick, would surely have won him the Best Actor award at the Oscars any other year. However, he was up against the mighty Robert DeNiro – who had reportedly gained and shed 60 pounds to play another real life figure, boxer Jake LaMotta. The good people at the Academy Awards decided the New Yorker had done enough to claim top prize and Hurt was left disappointed.
8. Su Pollard: Opportunity Knocks
The Nottingham born actress became of the UK’s best known and best loved TV stars when she found fame as Peggy Ollerenshaw in the 1980’s BBC1 sit-com Hi-De-Hi. However, her first on screen appearance in 1974 ended in disappointment. After a lovely rendition of I'm Just A Girl Who Cain't Say No, she was beaten into second place on the Hughie Green hosted talent show Opportunity Knocks by a singing Jack Russell Terrier! What's he doing these days?
9. The Beatles: Decca Records
On the 1st of January, 1962, The Beatles (with Pete Best on drums) were auditioned by Decca record producer Mike Smith at their London recording studio. After the session, Smith informed them that he would discuss the tapes with label executive Dick Rowe and would let the group know of their decision in "a few weeks". Eventually, Decca Records rejected the Liverpool based Beatles and chose Brian Poole and the Tremeloes - who had auditioned on the same day - because they were local and would require lower travel expenses. This is quite possibly the biggest mistake in the history of popular music. Or even the biggest mistake anyone has made...ever! Oh, Mike! Oh, Dick!
10. Colin Smith (Tom Courtney): The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
In Tony Richardson’s 1962 film adaptation of Alan Sillitoe’s book, Colin Smith is a young offender from Nottingham who ends up in borstal. His only release from the “World’s Troubles” is to run. This talent leads to the prison governer taking Colin under his wing and training him up for the big cross country race against Ranley – a local public school. On the day of the race, Colin quickly identifies Ranley's star runner ( James Fox – again!) as the proud Governor looks on. Colin soon has a comfortable lead but – after a series of flashbacks highlighting how grim his life really is - he stops running a few yards short of the finish line. He looks directly at the onlooking Governor with a rebellious sneer as Fox’s character passes to cross the finish line as the winner. The Governor is intensely angry but Colin has proved his point; it's better to finish second and keep your principles, than to win and have none.
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