David Coleman mundane happenings at athletic events. Clive James wrote that the difference between commentating and 'colemantating' is that a commentator says something you may wish to remember; a colemantator says something you try to forget. However, Coleman's ability to generate excitement through his commentary was widely praised. In 1972, he broadcast for several hours during the siege at the Munich Olympics as well as the memorial service days later. Coleman concentrated on athletics commentary from 1984. Coleman also hosted sports quiz show "A Question Of Sport" for 18 years from 1979 to 1997, striking up a strong rapport with captains such
David Coleman as Emlyn Hughes, Ian Botham, Willie Carson and Bill Beaumont. Although he hosted the vast majority of the shows, he was occasionally absent and stand-in hosts were drafted in. Former host David Vine returned to the show in 1989 when Coleman was ill, Bill Beaumont hosted two editions in 1996, while Will Carling temporarily replaced Beaumont as team captain, and Sue Barker hosted two editions later that year. Coleman was affectionately known for his on-air gaffes. He was so adept at spouting clichés and mispronouncing names that the satirical magazine "Private Eye" named its sports bloopers column "Colemanballs" – a