1973: The MUHAMMAD ALI of MARBLES | Nationwide | Classic BBC Sport | BBC Archive

[@SimonJohn67]

This could almost be a Monty Python sketch. Personally, I lost my marbles years ago.

[@jessicatorretto159]

Your marbles just rolled of somewhere. 🤣🤣🤣

[@kilimmosh]

Eric Idle at 4:17

[@thebat7048]

"Not a day goes by that he's not quietly manipulating his marbles" 😯

[@gobblenater]

For anybody wondering like I was, Len Smith did win the championship 8 days later then never won again after 1973

[@OlafProt]

I went to the marble championships at Crawley in about 1993. And a strange, rain soaked experience with men in funny hats, it was.

[@Stilvoid]

I lost it at "the up and coming 'wrist flickers'" 💀

[@RoseSailor]

I came down to say the same thing. That was hilarious.

[@daniellamcgee4251]

6:18

[@BraveLittlePixel]

"he's preparing for another championship final" *absolutely hammers a toilet*

[@yanikkunitsin1466]

"Grinding down the toilet has taken years of training to perfect" (yea, like polishing a you-know-what) "...hang up your marbles for good" Perfect script work.

[@michaelmcdonnell5998]

Well, that was marbleous!

[@daniellamcgee4251]

Your joke had me rolling! 🤣 🙃 🙂

[@kristopherdavidson2097]

Funniest thing I've seen in ages. Many thanks for uploading this (porcelain) gem

[@jaymac7203]

With not a hint of irony 😭😭😭 lol 😂

[@ChickenNugNugz2]

"Len lovingly hammers his piece of lavatory into shape"

[@skylark.kraken]

For those curious, Len did win, but it was his last win

[@mostawesomecomment6553]

What do you mean his last win? Did he lose, retire, die, or something else?

[@RatRacer]

@@mostawesomecomment6553 yes

[@spartan.falbion2761]

@@RatRacer To which of the four options are you answering in the affirmative?

[@glenfordburrell1076]

Operating a lathe whilst wearing a tie? Tut, tut!

[@douglasdearden4879]

RIP -- the legendary Sam Spooner.

[@msilva1359]

he's not dead, he's just resting

[@hensonlaura]

My dad was born in 1932 & I still have his marbles!

[@rohielshah1779]

3:00 the most confident man in the world

[@MrShuttz]

Len you star, well done that man. God bless Len 👍🏻

[@hhhhhjhhh2902]

he’s my great grandad lol

[@DAVID-ks9vp]

I saw this on the telly! Things like this you never forget.

[@rooneye]

1:55 that little grassy bit round the circle is now all concrete parking spaces.

[@Andrew_Erickson]

There are no people on earth as British as the British are.

[@heresjohnny602]

As English as the English are......British is a completely meaningless term mostly used by individuals who spent so long here they don't know how to culturally identify themselves.

[@thewotsit]

It all started going downhill when health and safety policies were enforced and marblers were required to don safety goggles before launching their glass orbs around. The spirit of Britishers has been diminished somewhat because of it.

[@heresjohnny602]

@@thewotsit "britishers".....🤨 that is not and we'll never be a valid term of anything....when you refer to the spirit of the culture it is "the English spirit" because that is something regardless of background that applies to anyone who lives in this country and health and safety had no relevance on the game, when it became to vitriolic on schools they were banned.....temporal Tom more temporal lobe dysfunction.

[@thewotsit]

@@heresjohnny602 Oh sorry, I used an archaic word. This sometimes has the effect of confusing the vocabulary challenged. Soz.

[@heresjohnny602]

@@thewotsit No you used a word that doesn't exist in context. 😂 because being British isn't synonymous with being English or more importantly the cultural concept of English spirit though it's interesting you think that it makes you the height of intellectual prowess....someone must have really demeaned poor little Thomas to think that his skills in intellectual or linguistic comprehension are far greater than they are based on the objective merit of the facts...."look everyone I learned something special from the 1800s look how special a big boy I am". 😜🤪 Begone pond dweller. 😘🤭 how adorable.

[@starofcctv94]

Love the guys working with glowing metal in t-shirt and jeans

[@demcrusher7086]

Ohh boy!

[@jock2109]

Is this a euphemism “Twiddling his marbles” oooooh matron

[@heresjohnny602]

A fun game and beautiful art work at the same time.

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

England is the Muhammad Ali of Oddballs. I love it.

[@FoxWife]

Len won that year. But he doesn’t show up on the list of winners after that. What happened to Len???

[@Trigger_000]

*Lost his marbles.*

[@daniellamcgee4251]

Wow, the reporter's sarcasm was eviscerating!

[@jordanbennee1]

This is straight out of an episode of Documentary Now!

[@3ggg334]

I wish it was back then!

[@FreeOnGoal]

looked it up...the world championship still going!

[@campbellgraham1979]

Never miss it!

[@mikebutler3263]

Was this broadcast on April 1st ? !

[@350125GOW]

Bonkers!

[@IAmSoMuchBetterThanYou]

Poor old Bernard Falk (the reporter here) died at the age of 47.

[@Natemire]

Of boredom shortly after filing this report?

[@jessicatorretto159]

What from?. If you don't mind me asking

[@YTispartofproblem]

grinding down the toilet!😮

[@campbellgraham1979]

Watching that just the once isn’t enough. I’m gonna play it again 🤣🤣🤣 fooking wrist flickers?! Is this for real? 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@heaveauhu1335]

🤣 Len Smith a True people’s Champ

[@terrytibs1977]

This also could be an Alan Partridge episode

[@Neil-Aspinall]

All these BBC clips come straight out of the family of Monty Python. There really is no difference?

[@duneideannaer5990]

The up and coming wrist flickers......

[@BrawnyBuddha]

I've found my new favorite KZbin channel. (not british btw)

[@vicmcquire9077]

I need to share this with people

[@brocktoon8]

"twiddling away at his marbles" 😂

[@ResistanceQuest]

Yes of course, the money is the ONLY difference between being a marble champ and a boxing champ

[@ianofliverpool7701]

I was the top player in the 5 times wining team "For flick sake"

[@Natemire]

Uhhhhhh. I can't tell if this was a joke or England being a bunch of weirdos again lol. Either way, it's hilarious.

[@Take_Me_Back_To_The_1980s]

In Britain the line between comedy and absolute seriousness is a thin one

[@MeiGunner]

4:55 This is ridiculous

[@heaveauhu1335]

🤣

[@j.alambertmetalator7417]

It's pure comedy.

[@j.d.4697]

😆 And the best thing is, I can't even tell whether this is satire.

[@markeyhendrix]

It is Monty Python. Hang up your marbles for good haha you'll have to find the fkers first haha 😂

[@secretagentbloke]

And apparently he did win that year! Wonder if he got keepsies? 🤔

[@bsport131]

In the best of English tradition

[@Tekknorg]

Before Silly Walks

[@winklestiltskin]

How many gargled marbles through the years, do you reckon?

[@jungefrau]

My maiden name is Marble and this makes this sketch even funnier for me. Fiddling with his marbles has a different meaning for me 🤣

[@jaymac7203]

Loool 😭😭😭😭😂😂😂😂😂

[@mineown1861]

Fact or fiction? Brightened the day either way . Was that a chaney that he made ?

[@Cheapskate6]

Did he win?

[@FrithonaHrududu02127]

Wait a minute,a SHEFFIELDER who works in a metal factory.....no way

[@matthewfarmer6830]

There talking about the legendary boxer Ali he from were I was born and raised here in the states Louisville Kentucky.

[@mrn13]

I do not understand the title?

[@Samouraii]

He is to marbles what at the time Muhammad Ali was to boxing. I assume the world champion

[@jeepdude7359]

Can we exchange curling for marbles in the next Olympics?

[@hc6525]

I wonder where Len was from originally. Definitely a north of England accent.

[@brocktoon8]

I thought marbles had to be made of glass?

[@samsuuddin9731]

They've all lost their marbles.

[@solidsoup5027]

This feels like a bit lop

[@solidsoup5027]

The reporter is meaning to be funny aye ?

[@esvegateban]

Is this a parody account?

[@a34rwl]

Cheat...