Sam Williams hits double top
My great friend, Sam Williams is 40 today. There is only one thing for that. A list of the fourty reasons I like - no, love - this extraordinary, unique man.He loves sport - really loves itHe has been my Cheltenham Festival companion for over ten yearsHe loves his friends and familyHe can play football - sorry, could play football - even after a fry-upHe is a very proud welshmanHe loves unbelievable scenesHe loves a betHe is a news junkieHe would do anything for youHe would go home after a night out or a day at school and immediately put 150 and 350 into CeefaxHe trained for the London Marathon like a pro and ran it like a legend - I will never forget his tears on WhitehallHe lived and breathed every minute of the 2002 Commonwealth GamesHe has great nicknames; Blanco and SumoHe embellishes the Paul Capper - Steve Gibson storyHe wore a Katuo Star scarf at CheltenhamHe loves a good podcastHe is genuine and honestHe loves a bit of PricewiseHe got drunk on pink champagne on the train back from Royal Ascot (at York) and was sick on the trainHe met my wife (then girlfriend) for the first time and downed a class of champagneHe can cookHe phoned me once when I worked at the GMC and said to my PA that he was "Dr Williams"He helped me put together Capper's boxHe is full of integrity and strong valuesHe wore black socks with his shorts and white trainers in Porto at Adam Gumbley's pre-wedding day drinksHe never complains - except about important stuff like Lewis Hamilton being a clownHe has great friendsHe does a brilliant impression of Mike ReidHe doesn't lieHe was the mastermind behind "the big sting"He is from Manchester - which despite not being Liverpool is a magnificent cityHe is brilliant, brilliant company - I have never been bored when I've been with himHe loves a ROCUHe love the radioHe loves Radio 5 but hates radio phone-insWhen he got our Cheltenham tickets he would give a different title each year - he was once Brigadier WilliamsHe has never met a single friend or relation of mine who haven't liked himHe once rang me from Vegas for me to commentate on the King George from Kempton down the phoneHe loves the Racing Post - aka the Trade NewspaperHe loves Test Match SpecialHe made me feel welcome when I moved to Manchester, even in The Wardorf on Manchester derby day (at 9am!)He introduced me to The Circus Tavern and George in ManchesterHe text me at half time during Liverpool's European Cup win in Istanbul with a load of abuse......not at full time though.......He has never let me downHe once got in a taxi in Amsterdam and agreed to speak to the driver in the style of Bernard Manning for the whole journey - I was nearly sick laughingHe makes me smile, he makes me laugh, he makes my day when I speak to himHe is Sam. There is only one Sam Williams. Thank god. God bless you Mr Williams.BTW, that was 46. I could have written 400. #ben2b40