TV View: Now, for anyone who's a fortysomething (or, stretching it, a late-thirtysomething), there's a memory from childhood and the old goggle box where the late, great Micheál O'Hehir was hauled out into a television studio for a programme called Record Breakers - based on the Guinness Book of Records - and the reason for his appearance was that he was purported to be the fastest talker (of discernible English) on this planet, writes Philip Reid.

To demonstrate his ability, he proceeded to mock-commentate on a race and, well, the words flowed faster than water gushing over Niagara Falls. The amazing thing was the clarity he managed despite the speed of utterance - and very few have succeeded in emulating the one-time voice of sports broadcasting.

This, of course, was before the digital age. A time when radio, if not still the king, was at least an equal to television. Down through the years, we've had our share of motormouths, but often they have tripped over their own tongues. Murray Walker, for instance: "The lead car is absolutely unique, except for the one behind, which is identical." Or John Francombe: "The racecourse is as level as a billiard ball." Or Ron Atkinson: "I would not say he (David Ginola) is the best left winger in the Premiership, but there are none better." Or, Ron, again: "Well, either side could win it, or it could be a draw."

Then, famously, there was David Coleman: "There goes Juantorena down the back straight . . . opening his legs and showing his class."

Now, there is a genuine rival to O'Hehir on our (sorry, only those with Sky Sports will get this one) television screens. You won't find Jeff Stelling commentating live from matches but, for any sad individual stuck to an armchair on a Saturday afternoon, there is always a programme called Live Football Update, where he is the studio anchor (surrounded by headphone-wearing old footballers like Tony Cottee and Charlie Nicholas) and supplies an array of information from matches around England and Scotland.

First off, let's admit that Stelling's ability to provide information as it happens, with the speed of light, is unreal. One fact after another trips off his tongue with unerring accuracy. Whether it's telling you that Owen Coyle has scored for Airdrie United in the second minute against Inverurie Locos, or that Raith Rovers' game with St Mirren has been called off at 2.56 - "you can't say that the referee didn't give it every chance" - or that Ben Abbey - "he's got the Abbey habit, I suppose you could say" (Ouch!) - has scored for Gravesend, Jeff's very much on the ball.

To be honest, this programme is very much one for sad anoraks. Facts and figures fly from Jeff as things happen in places like the Kingston Communication Stadium (that's Hull's home ground) or Gretsky Road (ahem, Crewe Alexandra's ground), where, at one stage on Saturday, Jeff could tell us that Billy Jones - "average age of the team is just 22 and Billy's the youngest of the lot" - had scored against Wigan. We also learned Hearts had scored against Rangers, "their 7,000th league goal" since they were founded in 1890.

Jeff's ability to get the message across is really second to none. He can switch from match to match seamlessly, always getting the facts across and with none of the balls-ups associated with more revered commentators.

Here's a verbatim example, coming at the end of a tour of duty that had already lasted four hours with our host speaking at several hundred words a minute.

" . . . no manager, but there's plenty of fighting spirit at Boundary Park, Ian Dowie resigning yesterday, John Eyre has just given Oldham a 2-1 advantage against Queens Park Rangers, who, remember, have only lost twice this season and they're top of the second division but they won't be finishing the day top of the second division because Plymouth are leading by three goals to nil against Notts County . . . Farnborough, second-from-bottom side, lead at Barnet by two goals to nil in the Conference and Ryan Semple, who's on loan from Peterborough, has got that goal and his team-mates at Peterborough are going to get their first home win of the season, the only side in England without a home win, remember, and they lead Rushden and Diamonds by three goals to one now, time running out, David Farrell has got the third, Wilock and Woodhouse with the others, Plymouth three, Rushden and Diamonds one, and that unwanted home record about to disappear, their first home win since April coming it would seem. . ."

All without pausing for breath. He's some man for one man, I'll tell you.