Sam Newman has given a wonderful insight into what it was like being one of Shane Warne‘s friends, recalling the fallen legend’s incredible loyalty.
Newman was one of millions across the globe who were left in mourning over the weekend following Warne’s tragic death in Thailand aged just 52.
The pair grew close over the best part of the last three decades, becoming regular golfing buddies following Warne’s retirement from all forms of cricket.
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Newman recalled how Warne had helped him cope with the sudden loss of his wife, Amanda Brown, in May last year.
“He was so concerned about any people that I introduced him to,” Newman told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
“He was so engaged with them and so interested in him. He had so many things going on in his life with his business enterprises and sport and commentary, but he honestly went out of his way to make sure (I was okay).
“If you were a friend, you were an unconditional friend. The support he gave me was just amazing.
“I’m a quarter of a century older than him, but the respect he showed me and the concern he showed me because I was a friend of his was almost unrivalled.”
Newman said one of Warne’s great traits was his ability to be fully present in a conversation with anyone he met.
“When you meet someone and shake their hand, you can tell someone’s character when they shake your hand, he would pierce you with his eyes,” he said.
“All my friends said he was like a magnet, he would look straight through your eyes and through to the back of your skull, just to see if you were with him.”
Newman has gone through his fair share of controversies during the pair’s time as friends, but said Warne always backed him unconditionally.
“Over the 35 years I’ve known him, I’ve had some controversial moments in my life and he was always there and he was so fiercely loyal, unconditionally loyal,” he said.
“He’d back you up and wouldn’t have a bad word said about you. He was just a great person. He had an extraordinary magnetism.
“I know we overdo things about how good people are and what we should do with their memory, but you couldn’t do enough for that man. He was just a fantastic bloke.”