Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later - Deadspin Comments

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

USA2Mexico0 — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:07:11 EDT

Truly, Cosell would never make it in today's short attention span, snide, hip, first-post driven world of snarky internet and blog commentary.

We are not worthy!

USA2Mexico0

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

ImAManImForty — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:52:04 EDT

Cosell inspired me to heights of vocabulary my family never imagined. I remember watching a game where he called a safety "ubiquitous". I stared at my father, he stared back and went for the dictionary.

ImAManImForty

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

FredGarvin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:07:12 EDT

I recall an appearance on The Sports Reporters near the end of his life where he was actually more bitter than normal, trembling like a chihuahua. Schaap and the others were slack jawed. Good stuff.

FredGarvin

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

DucksOnPondScum — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:42:25 EDT

Cosell on ATH: "MariOTTI: You insolent, poor, poor man. A pox upon the snakehole you call your house. And, may the sinister odor of your mother's just-used lavatory permeate around you and repel all those who would beseech you for your opinion."

DucksOnPondScum

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Jay-C — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:45:15 EDT

I always think of how much better PTI would be if Cosell was around today...

Jay-C

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:57:11 EDT

@amorphous: This comment gave me a proper giggle.

1980 David Bowie From The Music Video Ashes To Ashes

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Body by Sabathia — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:32:20 EDT

In Howard's world, we are all monkeys looking for our bananas in life.

Body by Sabathia

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

IchiroSuzukiSamurai — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:33:23 EDT

@Chief Wahoo: Dead on. It's hard to imagine every boxing organization in the world enforcing a ban against someone for failing to report for induction into the U.S. Army, but it was a very different world then.

IchiroSuzukiSamurai

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Dan Serafini — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:01:42 EDT

It's a simple radio show, it's not a two hour television spectacular, now who goofed? I've got to know...who goofed?

Dan Serafini

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

supermike5alive — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:57:42 EDT

1985?

Careless Whisper was on top of the charts, the Cosby Show ruled the airwaves, and Chief Wahoo was a spry young lad of just 28 at the time...

ahhh, memories!

supermike5alive

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

PeteJayhawk — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:54:13 EDT

We were nine years old, and we suspect some readers of this site weren't even born.

Sadly, this wasn't always the case.

PeteJayhawk

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

MeanMachine — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:48:40 EDT

I hated the dickhead, but the dickheads of today stand in his (dick-shaped) shadow.

MeanMachine

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Brazil Thrill — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:21:45 EDT

@GorgeForeman: Wait, a political debate is about the candidates, much like a sporting event is about the athletes. I don't think editing around Cosell should be too difficult.

@thefuseproject: Thanks for the heads up but I'm still at work, unfortunately.

Brazil Thrill

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Rozelle’s Bagman — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:19:02 EDT

@Chief Wahoo: Yep. As much as he grated during Monday Night Football/Baseball, he was the best ringside. Yanked it up during the Munich tragedy too.

Rozelle’s Bagman

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Chief Wahoo — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:16:12 EDT

Remember, Cosell laid everything he had on the line to defend Muhammad Ali at a time when Ali was practically radioactive. Cosell risked it all not because he believed in Ali's stand, but because he believed in Ali's right to take that stand. That, my friends, is a man.

Chief Wahoo

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

HebrewHammer — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:12:50 EDT

@Rob Iracane: I guess to make it thread-related, I could try "Down goes Rollins! Down goes Rollins! Down goes Rollins!"

HebrewHammer

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Chief Wahoo — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:12:13 EDT

@thefuseproject: appreciate it. For what it's worth, my 60 year old Stepmother refers to kids as either monkeys or angels depending on behavior. Doesn't make her a racist.

Chief Wahoo

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Slothrop — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:11:58 EDT

@thefuseproject:

Mine's a Willard. Wait, no 7? I'm ruined!

Slothrop

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

RachelRayIsTheDevil — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:11:45 EDT

Those lips. Those saliva drenched wet lips. Hate to date myself Ds'ers, but I remember that John Lennon Interview. I was 9 years old. Cosell always made my dad grunt. ABC shoulda pulled him years earlier than they did as his hands trembled like a San Francisco freeway. He was sad in the end.

RachelRayIsTheDevil

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

notthequarterback — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:10:27 EDT

@Rob Iracane: I'm looking for sourcing right now and I see NUSSING!

notthequarterback

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Slick Rick's Bookie — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:10:11 EDT

Thanks Pal...

I had my first child in 1985..now I feel old and this 2 year old running around my house was supposed to make me feel young again.

Bartender, you better make that a double!

Slick Rick's Bookie

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

thefuseproject — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:09:29 EDT

@notthequarterback: "truculent?!" Oh, I see what you're doing- nice!

thefuseproject

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Rob Iracane — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:08:04 EDT

Not knowing who Howard Cosell was akin to not knowing who George Washingt...WHAT? BROKEN ANKLE?

Rob Iracane

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

notthequarterback — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:07:51 EDT

@HebrewHammer: Are he and his band still going to be able to tour??

You're being extremely truculent, Leitch.

notthequarterback

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

thefuseproject — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:07:02 EDT

@strong like bull smart like tractor: I didn't mean to be so negative- thanks for putting a more positive spin on it- you little monkey!

thefuseproject

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

strong like bull smart like tractor — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:06:23 EDT

@thefuseproject: Or maybe he just liked monkeys.

strong like bull smart like tractor

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

HebrewHammer — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:05:16 EDT

/threadjack

Rollins has broken ankle

/end threadjack

HebrewHammer

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

thefuseproject — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:05:09 EDT

@Slothrop: I hope you brought your Wizard Tip Calculator!

thefuseproject

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

thefuseproject — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:03:58 EDT

@Brazil Thrill - Hawks Aficionado: Women's Ninja Warrior on right now, just so you know...

thefuseproject

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

The Teufel Shuffle — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:03:51 EDT

So wait, our society couldn't take Cosell but can take Weintraub? That's dicked up.

The Teufel Shuffle

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

GorgeForeman — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:03:40 EDT

@Brazil Thrill - Hawks Aficionado:

Because it would be like editing out Honest Abe from the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

GorgeForeman

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

thefuseproject — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:03:23 EDT

@Slothrop: He also- previous to the incident you mention- referred to Mike Adamlie (small white guy and future host of the original American Gladiators!) as a little monkey, so maybe he just didn't like small people of any race.

thefuseproject

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Slothrop — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:03:14 EDT

@GorgeForeman:

I ate dinner at 4:30, so I'll meet you at the shuffleboard court in ten minutes.

Slothrop

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

thefuseproject — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:01:54 EDT

@Chief Wahoo: I second both of your witty and insightful comments.

thefuseproject

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Slothrop — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:01:30 EDT

@Brazil Thrill - Hawks Aficionado:

that might prove tricky with the "little monkey" incident.

Howard was no racist, but that was just plain stupid.

Slothrop

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

thefuseproject — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:01:10 EDT

At the risk of being, you know, sincere, I vividly remember watching (as a 13 year old) Cosell essential walk away from the sport of boxing after Larry Holmes pummeled Randall "Tex" Cobb. There's no doubt that he was a shameless self-promoter who sometimes tried to make himself bigger than the events he covered, but he had principles and he backed them up with action.

thefuseproject

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Chief Wahoo — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:00:28 EDT

@Chief Wahoo: Oh yes, I loved listening to him growing up, especially on boxing.

Chief Wahoo

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Chief Wahoo — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:59:42 EDT

@How do I say this ... THROWDINI!: Cosell was a lawyer with a huge ego and a propensity to fuck with the network whenever possible. I wouldn't be surprised if he retained some sort of rights over his likeness.

Chief Wahoo

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

GorgeForeman — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:59:10 EDT

@Slothrop:

Right there with you. Sigh...

GorgeForeman

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

HugsFromHarold — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:58:07 EDT

Or of course the asian guys in Better Off Dead who learned to speak english from watching Cosell.

HugsFromHarold

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

martyfunkhauser — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:57:38 EDT

Ummm, I thought he was great in "When We Were Kings".

-youngin

martyfunkhauser

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Brazil Thrill — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:53:36 EDT

@How do I say this ... THROWDINI!: If that's the case, couldn't they just have another broadcaster dub over Cosell's play-by-play and edit out the footage which shows him in the booth?

Brazil Thrill

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Slothrop — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:53:11 EDT

I'm so old I remember when Cosell received vitriol the likes of which Weintraub only dreams.

Slothrop

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

hockalees — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:52:23 EDT

I remember this:

And, unfortunately, this:

/yells at kids to get off my lawn

hockalees

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Mmole — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:50:34 EDT

Cosell always gets points from me for being the only boxing announcer to ever say "Johnson is the black fighter, Muldoon the white man."

Mmole

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

amorphous — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:50:06 EDT

E:60 challenges the assertion that you were nine in 1985. Fess up, Leitch (or should I say, Laitch?!)!

amorphous

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Nacho Friendly — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:50:03 EDT

@How do I say this ... THROWDINI!: they should crop Jon Voight's performance from Ali into those old broadcasts. Sittin' on a goldmine!

Nacho Friendly

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Clare — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:49:48 EDT

Will's second graf makes me think of another whiskey-soaked broadcasting legend who's a bit long in the tooth...Harry Kalas, don't ever change, you glorious drunk bastard.

Clare

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

preciousroy — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:49:39 EDT

Previous post: too many words.
This post: not enough words.

preciousroy

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

OchentaYcinco — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:49:25 EDT

These pretzels... are making me... thirsty.

/auditioning

OchentaYcinco

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

How do I say this ... THROWDINI! — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:48:57 EDT

@How do I say this ... THROWDINI!: What's even stranger is that I apparently can't spell the word strange.

How do I say this ... THROWDINI!

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Lady Andrea — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:48:33 EDT

Some readers of this site weren't born until 7 years after Cosell left MNF.

Lady Andrea

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

7th Floor King Dingaling — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:48:32 EDT

Because I'm a huge Ali fan, I'm a huge Cosell fan

7th Floor King Dingaling

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

TheStarterWife — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:48:17 EDT

And believe it or not, a great host of Battle of the Network Stars.

TheStarterWife

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

UkraineNotWeak — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:46:06 EDT

Howard Cosell: This is tremendous, Don, just tremendous. The atmosphere heavy, uncertain, overtones of ugliness. A reminder, in a way, of how it was in March of 1964 at Miami Beach when Clay met Liston for the first time and nobody was certain how it would turn out. The crowd is tense; they've been here since ten this morning. And... and I think I see... the door beginning to open. El Presidente may be coming out. The door opens. It's he... it's El Presidente waving at the crowd. A shot rings out! He turns... he runs back toward the building, trying to get in. This crowd is going wild. He's caught in a crossfire of bullets. And down! It's over! It's all over for El Presidente!

UkraineNotWeak

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Send It In, Jerome! — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:44:06 EDT

From this day on, the official language of San Marcos will be Swedish. Silence! In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now... 16 years old!

Send It In, Jerome!

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

How do I say this ... THROWDINI! — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:43:40 EDT

On Simmons' podcast with Rich Eisen, Eisen said the NFL Network (if no one gets it, does it actually exist) is prohibited from showing old MNF telecasts because Cosell's estate refuses to let them use his likeness. How is this possible? It isn't like using Fred Astaire's image to tell vacuum cleaners? Its rebroadcasting already recorded events. Stange.

How do I say this ... THROWDINI!

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

Secret Identity — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:43:32 EDT

For some reason I assume Weintraub is a huge Howard Cosell fan.

Secret Identity

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

HebrewHammer — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:41:01 EDT

Monday Night Football? Never heard of it.

HebrewHammer

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

neckbeardedclam — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:40:12 EDT

Which is better, speaking no English at all, or speaking Howard Cosell?

neckbeardedclam

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

ArkansasFred — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:39:27 EDT

Joe Buck should take a hint and start slamming straight vodka in the booth. He might be tolerable then.

ArkansasFred

Remembering Howard Cosell, 13 Years Later

LeagueofShadows — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:39:21 EDT

"A Date With Your Family"

The Woody Allen Story!

LeagueofShadows