Howard Cosell

Howard Cosell. Howard Cosell was an American sports journalist and commentator whose distinctive, acerbic style and willingness to confront social issues made him one of the most influential and controversial figures in broadcasting history. He rose to national fame as a commentator on ABC's Monday Night Football and for his intimate, groundbreaking coverage of Muhammad Ali. Cosell's career, marked by his trademark phrase "telling it like it is," transcended sports and left an indelible mark on American television.

Early life and education

Born Howard William Cohen in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he was raised in Brooklyn, New York City, after his family relocated. He attended Alexander Hamilton High School before enrolling at New York University. Cosell earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from New York University School of Law, where he was a member of the Phi Epsilon Pi fraternity. After serving in the United States Army during World War II as a major in the Transportation Corps, he practiced law in Manhattan before embarking on his career in broadcasting.

Broadcasting career

Cosell's broadcasting career began in the early 1950s with a radio show called Speaking of Sports on ABC Radio. His big break came with his coverage of the emerging career of Cassius Clay, whom he famously interviewed after Clay's gold medal win at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. He became closely associated with the boxer, later known as Muhammad Ali, providing candid commentary during Ali's fights, his conversion to Islam, and his legal battle over the Vietnam War draft. In 1970, Cosell joined the broadcast team for ABC's revolutionary Monday Night Football, working alongside Frank Gifford and Don Meredith. His erudite, often critical commentary created a unique dynamic and helped make the program a cultural phenomenon. He also hosted the interview program SportsBeat and covered major events like the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

Style and public persona

Cosell's style was defined by a polysyllabic vocabulary, a nasal New York accent, and an unapologetically opinionated approach. He positioned himself as an intellectual outsider in the often-insular world of sports broadcasting, frequently criticizing the National Football League, boxing promoters, and the sports establishment. This "tell it like it is" ethos earned him both ardent admirers and fierce detractors. His partnership with the charismatic Muhammad Ali was particularly iconic, with their verbal sparring becoming must-see television. While praised for addressing issues like racial injustice and athlete activism, his manner was also perceived as arrogant, leading to public feuds with figures like Bob Knight and John Lennon.

Later years and death

Cosell's later years were marked by professional shifts and personal tragedy. He left Monday Night Football in 1983, expressing disillusionment with the direction of professional sports. He continued hosting SportsBeat until 1985 and made occasional television appearances. The murder of his close friend John Lennon in 1980 deeply affected him. Cosell's health declined in the early 1990s after he was diagnosed with cancer. He died of a heart embolism on April 23, 1995, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. He was survived by his wife, Emmy, whom he married in 1944, and their two daughters.

Legacy and influence

Howard Cosell's legacy fundamentally altered sports journalism. He demonstrated that sports broadcasting could be a platform for serious commentary on society, politics, and race relations. His work with Muhammad Ali provided a model for the journalist-athlete relationship. Figures like Bob Costas, Keith Olbermann, and Charles Barkley have cited his influence. He was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame and the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame. Despite the controversies, Cosell remains a seminal figure who broke the "jockocracy" of broadcasting and expanded the vocabulary and purview of sports television.

Category:American sports announcers Category:American television journalists Category:1995 deaths