Two Longtime Media Writers Offer "The Scoop" On Cosell

As our “MNF” on ABC retrospective as told through the eyes of executives, broadcasters and journalists concludes, here are a couple of anecdotes from two media writing veterans about HOWARD COSELL.

Two Columnists Sound Off On Howard Cosell (l)

Former USA Today media columnist RUDY MARTZKE remembers, ”At a Redskins preseason game televised by ABC in 1983, a USA Today photographer came to the booth to take shots of Cosell, [DON] MEREDITH and FRANK GIFFORD for a spread I was writing on the 15th anniversary of ‘MNF.’ Howard asked which paper the photographer was with. When he replied, ‘USA Today,’ Howard went off about me, and spewed some strong words and told the photographer to leave. Upon returning to the office, the photographer told of his unsettling experience to others, and people began to look at me as having a problem because Howard Cosell didn't like me. Fortunately, my reputation was repaired when Cosell trashed his own image by knocking just about everyone he ever knew -- including ROONE ARLEDGE, Frank Gifford and O.J. SIMPSON -- in his book, ‘I Never Played the Game.’”

L.A. Times media columnist LARRY STEWART said after the 1984 Olympics, Cosell “called me at my home and confirmed that he was quitting ‘Monday Night Football.’ He later wrote in his book that I had somehow gotten his home number and called him, and that he had inadvertently given me a national exclusive. (In the TNT movie, ‘Monday Night Mayhem,’ there is a scene in which the Cosell character gets a call from me.) But it didn't happen that way. Just before the start of the Olympics, Cosell, JIM MURRAY, my friend and colleague at the Times, and ABC publicist IRV BRODSKY went out to dinner. I ran into the three of them at the ABC hotel, and Cosell, who had never been very nice to me, for some reason invited me to join him for a drink. MIKE PEARL and a number of other ABC people ended up all joining in. It turned into a late night, and at one point I asked Cosell about the rumors regarding his quitting. He said to call him in his office after the Olympics. I said, ‘Will you take my call?’ He said, ‘Probably not, but if you're a good reporter, you should at least try.’ I made several calls to ABC friends on that Monday and was tipped that Cosell may indeed be retiring. I called his office without any luck. I tried again the next day and his assistant said he was vacationing at his West Hampton home. I left a message saying he was expecting my call. To my surprise, about an hour later he called back. He said, ‘It's the end of a chapter. I'm through with ‘Monday Night Football.’” And I had the biggest scoop of my career.”