Howard Cosell on Don Meredith

John Moser portrays legendary sportscaster Howard Cosell in this presentation, recorded in Ashland, Ohio in June 2007. For more about John Moser's living history presentation on Howard Cosell, visit http://www.ashland.edu/~jmoser1/cosell.htm.

The monologue is adapted from Cosell's 1985 book, I NEVER PLAYED THE GAME.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Don
• Meredith
• Howard
• Cosell
• John
• Moser
• Monday
• Night
• Football
• chautauqua
• living
• history

[PlayhousePerson]

I'll freely admit that I adapted the monologue from I NEVER PLAYED THE GAME, but it's hardly plagiarism, because I never claimed it as my own work. I'm portraying Cosell, so it's perfectly appropriate that I use his words, just as an Abraham Lincoln impersonator might use the Gettysburg Address.

[mapleva]

Oh well, FDR, was for the most part, anti-semetic.

[Ariamaluum]

@mapleva . The one who wrote a book an Atlanta Jewish synagogue being bombed in 1958. She was very liberal towards African-Americans but when it came to gays, she seemed to have an edge.

[mapleva]

@Ariamaluum Since I'm not familiar with Mellsa Fay, I lost your point.

[Ariamaluum]

@mapleva. I don't think so. Howard stood up for Muhammad Ali's name and religion in 1964? In this issue, he would have been the same. He kind of reminds me of Melissa Fay Greene, the author.

[mapleva]

@Ariamaluum I think that Howard was a product of his time.

[animalmother16]

dandy don played football, cosell was just a voice, he didnt know anything about football, and don told him so every chance he got.

[brickbradford]

He did add immeasurably.

[Ariamaluum]

@Ken4Pyro. In the book I remember his attitude towards Jerry Smith, the Tight End for the Redskins who died of AIDS. I couldn't believe Howard's homophobia and details he knew about Jerry and his association with Roy Cohn. I always thought he was a liberal and champion for the underdog. But I was wrong.

[TungstenPi]

I miss Howard Cosell.

He was the voice of so many events that are road marks of my life.

Muhammad Ali, 1972 Olympics, Monday Night Football and the 1977 World Series when Reggie Jackson and the Yankees broke my heart.

I miss Howard Cosell, he was the voice I trusted.

[Ken4Pyro]

John, I have to remark that after many years on my shelf I've just recently reread "I never played the game". To be quite honest I found it a deeply troubling book, not only because of the topics Howard hit head on, but with what it showed of his personality. In some ways I found that tome to be as insulting as it gets, particularly to the fan watching the game. Don't get me wrong, an amazing individual, but also, for my money, deeply flawed by his own ego. Still, I'm glad I heard him speak.