Howard Cosell on Frank Gifford

John Moser portrays Howard Cosell in this presentation, recorded in Ashland, Ohio in June 2007. For more information on 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:

• sports
• Monday
• Night
• Football
• Frank
• Gifford
• Cosell
• ABC

[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.

[nsd1901]

gifford had absolutely NO emotion or feeling in the play by play...thank god ABC brought al michaels in

[revlooshin]

wonder why there was so much animosity among the guys on mnf? it was supposed to be all about the game, anyway. you didn't tune in to mnf for cosell, gifford, merideth, or karas. i did, however, look forward to cosell's halftime highlights.

[Ariamaluum]

I have a lot of respect for Frank of how he prepared for his broadcasts. I can relate to the "excruciating". I have learning issues too. He truly understands the flaws of football players because he was one. Howard doesn't talk about his flaws. He slurred a lot. Didn't talk except to make a statement here and there. Halftime, he spoke but only about O.J; everything bored him. I remember when he did baseball for ABC, he kept perseverating about Lenny Dykstra looking like a baby and nothing else.

[mightyafrowhitey]

lmfao. yea I can see how frank would get kinda pissed. but this is funny

[mightyafrowhitey]

@eisennfl ummm... he's playing howard cosell.  who else's words would anyone think he was using other than howard's?

[wheelinthesky300]

Gifford was average as a play by play man.

Cosell was nitpicking, probably because Gifford was a jock, and Howard a

quasi-intellectual, Gifford was well liked, and Howard annoyed many people, and because Howard had to sit thru Gifford's

minor mistakes every Monday night, restraining himself from correcting Frank.

Joe Namath and O.J. Simpson were far bigger jokes as broadcasers

-Gifford looked like Walter Cronkite in comparison.

[buzbeto]

great work! I enjoyed it. I'd watch the show if it goes on the road.

[theflorgeormix]

propensity...poor Howard...he started to drink too much and got cynical

[wiedep]

DON'T CALL ME HOWIE!!!