Howard Cosell Interview with Robert Lipsyte - 1991

[@bailinnumberguy]

I could listen to Cosell talk all day. The man was absolutely brilliant.

[@mikeycapp1]

I will second that Quinn, one of the greatest broadcasters of all time.

[@frankgualtieri7243]

Yes he was. A groundbreaking, legendary sportscaster/journalist who was smart as hell. And whether or not you liked him, he mattered.

[@ronmailloux8655]

yes just ask him as Don Rickles would say.

[@jamesanthony5681]

As Howard might have said, " *That's telling it LIKE IT IS* ."

[@MichaelSimmons.]

There were a lot of people, who didn't like Howard Cosell. I'm sure there were times, when I didn't like him much. But one thing I always had for him, was respect. He always stood up, for what he felt was right. He didn't care whether it was the popular thing to do, or not. RIP Howard.

[@nyterpfan]

'What is popular is not always right....and what is right is not always popular." Eternal truth in that statement!!

[@marksamuelcohen]

If I may be so presumptuous, I would like to do my Howard Cosell impression. “ this is Howard Cosell, speaking of sports”. Thank you

[@gregoryphillips3969]

What a brilliant man! Howard Cosell is the greatest sports journalist of his time or any other time. Howard Cosell and Orson Welles are the 2 most fascinating people to listen to during an interview.

[@WOODBINEMAN99]

i couldn't agree more

[@jamesanthony5681]

Yes. Cosell, Welles, and I'd add a third: Steve Guttenberg.

[@redoz9768]

"I did what I believed in and I was unafraid" - great words of wisdom right there. RIP Howard.

[@richardpoplis6777]

Howard was the reason why we watched Monday night football... Howard was awesome when he announced the John Lennon passing... God bless howard

[@chrisaiello8434]

its always a true delight listening to this man, one of which i grew up with and have very fond memories of i love Howard Cosell for his unbridled passion for things he belived in.

[@daveforeman6931]

Very well done. I admit I never was a Cosell fan due to his abundance of fluff in his talking. But I can't discredit what he meant to sports, he really was a man of his times. I do admire his passion for people and perspective on various things discussed in this interview. May his soul R.I.P.

[@Baltimorehop]

I want to thank God for allowing me to experience Howard Cosell in his prime. I was born in 1965 but really paid attention to sports, particularly ABC Sports, in the early 1970's. As a kid, I imitated Cosell as I played Football in the parks and streets of the Bronx NY. I remember watching Cosell on The Odd Couple as he feuded with Oscar Madison [Jack Klugman]. The Honorable Howard Cosell is the greatest sports broadcaster that ever lived and that's a tall order. I know a few other All World broadcasters such as Keith Jackson and Dick Enberg just to name a few. Cosell was at the top. I don't believe a sports voice has ever been mimicked as much as his. Ali was the Greatest and so was Cosell. Wow.... Goosebumps.

[@eugenemcgirt]

Cosell had the voice and style that stood out. He was the king of hype more than knowing sports. His book 'I Never Played the Game' was his own admission to never being an athlete. Howard also wasn't fond of athletes being journalists without the formal training. I'm sure he felt it watered-down the profession. Cosell wasn't the most knowledgeable about sports but he was good for stir controversy and create hype. That combination usually leads to good ratings and ABC made a lot of money during his tenure.

[@bufnyfan1]

I agree--and I also loved Curt Gowdy over at NBC-interestingly Roone Arledge was a very good friend of Mr. Gowdy and wanted him for MNF when it began in 1970--unfortunately, NBC wouldn't let Mr. Gowdy out of his contract so it never happened--too bad because I would have loved to have heard Mr. Gowdy and Mr. Cossell together on MNF

[@brianwilson415]

Well said

[@justinherbert9146]

I met Howard twice and he was very nice, and a lot taller then I thought he would be -- I loved his radio show SPEAKING OF EVERYTHING -- Cosell was great!

[@TheLocalLt]

I don't think there will ever be anyone like Cosell. This has got to be the strangest interview with a sports journalist I've ever watched. Cosell simply did not care what he did or said, who he said it to, or what became of it. All that mattered to him was that he made his point, which he always assumed was correct.

[@dennisbaker1002]

But Cosell always had a lawyer's analytical mind.

[@Franciscasieri]

He never understood how little he actually mattered… Howard was part of my childhood and he will always have a special in my life, but his later years are a cautionary tale…don’t take yourself too seriously…you aren’t that important.

[@TheLocalLt]

@@Franciscasieri I always thought he should have gone into politics in the mid-80s when he lost interest in sports instead of spending the rest of his life bitching about the sports world

[@Franciscasieri]

@@TheLocalLt imagine him as Speaker of the House?

[@lendrury2771]

@@Franciscasieri also he was a stone cold alcoholic

[@steve3602]

This was a great interview. You saw Howard at one point saying to Ali " "You are being extremely truculent today, Champ." and Ali replied "Whatever 'truculent' means, if that's good, I'm that!" Howard had a huge vocabulary and he often liked to show it off. Speaking of truculent, Al Michaels in his book tells of another incident with Bob Eucker: "Uecker and I were doing a game at the Astrodome. At one point in the late innings Cosell called for a bunt even though it was a situation in which no one would ever bunt. Uecker wanted to mildly chide Cosell but knew he had to be careful. “Well, Howard, I’m not really sure you want to bunt here,” he said gently. He went on to explain why. Cosell responded, “Uecky, I get your point. But you don’t have to be so truculent. You do know what truculent means, don’t you?” Uecker didn’t miss a beat: “Of course, Howard. If you had a truck and I borrowed it, it would be a truck-you-lent.”

[@balerjohnson3099]

Howard was one of a kind. He was so much more than a sports commentator. I was a kid in those years and his voice is the voice of sports to me as well as the guy that told me John Lennon was killed. He was the one reporter that Ali really liked and spoke with frankly at times and mockingly most of the time..one of a kind , never be another.

[@bigblue62220]

Howard was so eloquent. Where have all the smart people gone? a master at communicating. Like him or not.

[@raymondi7977]

The greatest sports journalist of all time.

[@eugenemcgirt]

I'm sure he thought so lol

[@lendrury2771]

@@eugenemcgirt guy was a bum

[@diamonddog13]

Cosell or Lipsyte?

[@barrykidd1977]

Not even close. Very mediocre as a sports broadcaster. Encyclopedic knowledge, but couldn’t keep his biases out of his work. And just a nasty little man

[@bobke114]

I grew up in the mid late 60s and early 1970s and saw a lot of Howard over the years on TV. The guy was very very smart and IMO great to listen to and learn although not always agree with. Howard and Dandy Don together was classic. Ali and Howard was best comedy duo ever in sports.

[@3rdStoneObliterum]

***AT AGE 7, I LOVED COSELL. NOW AT AGE 57, I STILL LOVE HIM. NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE PEOPLE --- AND THERE WERE MANY --- WHO SAID THEY DETESTED HIS STYLE****

[@idansolon4715]

Robert Lipsyte covered the Clay-Liston fight for the NY Times and wrote the article, "Clay Is Exultant," a beautiful article.

[@col4lfe137]

Boxing aside, Howard was the voice of MNF from it's earliest days as i remeber the game I love & MNF. My parents didn't want me to stay up pass the 1st quarter because of school, however MNF was so good back then & much better than now. Cosell was a huge part of that even though a lot ppl wanted him off the air...he was great & it worked. #MNF the original

[@Memnoch67]

Boxing became boring without Cosell. He was one of a kind in the way you will never see again like me he didn't notice the color of your skin until you pointed it out to him. He also created or coined the name "Nacho's" which is probably put in this show.

[@chrisneidenberg3509]

Yet on Lennon, it later was revealed - through comments made and obtained off air during commercials - that he wasn't certain it was appropriate to announce the news, once relayed to the booth, during the game. He only did so after Gifford encouraged him.He doesn't reveal that here.

[@jameslane2667]

Ladies and gentlemen I want you to listen exactly if it's 10 times or even if it's 22 exactly what Howard Cosell and that man just said

[@bloke_19xx33]

Love or hate him...Cosell was brilliant, one of a kind.

[@bufnyfan1]

during his run on MNF you either loved Howard Cossell or you didn't---it was known that many of those who didn't would turn off the audio of the game and place a radio next to the TV and get the audio from CBS Westwood 1's coverage-personally I loved Mr. Cossell's when he did games--incredibly intelligent man both on and off camera--was a very successful lawyer long before he entered broadcasting-and Mr. Cossell was an incredibly generous man as he supported many charitable causes with his time and money (most of which was never known about). He was a big supporter all his life of the Boys Scouts of America as well

[@Baltimorehop]

I watched the whole video through. Did you really understand what the Honorable Howard Cosell did here? What a man. What a brain. He could have taken Lipscum [and yes, I spelled it that way on purpose] apart in his meager attack. Instead, Cosell dissected Lipcum's entire analogy of him by combating it with history. Honorable Cosell was a Living Legend and in death, his Legacy is his Intelligence. He is long gone and I am still awed by his brilliance.

[@uncletony6210]

My uncle was friends with Jim Kelly in the 60s.

[@jamesanthony5681]

Howard hated a number of sportswriters, but he liked and respected Robert Lipsyte.

[@stacygeorge3878]

youtube stace vs wink..cosell was an icon !!! the greatest

[@brettshepherd5240]

The man was BRILLIANT... I LOVE ME SOME HOWARD COSELL. ONLY WEAK PEOPLE DISLIKE HIM

[@adriancano5403]

I'll buy that...

[@jonathanhanser5914]

As a kid , or rooting for a certain team , it was ez to dislike Howard , he could be an irritant...and it was intentional.But he was great. To bold type ‘only weak people dislike him ‘ is simplistic.

[@averylongtimeago8816]

The right man, at the right place, at the right time.

[@ronaldspikes8626]

Best of all time

[@davidwhitman1472]

Howard was great but his conversation with Hodges didn't cause the firing of Stengel because he wasn't the manager Hodges replaced in '68. Stengel was gone in '65. Hodges replaced future Giants manager Wes Westrum.

[@Dukester5864]

The background music in this piece really cocks it up - can't hear the speakers.

[@antonytolstunov7513]

Down goes Frazier

[@browningautomatic2393]

GOOD INTERVIEW ! THURSDAY 8/8/24 AUGUST 8, 2024

[@stormbringercoming8105]

Like David Lee Roth, Howard immediately made himself the center of the event.

[@jpm4444]

man the history this man was a part of. amazing

[@brettshepherd5240]

Man I LOVE HOWARD..I MISS HIM

[@mikestevenson576]

Cosell's voice seems totally shot. Until the interviewer riles him up and then it's completely obvious that the instrument is 100% intact.

[@bobke114]

Robert Newhouse...Not Robert Newsome

[@MikeJones-rk1un]

He was the most mimicked sports writer or sportscaster in history. It's the most sincere form of flattery because they couldn't copy him.

[@johnsainz3056]

Always loved him

[@steverakes6182]

Howard Cosell and Jim Mckay the two best ever!

[@marcyfan]

i read and enjoy lipsyte's writing but the initial attempt here to make cosell admit he's an unprincipled jerk fails and then gives way to a wonderful interview that i appreciate you posting.

[@carlbruun386]

This being TV, it appears this show was edited to show fireworks at the beginning.

[@paulrosen8905]

And he hosted Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosel which lasted only 13 weeks.

[@oliverpura9876]

He held forth at Toot Schor's a famous little bar filled with journalists, actors, and sports stars. It was his office and he was the dominant male.

[@rosiedebevc1952]

Howard Cosell tells like it is. I remember Howard Cosell was here downtown st. Louis at famous barr signing books.

[@100chuckjones]

outside the lines always seems to be trying to find some dirt, or some controversy in a story, I hate what they are doing to him in this interview. nice to hear his story but it seems like Lipstye keeps badgering him rather than interviewing him.there will never be anyone else like Howard. I grew up listening to him and his voice was identifiable more than any other will ever be.

[@adriancano5403]

He's playing the role of devil's advocate which elicits responses from the interviewee. That's how u create great dialogue. Without it u have bad interviews and bad tv. Cosell isn't dumb. He knew what was happening. He took it as another opportunity to state what he felt was right. Bravo to Lipsyte for going there, and major Kuddos to Cosell for using the platform to justify again the stances he took.

[@sizzlechest1038]

Howard Cosell & Vin Scully best ever

[@eddiesantiago4378]

You nailed it!

[@jonathanhanser5914]

Not a Scully fan, I recognize his greatness but didn’t like his verbose style...he couldn’t work w another guy in the booth

[@Kat-pr7qm]

How could anyone not like Howard?? He earned respect and he earned his place in history. There will never be another like Howard Cosell and May he Rest in Peace. We all know he’s up there calling out Muhammad Ali.. 😂 😂

[@barrykidd1977]

He was awful to 90 percent of his colleagues, arrogant to the point where he is no pro sports halls of fame as a broadcaster, and had a serious alcohol problem that affected his on air performance. Went out his way to be nasty to people.

[@Kat-pr7qm]

@@barrykidd1977 is there a bio on him that’s shows how he was? I’ve only ever seen him being funny and respectful to people? 🤷‍♀️

[@barrykidd1977]

@@Kat-pr7qm Look up Bob Costas on Howard Cosell. Watch the clips of him drunk and being an ass on MNF. It’s out there.

[@Kat-pr7qm]

@@barrykidd1977 ok thank you I definitely will. 👍 😊

[@Kat-pr7qm]

@@barrykidd1977 I’m sorry but I can’t find it? 🤷‍♀️

[@bloke_19xx33]

That Holmes/Cobb fight was brutal...but as Mr. Cosell said, Mr. Holmes didn't want to hurt him...Mr. Holmes did the same with Marvis Frazier (another mis-match). He connected, and Marvis went reeling. Seeing him hurting, Holmes was pleading with the Ref to stop the fight. A few moments later, the fight was called. Infinite respect to Mr. Holmes. He did everything within his control to prevent the Frazier fight from turning into a 3-ring Circus,

[@randybailin4902]

If there was a Mt. Rushmore of sports broadcasters, Cosell would be in the 1st position. He could be obnoxious, but he was bigger than any event that he ever covered. He made Monday Night Football and may have been the greatest boxing announcer of all time.

[@jameslane2667]

Mark Berry and David Baker and Mike Albert when you watch the movie Silence of the Lambs did you like the pinto Jack mr. Berry

[@jamesanthony5681]

Howard hated a number of sportswriters, but he liked and respected Robert Lipsyte.

[@chrisneidenberg3509]

Also, what was the point on the portion of the Casey Stengel segment where Howard wanted the Old Professor canned? Howard didn't fire Casey, unless he conspired somehow to break his hip - at his 75th birthday party - in 1965 three years before Gil took the reins. And Hodges remained with the Senators through 1967, while Wes Westrum helmed the Mets, finally arriving at Shea in 1968. So Hodges would have happened anyway if Cosell never got involved. Cosell hyperbole. But, in fairness, wherever he is now, I believe Cosell was a far more decent guy than given credit for beyond the shtick and what a disgrace that he has not yet been enshrined in the NFL broadcasters wing in Canton - likely NFL pettiness for his independence in criticizing the league when he felt necessary, like calling the NFL "a stagnant bore" upon voluntarily resigning from the MNF booth, after being responsible in helping spread its popularity on Monday nights.

[@adriancano5403]

I didn't hear any complaints from Cosell. He gladly seized that moment. I'm willing to bet u he thanked Lypsite for doing it.

[@jameslane2667]

And we have lots of frames now used to

[@yusuf27kenan]

what does it mean: "down goes Frazier", exactly?

[@kolst8406]

+Mahmut K Joe Frazier was knocked down six times by George Foreman and Cosell repeated "down goes Frazier" after 3 or 4 of those knockdowns.

[@yusuf27kenan]

+kolst8406 I know that. I mean what does it mean literally?

[@kolst8406]

+Mahmut K It a way of saying Frazier got knocked down. There should be an exclamation point behind it: "Down goes Frazier!"

[@adriancano5403]

No..u all are all wrong. Down goes Frazier was symbollic..prophetic in a way..cosell was saying we would never see the same fighter again after this fight. That's what it means...

[@jamesanthony5681]

@@adriancano5403 Well.....not quite. Cosell said Frazier was never the same fighter after Joe's fight with Ron Stander, because of the incredible beating Frazier took against Ali. Cosell liked Foreman since Mexico '68, and leading up to the Foreman-Frazier fight, Howard predicted, 'Foreman is going to kill him.' 'Down goes Frazier,' literally meant he went down, and the Heavyweight Championship was about to change hands.

[@realandrewcinque22]

I am good friends with his grandson collin i met him at a ny riptide game what a nice guy he is

[@pbrick6301]

Cosell loved the interview because he loved attention. He is sorely missed.

[@theflorgeormix]

He added the hilarity to MNF. I never played the game...a riot. He would pronounce names the way he wanted to.

[@Victory1507ci]

Cosell vs Belichick would have been great

[@lendrury2771]

Fifth of jack daniels a day for years This guy could slam the booze

[@oliverpura9876]

He had a hollow leg. He'd get you drunk and then your mouth would loosen up and you'd say what really was going on.

[@donnsunderland2684]

On par with one Francis Albert Sinatra.

[@Gentile108]

I’m sure he didn’t mean to be offensive with his remark about Alvin Garret on MNF. It’s never ok to compare anyone of any color to an animal or primate. He was very sorry and I believe him. I am in my 50s and remember as a kid doing impressions of his voice inspired by Billy Crystal routines. I miss those days

[@bobrau830]

Howard always criticized the actions of others, but was sufficiently inadequate to analyze his own. He was interesting, but not terribly sensitive to others. He was quick to judge others, but never self aware of how he had erred.

[@jameslane2667]

Isn't the spike in the snake and send some tapes

[@jordansmith1897]

Is a male antidote a uncledote ?

[@aggager078]

there will never be another

[@adekvat3429]

Коселу повезло жить и комментировать во времена великих спортсменов, в частности я узнал его по видео с Али. Не то, что нынешние комментаторы Канчиты Вурст епта.

[@louisj.marciano2562]

He seemingly had been exhibiting a semblance of humility until the line. I had name recognition. It was 1976. I had just created Sugar Ray Leonard… Come on Howard…. SRL was a hyper talented charismatic showman…self created.

[@jameslane2667]

Raytown that was from Mark Barry slamming his pinnow into another car and not telling anyone

[@tetrakings]

39:52 pretty much sums it up

[@jeffreybrown8422]

Interview starts at 1:55

[@EdWeibe]

man he had the talk.

[@MrAschiff]

Stengal was not the manager for the Mets showed interest in Hodges.

[@jameslane2667]

I think Bono sings about it doesn't

[@tymcnish5674]

Down goes Lipsyte, down goes Lypsyte...

[@timomomomo969]

3:59 Never cross your legs while you’re talking during an interview

[@ocan1033]

"Sometimes the quiet ones have the greatest impact." Irony anyone?

[@ct53067]

Billy Crystal's Ali and Cosell voices aren't bad.

[@chrisbennett6260]

It's okay it's not the best

[@jameslane2667]

Is that tampering with the snake

[@jameslane2667]

Bill Westville no tears goodbye and no regrets

[@Percy-gl6th]

Love/Hate Relationship but one thing is for sure there was only one Howard Cosell there will never be another he came on the sports scene at the right time when America was burning particular in the 1960s broadcasters commentators today with possibly the exception of Al Michaels there to Scared they would never take chances like Howard did

[@2000Betelgeuse]

I like him as a narrator, but as a person he seems to difficult to love.....

[@marcyfan]

i couldn't disagree more.

[@MiguelReyes-cz9il]

I can see he's uncomfortable being on the other side of the room

[@evangelaterpak731]

Unbelievable! He didn't see the relevance of announcing John Lennons death and then he takes credit for it. watch espn 30 on this subject!

[@mikezulim2614]

Correct. There is audio on KZbin of this. Frank Gifford had to convince Cosell to announce Lennon‘s death. It was Frank Gifford, how many people thought he was superficial well they were wrong, because Gifford said it was extremely important to tell it right then But Cosell kept saying I don’t think we should tell it. So Cosell is either lying or he forgot in this interview.

[@mikezulim2614]

P. S. This conversation took place during a commercial break.

[@ronnywestbrooks3794]

What a sad last woeful 10 years of his life😢so bitter

[@scoo637]

Yea. He wasn't well liked by too many people for comments and I think that bothered him. But he was a great boxing announcer. Baseball and football he was pretty good.

[@olofpalme63]

...I've often wondered why Howard Cossell never became a political figure.

[@adriancano5403]

He just said it in the same interview

[@jonathanhanser5914]

‘Cosell’ ‘Adrianne

[@forrester8983]

...this interviewer is a smug jerk...stopped watching early...love you Howard...

[@mikebradshaw6484]

He could dish it but he couldn't take it. Very thinned skinned.

[@Baltimorehop]

Cosell should've been President of the United States. I mean that.

[@adekvat3429]

hhhhh

[@eugenemcgirt]

Cosell was smart and full of himself. Similar to most politicians.

[@Baltimorehop]

eugenemcgirt Indeed! LOL

[@MrDuds1984]

It was asked for him to run for Senate out of NY in the 70’s, he considered it

[@jonathanhanser5914]

He went to law school and was pretty well educated and extremely articulate. He respected Ali as ,although Ali couldn’t read n write, Cosell recognized Ali’s brilliance of wisdom ,insight and connection to the plight of his people and his courage to stand up while losing his means of earning a living. Cosell s ego was huge but every ‘entertainer’ has to have that

[@jameslane2667]

I'm sorry but I'm not a child molester Joel Wilson

[@jameslane2667]

Game day I got to go the Middle East is on do I say Middle East I mean Kansas City Chiefs

[@jameslane2667]

And you too

[@thatismattjohnsonjohnson3146]

Stephan A has blatenly tried to rip Howard’s persona off. Except, Stephan A sucks ass

[@antonioacevedo5200]

I see blacks have never changed playing the race card unjustly. Curt Flood calls himself a slave despite the fact he was being paid $90,000 to play a child's game.

[@uncletony6210]

Whether 90k was just or unjust would depend on how much the owners were making. Also, 90k in 1970 indexed for inflation is approx 600k in today's dollars. The average MLB salary in 2020 is 4.6 MILLION, and Flood was better than average.

[@jamesanthony5681]

The Reserve Clause was in effect, and Flood and every other player were property of the team that drafted them until they were traded or cut.

[@shadicalplayz8932]

16:10

[@JAMESBONG100]

👃 🐀 Howard cosell

[@dataquester]

26:40

[@mrabrasive51]

Imagine if you will..Howard and Dennis Miller and Rush Limbaugh on MNF at the same time!!

[@carloslozada470]

Too old