The end of a legacy:
After having spent 35 years as a color analyst in the Steelers radio booth, Myron Cope, 76, is retiring.
Yesterday, at a meeting Cope had requested with management of Steelers flagship stations WDVE-FM and 970-AM Pittsburgh, along with Steelers management, Cope informed both parties of his decision to call it a career.
“For 35 years Myron has carved out a special place in the hearts and minds of Pittsburghers and Steelers fans everywhere,” said Gene Romano, senior vice president of programming, Clear Channel. “He is truly a broadcast legend.”
“I want to express my appreciation for Myron
Johno
Myron Cope is awesome.
Even growing up in Browns-land (though in a mixed household, of Steeler and Browns fans), my dad used to listen to Pittsburgh radio at night when it would come in. I clearly remember being tiny, tiny tiny and hearing Myron Cope’s nasal growl coming over the winter air, axing through the static as he called Stiller games from Three Rivers. His deep yinzer accent and bizarre “yoi”s are as much a part of my football DNA as are the words “Cardiac Kids” and “Kosar sacked.”
After I moved to the Steel City and married into a hardcore Steeler clan, I came to truly appreciate what a fan of the game Myron was. What a voice! What a personality! What a homer! What a color man! My orange and brown hat is off to the greatest broadcaster I have ever heard. It truly is the end of an era when “Mahrn Caup” hangs it up. I just hope for your sake they don’t decide to give John Fedko the job in his place.
SeesThroughIt
There’s nothing bizarre about unconditional love for the Steelers. When it comes to football, there’s the Steelers and there’s everything else. All praises due to Myron Cope.
Tim F
Yoi.
He’ll be missed.
Jeff
I’m an Eagles fan, not a Stillers fan (although i will consider voting for Swanny for Governor of PA if he gets the Republican nomination) but i have enough friends from Pittsburgh and i’ve been out there enough to know that Myron is a God. I wish him well.
(Now, if you could just do something about that idiot that announces Penguins games……)
roger
myrons health is failing, especially after the fall he took during last season. the last game i heard him cover wasnt pretty.
Capriccio
I was unfamiliar with Myron Cope until I bought my New England Patriots 3 Games to Glory DVD Vol. II. Listening to him describe the action as the Pats built an insurmountable lead over the Steelers was very dramatic, reminiscent of Lee J. Cobb doing Death of a Salesman.
By the way, Mr. Cole, even though you’re a Steelers fan and a Republican, I’m writing to the Huffington Post and asking them to relink to you. If Arianna is out to promote civil discourse, your voice is essential.
FS
A great site for Myron sound files is here. His autobiography (called, inevitably, Double Yoi!) is worth a read, too.
For a long time, Pittsburgh has been blessed with an abundance of fine sports announcers. Lanny Frattare is one of the best baseball play-by-play guys around. And Myron and Mike Lange (Jeff’s comment above notwithstanding), have always been interesting, at the very least. Now begins the decline….
Far North
I hate Myron Cope……because I love the Raiders.
Far North
Myron Cope gave name to the worst blown call in NFL history:
When Frenchy Fuqua touched the Bradshaw thrown pass on that 4th and 10 play during the 1972 playoffs, that made it illegal for another Steeler player to touch the ball unless a Raider did so first. How do I know that Fuqua touched the ball? Jack Tatum said so.
So, anyway, Franco Harris caught the ball and raced towards the endzone, knowing full well that he was cheating. The officials signalled touchdown and Myron Cope labelled the play the “immaculent reception”, though it should be called the “immaculent deception”.
This crappy blown call by the officials led to the Miami Dolphins undefeated season. How? Because that meant Pittsburg played Miami instead of the Raiders. Throughout the 70s and 80s, the Raiders “owned” the Dolphins and would have easily beat them. Don Shula never won a game in Oakland in his entire career (look it up). So, Pittsburg fell to Miami and the Dolphins went indefeated only because they didn’t play the Raiders that year.
Can you tell, I’ve never gotten over that play.
Jeff
Well, if an unbiased observer like Jack Tatum says so, that’s good enough for me.
And, can you please explain to me how Franco “knew he was cheating”? It was a bang-bang play. How could he tell if Fuqua or Tatum touched the ball?
And even if he DID know it was Fuqua that touched the ball, was he supposed to stop running? So, the 1000 times in his career that Michael Irvin pushed off the defensive back, when he then caught the pass should he have just stopped, tossed the ball to the ref and said “I pushed off, which is illegal, but you guys missed it. I don’t wanna cheat”.
Or, Michael Jordan probably traveled about 75% of the time he drove down the lane. I guess he should’ve stopped and said “that was three steps, here, take this, it’s Detroit’s ball”.
scott
Where are the Myron Cope soundbytes located? Can someone please give me a link? Thanks.
scott
Yes…Jack Tatum…certainly unbiased. Jeez.