Myron Cope
Feb
28
Thursday Update
Time to give you an afternoon update.
North Myrtle Beach, SC police say someone placed a noose the sign of the former home of Golf Channel host Kelly Tilghman.
In the wake of today’s announcement of CBS picking up four Mixed Martial Arts events, David Meltzer of Yahoo Sports says this move could change MMA one way or the other.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has a tongue-in-cheek look in his blog at how the network would broadcast the sport, although his comparing MMA to the XFL is a bit harsh. And Hoffarth reports that long-time sports anchor Fred Roggin returns to radio as of next week.
John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News writes in his Morning Buzz blog that former Sporting News Radio host Tony Bruno is back on KNBR, but for a limited run.
Jeffrey Flanagan of the Kansas City Star says long-time Royals announcer Fred White appears to be out of the mix for the second time.
Laura Nachman reports that Phillies second baseman Chase Utley will appear with a soap opera star in an ESPN promo for Fantasy Baseball.
A couple of things from CNBC’s Darren Rovell. First, Darren says Will Farrell’s new movie about the American Basketball Association has hit a marketing home run, but has also made a mistake as far as sports gear is concerned. And Darren says UFC’s signing of Budweiser as a sponsor is a big move for both companies.
Joe Favorito’s blog talks about the merger between the Indy Racing League and Champ Car and Tom Izzo’s statements about the Big Ten Network.
Speaking of Tom Izzo’s comments, Steve Grinczel of the Michigan Live website has the transcript of the interview that contained his criticism of the Big Ten Network.
Christopher Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media blog has an interesting photo feature on the huge production truck used at last night’s Florida-Georgia basketball game.
The Sports Media Watch has some news and notes including some early season college football matchups.
Rob Amen and Adam Brandolph of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review talk about the city’s sports radio talk show hosts who have followed in Myron Cope’s footsteps. Kevin Cope of the Tribune-Review says Cope’s personality came through on the radio. And the Tribune-Review lists some of Cope’s more popular expressions.
Multichannel News reports FSN’s Sports Science show returns for a second season in March.
That’s it for now.
Feb
28
Thursday Thursday
I keep thinking today is a continuation of Wednesday, but luckily, it’s not. I definitely need Saturday because I’ve been working late into the night. But I hope that changes soon.
Anyway, let’s get to your links.
The Detroit News’ Joanne C. Gerstner talks about Red Wings TV analyst Mickey Redmond’s second battle with cancer.
Sheil Kapadia of Baltimore Sun.com writes that according to Sean Salisbury, he’s entertaining offers from FSN and CBS.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News writes in his blog that the release of an unauthorized biography on legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully has been delayed.
David Goetzl of Media Daily News says ESPN will stand by MLB analyst Fernando Vina even though he was named in the Mitchell Report.
Brett Hait of the Nashville City Paper talks with ESPN college basketball analyst Jimmy Dykes.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News talks about ESPN simulcasting its coverage of The Masters online.
CBS has signed a deal to televise four MMA matches on Saturday nights.Ben Grossman of Broadcasting & Cable has the story.
Speaking of MMA, Neil Best of Newsday writes that the International Fight League season gets underway Friday night in Las Vegas on HDNet.
Leighton Ginn of the Desert (CA) Sun writes that the Pacific Life tennis tournament in March will be switching networks from ESPN2 to FSN.
Chris Walsh of the Rocky Mountain News says ownership changes are in store for FSN Rocky Mountain and two other FSN networks.
Donnie Collins of the Scranton (PA) Times-Tribune remembers the late Myron Cope.
William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail says TSN won the ratings battle for English speaking viewers for its coverage of the NHL Trading Deadline.
The Canadian Press reports that Terry Leibel, the first woman to call a sporting event and host an Olympics broadcast for CBC, is now retiring. Here’s the story from CBC News.
That’s all for now.
Feb
28
Your Wednesday Update
As I watch the local news, I’ll give you some links today.
It’s now official. Charles Barkley has signed a long-term deal with Turner Sports to remain as a studio analyst for TNT in its NBA coverage. He’ll also do work for NBA TV. Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has details in his blog.
Newsday’s Neil Best writes in his blog that Turner Sports has announced its early season slate of Sunday afternoon baseball games on TBS. Neil says New York Giants QB Eli Manning actually got a chance to speak on WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog show.
Tom Singer of MLB.com has more on the slate of Sunday MLB games on TBS.
Phil Swann of the TV Predictions site says ESPN has announced its Spring Training schedule all of which will be seen in HD. And MLB.com lists the announcing assignments for each game.
The Oklahoman’s Mel Bracht writes in his blog about a teleconference involving ESPN’s draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr.
Bruce Allen of Boston Sports Media Watch lists the New England winners of the Associated Press Sports Editors awards.
Darren Rovell of CNBC says the injury to the Houston Rockets’ Yao Ming could prove devastating to Reebok.
Dan Gigler of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette gives us a personal anecdote about the late Myron Cope who passed away this morning. And there will be a tribute to Myron before the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh game tonight at the Petersen Events Center. And the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has its own obit of Cope. And this is audio from his last radio show on WEAE radio in 1995. First and foremost, Cope considered himself as a writer and from a piece in 2005, Joe Starkey of the Tribune-Review has some excerpts of Cope’s stories from Sports Illustrated.
ESPN is going to love this story. Linda Haugsted of Multichannel News writes that the all-sports network ranks high among cable operators for helping them gain and retain subscribers.
Nick Jezierny of the Idaho Statesman says basketball coaches in the Western Athletic Conference are dissatisfied with their TV contract with ESPN.
Dave Zirin of SI.com says looking closer at Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter’s motives on Spygate and the NFL Network shows that something just doesn’t add up.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says that someone wants to revive SlamBall. You may remember seeing it on Spike TV five years ago.
The Puget Sound (WA) Business Journal reports that three regional sports networks in Seattle, Denver and Pittsburgh formerly owned by FSN will combine to form the Liberty Sports Group. And Mike Farrell of Multichannel News has more on the story.
In addition, Liberty has finally completed its year-long purchase of DirecTV.
That’s it for now. I might have an update later tonight. Keep checking back here.
Feb
27
BREAKING NEWS: Legendary Myron Cope Passes Away
The man who was responsible for the “Terrible Towel” in Pittsburgh and broadcast the Steelers during its glory days in the 1970′s, Myron Cope has passed away this morning at the age of 79. He had been in declining health for several years, retiring from the broadcast booth in 2005.
Myron didn’t have the classic broadcasting voice. In fact, it was gravelly, screeching and at times, annoying, but he knew his football and was quite lovable.
Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has the story. And Collier has an extensive remembrance of Cope. Steelers fans have always been fond of Cope because he was a fan himself. Several readers of the Post-Gazette have already expressed their feelings about him.
The Steelers have issued a statement on Cope’s passing. And there’s a story on Cope on the Steelers’ website as well.
Before he became an analyst in the broadcast booth, Cope was an accomplished writer for the Saturday Evening Post as well as Sports Illustrated. But he’ll always be known to generations of Steelers fans for his work as a broadcaster. I know that Myron will be missed.
Here’s one of his last interviews with Tunch and Wolf in Pittsburgh.
And finally, here’s Myron talking about the Terrible Towel before a Steelers game.
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