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I told you that guy's shtick got old!
Posted on 08/10/2005 6:37:50 AM PDT by martin_fierro
Myron Cope Apologizes for Rambling Speech
PITTSBURGH - When retired Pittsburgh Steelers radio announcer Myron Cope was given the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award at the Pro Football Hall of Fame over the weekend, he was given two minutes to speak.
Cope rambled for 13 minutes and was eventually escorted back to his seat before he could finish.
He apologized Monday for causing a scene, saying it was conceit.
"People may think I'm senile, but I ain't. I thought I was a celebrity," the 76-year-old Cope said.
While some fans in the audience booed, Cope used the speech to lobby for former Steelers linebacker Andy Russell to be considered for induction into the hall in Canton, Ohio. Russell retired in 1976 after playing 11 seasons in the NFL.
Cope said he felt horrible after it happened and couldn't sleep.
"I didn't realize it was being televised live locally and being taped for showing later and they had to stick to a strict time frame," Cope said. "But, like I said, that's no excuse."
On Monday, the National Radio Hall of Fame announced it would be inducting Cope into its hall in November.
Cope retired in June 21 after 35 seasons covering the Steelers.
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I told you that guy's shtick got old!
After his constant complaining about Big Ben's gloves last year, I sorta suspected his time was drawing neigh. He'll still get a free lunch anywhere in the city.
Maybe the accumulation of alcohol............. but, Andy Russell was a really great and cerebral linebacker. Not a lot of speed............ in fact he intercepted a pass once and "ran" for a touchdown, and it was said they timed his run to the end zone with an hour glass.
He's done a radio commercial for a car dealership, it's currently being broadcast on Newstalk Radio 104.7.
I'm not from Pittsburgh, but visit frequently, and have heard Myron Cope. IMHO, he's an idiot, a homer, and doesn't know anything about football. He is colorful, I will give you that. Maybe he's an acquired taste.
He's a taste that I acquired and lost a loooong time ago.
Though I guess after a 35 year career I shouldn't begrudge him 11 minutes.
(dang, ain't *I* gracious this am?)
Who the heck honors a broadcaster for a lifetime of service and gives him two minutes to say thanks? What can one say in 2 minutes?
That said, he did ramble and was off topic, but he meant it well. He wasn't rambling about himself, after all, he was trying to right what he saw as a Hall of Fame slight.
SD
Yes, he's an acquired taste. And yes, he's a homer. Nothing wrong with the local crew actually wanting the local team to win. He was anything but the sterile objective announcer.
But to say he doesn't know anything about football is just ridiculous. You don't broadcast for 35 years and know nothing.
SD
I still have nightmares about him singing his version of the "Achy Breaky" song.
He admitted to having made the case so poorly for Lynn Swann (or maybe just repeated arguments that didn't work with the Hall of Fame committee the first few times) that he had to resign his membership from the committee -- so I guess he felt he had to ruin it for Andy Russell too.
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