Myron Cope, 1929-2008

It’s probably to easy to slip into sappiness in the wake of Mahrn’s passing, but I won’t forget listening to the never-ending parade of fall-evening “first-time callers” as my dad had the radio tuned to Cope’s show in the evenings. Myron might be more famous as a clown and one of the first wacky sports guys — the man who invented the Terrible Towel and had funny, screechy sayings — but he was first of all a bright football commentator and a tremendous writer. The sports media would do well to follow more his example of intelligence, humility and fun.

Interesting note: apparently Cope once came close to beating up Norman Mailer (6:14).