Howard Cosell Quotes

Howard William Cosell was an American sports journalist, broadcaster and author. Cosell became prominent and influential during his tenure with ABC Sports from 1953 until 1985.

Cosell was widely known for his blustery, confident personality. Cosell said of himself, "I've been called arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff. And, of course, I am."

Cosell was sardonically nicknamed "Humble Howard" by fans and media critics. In its obituary for Cosell, The New York Times described Cosell's effect on American sports coverage:



He entered sports broadcasting in the mid-1950s, when the predominant style was unabashed adulation, [and] offered a brassy counterpoint that was first ridiculed, then copied until it became the dominant note of sports broadcasting.



He also brought an antagonistic, almost heel-like commentary, notably his giving criticism of Terry Bradshaw by suggesting that he did not have the intelligence to win in the league.In 1993, TV Guide named Howard Cosell The All-Time Best Sportscaster. Wikipedia  

✵ 25. March 1918 – 23. April 1995
Howard Cosell photo
Howard Cosell: 14   quotes 5   likes

Famous Howard Cosell Quotes

“Look at that little monkey run!”

During the Halftime Highlights segment of Monday Night Football on September 24, 1973 when describing a 97-yard kickoff return by Washington Redskins player Herb Mul-Key against the St. Louis Cardinals.

“He is working Duran effectively…. and Duran must resolve from pulling in…and he does…WHAT?! DURAN HAS QUIT?! ROBERTO DURAN HAS QUIT!!! There can be no other explanation. Pandemonium in the ring, and Roberto Duran has quit!”

November 25, 1980, calling the fight between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard, which Duran infamously quit during the 8th round of the fight.

“There it is, ladies and gentlemen, the Bronx is burning.”

October 12, 1977, reporting a school fire (initially mistaken as a tenement fire), while announcing Game 2 of the 1977 World Series. This comment, while widely attributed to Cosell, was never made.[citation needed]
Incorrectly Attributed

“That little monkey gets loose, doesn't he?”

September 1983, referring to wide receiver Alvin Garrett of the Washington Redskins; the statement was denounced as racist, but it was pointed out that Cosell had regularly used the same term to describe small players of all races.[citation needed]

Howard Cosell Quotes

“Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Sonny Liston's not coming out! Sonny Liston's not coming out! He's out! The winner and new heavyweight champion of the world is Cassius Clay!”

February 25, 1964, calling the victory of Cassius Clay (who would later change his name to Muhammad Ali) over Sonny Liston.

“That little monkey. The theorem was that he was too small to play in the NFL.”

citation needed
Referring to Mike Adamle during an Exhibition Hall of Fame Game, Kansas City Chiefs vs. New York Giants, Fawcett Stadium, Canton Ohio, July 29, 1972.

“This is Howard Cosell telling it like it is.”

Catchphrase.[citation needed]

“Crowd screaming chanting ALI! ALI! Legends die hard and Ali is learning that even he can not be forever young.”

October 2, 1980 during the 9th round of the ill-fated Muhammad Ali-Larry Holmes World heavyweight championship.

“I'm one helluva communicator.”

I Never Played the Game.

Similar authors

Toni Morrison photo
Toni Morrison 184
American writer
Albert A. Michelson photo
Albert A. Michelson 5
American physicist
Tennessee Williams photo
Tennessee Williams 139
American playwright
Robert Fulghum photo
Robert Fulghum 82
American writer
Robert Frost photo
Robert Frost 265
American poet
Neale Donald Walsch photo
Neale Donald Walsch 69
American writer
M. Scott Peck photo
M. Scott Peck 26
American psychiatrist
Martin Lewis Perl photo
Martin Lewis Perl 9
American scientist
John Steinbeck photo
John Steinbeck 366
American writer
Theodore Schultz photo
Theodore Schultz 15
American economist