They don’t make ‘em like Myron Cope anymore. You rarely see truly unique voices like Cope in local sports broadcasters, because so few broadcasters aspire to be local in the age of ESPN and satellite TV. Sports are global enterprise today, and broadcasting moreso. Cope found his niche in an era when fans had only four channels on their TVs and still tuned into AM radio regularly to listen to games — when Cope’s nasally “Yoi!” and “Double Yoi!” were genuine enthusiasm, rather than the kitsch of a local bumpkin.
Myron Cope, longtime Pittsburgh Steelers announcer, Pete Rozelle Award winner and inventor of the famed Terrible Towel in the mid-1970s, died this morning after a long bout with heart and respiration trouble. He gave all the breath he could for the Steelers — 35 years is a long time for any career — and he just had no more breath to give. His legacy, though, will be swung from the rafters every autumn Sunday in Pittsburgh…
Godspeed, Myron. We’ll miss voices like yours more every year.
9 responses so far ↓
1 TheStarterWife // Feb 27, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I cannot think of a day when I have been sadder as Steeler fan than today.
RIP Myron.
2 Craig in RI // Feb 27, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Visiting my family in Western PA in the 70′s, one of the greatest memories was playing pool downstairs at my grandparents after dinner, listening to Myron Cope.
I’d only get to hear him once a year but I never forgot his show. One of those childhood memories that will never leave me. It was great seeing him get some national recognition but he’ll always be be Myron from the ‘burgh.
We’ll all miss you Myron.
3 mpm // Feb 27, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I’m a life long Browns fan but went to college in Pittsburgh and I always got a kick out of hearing Myron talk about my “brownies” on the radio. He was defiantly a one of a kind. My condolences to the Steeler nation.
4 Chrissy B // Feb 28, 2008 at 1:21 am
Myron… You will be missed deeply. A legend has left us today but we now have an angel. Yoi! Everyone have an Iron and wave the towel!!!
5 howard // Feb 28, 2008 at 1:23 am
hi
seems like it was just yesterday myron was doing commentary with jack flemming — interviewing franco, lambert, or bradshaw or doing his xmas show on wtae and those beautiful black and gold terrible towels– ah — the good old days — here we go steelers !!!!!
here is to you Myron & Thank You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AitDsNF6TZA
Double YOI !!!!
Howard
6 Jim Stangl // Feb 28, 2008 at 7:58 am
Myron was also a great writer – I seem to remember a piece he wrote about the Steelers back in the days of Bobby Layne, Buddy Dial and Jimmy Orr.
Does anyone else recall the article he wrote (I believe it was for Sports Illustrated, but I’m not sure – I think it was called The Gashouse Gang? The article mentioned how Bobby Layne used to go to a place on Route 51 called Dante’s Inferno the night before almost all of his games.
Rest in peace, Myron!
7 CindyZ // Feb 28, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I will always have fond memories of listening to Myron’s nightly radio show on my drive home from work. As a young 20 year old professional, I credit him for my knowledge of football – he explained the intricacies of football and free agency in a way that any “dumbkov” could understand!
You will be missed Myron – smile down at us from heaven on Sundays and we’ll wave back with our Terrible Towels!
8 Football Hunter // Feb 29, 2008 at 12:57 pm
We will miss u Myron. RIP
9 The Football Area ยป Browns fans in heaven, prepare to be annoyed // Mar 23, 2008 at 4:46 pm
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