"Who was that lunatic you have on your broadcasts?"
I'll bet I heard that phrase -- or some variation of it -- at least a dozen times in my life. It was the official motto of outsiders after their very first experience with the voice of Myron Cope on Steelers broadcasts.
And he WAS a lunatic. But by God, he was our lunatic, and his over-the-top lunacy fit the team like the hard-nosed, hard-hitting team fit the city.
Myron's life and passing have been captured so well by others that I was going to forego any mention of it here. (In particular, check out the Post-Gazette coverage as well as Jason Togyer's excellent piece on Tube City Almanac. Better yet, watch this piece from Channel 4.)
I will share one brief anecdote. In 1995, I was a part-time producer (which is a fancy way of saying "guy who answered the phones and played the commercials) at then WTAE-Radio. Myron did his last talk show that April, and signed off with a few words about his late wife, who I believe had passed away only a few months before.
Cope continued to do the Steeler broadcasts -- and in the Fall of '95, I was frequently on the board for the games. This particular Sunday, I was to produce the post-game show, and I got the first few callers lined up. (One of Myron's quirks was that he never wanted you to get the names of the callers, or preview their subject matter -- just line 'em up, and he'd punch 'em up with a "how do, you're next in the store...")
The very first caller asked Myron if he remembered the last thing he said on his final talk show. Cope choked up for a split second -- I may have been the only person in Pittsburgh sober enough to catch it -- and then slowly said, "Yes, I sure do."
The caller then said something to the effect of "The last thing you said was how the Steelers needed to throw to the tight end more" (or something to that effect.) It took Myron aback, because clearly he was thinking about his comments about his wife -- but about two seconds later, that Cope persona was back.
He was awesome.
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Speaking of awesome, let's also note the passing of Jeff Healey. You probably remember him as the guy who had a big hit with a cover of John Hiatt's "Angel Eyes."
Enjoy his version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." (Ignore, if you can, the mullet.)
A beautiful tribute, Bob...
Posted by: Cathy (former, but always at heart, | March 03, 2008 at 11:07 AM
The last part of my "Posted by" name doesn't show and how it reads makes me look like a dingbat. :-) It should have read, Cathy (former, but always at heart, "Pittsburgher").
Posted by: Cathy | March 03, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Thanks, Bob. I should have known you'd have a good story. I was lucky enough to have worked with Jack Fleming way back in the day. I really wish I could have met Mr. Cope.
Posted by: Mountain Mama | March 03, 2008 at 11:33 AM
More Jeff Healey goodness -- with Stevie Ray Vaughan:
Look At Little Sister
Posted by: Bob | March 03, 2008 at 12:09 PM
I saw Jeff Healey and the Jazz Experience at Calgary Folk Festival last year, and was shamed and amazed by how a blind man could play a guitar a thousand times better than I even hope to. A really amazing and versatile artist, and he will be missed.
Posted by: deadlytoque | March 03, 2008 at 01:15 PM
Hey, WTAE guy ... at the risk of dredging up a bunch of bad memories, did you ever see this?
http://www.pbrtv.com/blog/entry_318.php
Posted by: Not the Munhall Flash | March 05, 2008 at 03:12 PM