Cosell

by Howard Cosell

Cosell (book)

Genres: Sports, Biography, Nonfiction, Football, Tv, Biography Memoir

421 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you can get a hold of this book, do! It's a heavy book in hardback but worth lugging around. Such a great time capsule in sports history (it was written a year after the Olympics in Munich) and has lots of insider views that give a more human side to many sports legends. Cosell's opinions about sports, fans, the Olympics and more are surprisingly just as relevant today as they were then.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howard Cosell was reviled by millions of American sports fans. I was a boy or young adult during his tenure, but I never understood the hatred. Sure, he was outspoken, controversial, and not everyone's preferred alternative to Dick Enberg, for example. But I always enjoyed his work on the various sports broadcasts he did. He got you thinking a bit more deeply about what was occurring across the sports spectrum. My dad really despised Cosell and would rant a bit at the television pretty predictably when we were watching him on the air together. I never questioned my Dad or talked to him about it, but I always found myself wondering why Howard bothered him so much. If you enjoyed Cosell, you will enjoy the book. It's still him through and through, in print. In 421 pages, Cosell only twice stepped way out of line, from my perspective. While he enjoyed and was friends with both, he cast some crass and superfluous comments toward Willie Mays and Arnold Palmer. I found these in glaring bad taste. But otherwise, his prose was right on target and engaging throughout.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and nostalgic, but not particularly well written. Interesting insight/reminder of early 70's thinking.

[Beth Mechum · Rating 2 out of 5]

The most interesting thing about this book is how the sports/journalism issues of the 1970s are still relevant today - Howard Cosell rails against the NCAA, the issues with public funding of stadiums and how budding journalists can't find gigs because all the ex-athletes are taking the jobs.

The book itself had some worth-while and entertaining stories, but was far too egotistical and preachy. Cosell makes some big, sweeping generalization about the way the world is, the way the fan is though of course he seems to be above it all.

You have to appreciate Cosell's desire to see black athletes get their due whether it be Muhammad Ali or Jackie Robinson, but for all his support for minorities in sports, his view and the way he writes about women is downright caveman-like. When discussing friends, he describes the intellect or wit of a husband, but only remarks on the looks of a wife. When discussing a suitable mate for one of his daughters - he mentions how she would be able to cook dinner for him. Sign of the times? Maybe - but still not something I appreciate reading no matter the decade.

[Mark Bunch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Cosell does Cosell- did you know he was Willie Mays attorney in 1951. He grew up with Woody Allen. He was at a low =depression etc when Monday Night Football made his career . I held this jewel in my book stack for 40+ years- time to read you think? if you want to plug into Cosell or the wide World of sports a la 1970s-this book is it.

[Len Knighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best sports books I've ever read. The opening chapter on the massacre at Munich during the 1972 Summer Olympics grabs you and tells you this is no ordinary sports book. Cosell gives us an in depth look at events and personalities that make you care. A great read.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

by far the best of cosell's books that i've read, though they all sort of say the same things. imagine that. remember when he called that black tailback a monkey? haha.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic and quite an eye opener.
I always thought he was a jerk.
I now respect him very much.

[Creag · Rating 4 out of 5]

By a guy that was so easy to dislike, much better than you might expect - not just about his love of sports.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading for a college class back in the day. Liked him better after reading this book.

[Adam]

After getting through the Ali section and realizing there was still more to read, I had to stop. At its best, this was a unique perspective on historic events in sports that differs from the usual portrayal. Most of the time, though, it was Cosell writing about how he felt about the goings-on. It bordered on self-satisfaction, but the main problem was that he writes like he talks: full of fits and starts that made getting through it a slog.