Myron Cope dead at 79

[HowboutthemCowboys]

http://www6.comcast.net/sports/articles/nf...2/27/Obit-Cope/

 

 

[Copeman]

RIP buddy.

[budlitebrad]

"If that boy billionaire thinks he can shut me up, he should stick his head in a can of paint."

 

 

RIP

[Bill Swerski]

That sucks. From what I hear, he was Pittsburgh's version of Harry Caray or Don Cherry.

[Donutrun Jellies]

Dang. RIP ...

[kingfish247]

Thought I'd post this article from around the time he retired in 2005. Many here may know a lot of what's in here but it's worth a look for anyone who might not know about Cope. He was truly colorful, unique dude from a bygone era...

 

 

some highlights...

 

...

"There's nothing like walking down the street with Myron," Post-Gazette columnist Gene Collier told The New York Times. "You could walk down the street with Abe Lincoln and cause less of a commotion."

 

While Lincoln was 6-4, Cope is a fraction under 5-5 — so short that he sat on two telephone books strapped together with duct tape to see the games.

 

But Cope stood tall as a writer before he ever began his broadcasting gig, with enough skill to freelance for both Sports Illustrated and The Saturday Evening Post. Sports Illustrated selected his profile of Howard Cosell as one of its 50 classic articles of all time. Cope has also written five books and won the E.P. Dutton Prize for Best Magazine Sports Writing in the Nation for his story in True about Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay).

...

 

Then there was the time Cope was in Cleveland. The old stadium had one press box toilet, and Cope was in a hurry. According to the Press-Gazette, instead of waiting in line he bolted upstairs and urinated from the roof.

...

 

Cope's Terrible Towel became legendary in Pittsburgh. In 1996, he contributed his ownership of the towel trademarks to the Allegheny Valley School, an institution for the profoundly mentally and physically disabled, which has raised nearly $1 million.

 

In honor of his son, Danny, he annually held the Myron Cope/Foge Fazio Golf Tournament for Autistic Children. In 1999, Cope told the Post-Gazette: "Very little was known about autism at the time. People would say to me, 'It must be nice to have an artistic son.' "

 

In 1976, to commemorate a spot in the playoffs, Cope donned a wetsuit and jumped in the Monongahela River. In December. Minutes later they pulled out his shivering body. He vomited polluted water for two hours. "Even in a river," he told The Washington Post, "I couldn't keep my mouth shut."

...

[jjpro11]

this hurts.. i really dont know what to say. he was THEE pittsburgh steelers fan.

[Skippy]

The voice of the Steelers is dead.

 

I wanted very much to start this thread but work and all that got in the way. I knew Myron Cope since I was a young child. I knew him because he knew my mother from the University of Pittsburgh. Myron acted like a crazy man on the radio but in real life he was anything but that. He was an incredibly generous man with a warm heart. He used to stop over my parents house weekly as my mother did all his typing for him. That typing was a favor as my mother was not a secretary but actually a pretty high department head at Pitt. It was only because of their friendship that my mother would do him those typing favors. It always seemed like she was typing top secret documents for the Pentagon or something but he was a regular around our house. He never missed a birthday gift for any of us six children and his Christmas gift was always something very special. One really big thing that I remember about Myron was him showing up at a High School football game of mine and it was like the president was in attendance.

 

I don't know what to say other than I am happy that his fight with his health is over but I am way sad to see him go.

 

RIP Myron! You are one great Yinzer that will be very much missed. Triple Yoi!

[Sturphy]

The voice of the Steelers is dead.

 

I wanted very much to start this thread but work and all that got in the way. I knew Myron Cope since I was a young child. I knew him because he knew my mother from the University of Pittsburgh. Myron acted like a crazy man on the radio but in real life he was anything but that. He was an incredibly generous man with a warm heart. He used to stop over my parents house weekly as my mother did all his typing for him. That typing was a favor as my mother was not a secretary but actually a pretty high department head at Pitt. It was only because of their friendship that my mother would do him those typing favors. It always seemed like she was typing top secret documents for the Pentagon or something but he was a regular around our house. He never missed a birthday gift for any of us six children and his Christmas gift was always something very special. One really big thing that I remember about Myron was him showing up at a High School football game of mine and it was like the president was in attendance.

 

I don't know what to say other than I am happy that his fight with his health is over but I am way sad to see him go.

 

RIP Myron! You are one great Yinzer that will be very much missed. Triple Yoi!

Wow, great story Skippy. Thanks for sharing. What a guy.

[BumpNRun]

RIP

[fitzkek]

Sad to hear it. He was very entertaining to listen to the few times I got to hear him. Definitely one of a kind.

[jaxfactor]

The voice of the Steelers is dead.

 

I wanted very much to start this thread but work and all that got in the way. I knew Myron Cope since I was a young child. I knew him because he knew my mother from the University of Pittsburgh. Myron acted like a crazy man on the radio but in real life he was anything but that. He was an incredibly generous man with a warm heart. He used to stop over my parents house weekly as my mother did all his typing for him. That typing was a favor as my mother was not a secretary but actually a pretty high department head at Pitt. It was only because of their friendship that my mother would do him those typing favors. It always seemed like she was typing top secret documents for the Pentagon or something but he was a regular around our house. He never missed a birthday gift for any of us six children and his Christmas gift was always something very special. One really big thing that I remember about Myron was him showing up at a High School football game of mine and it was like the president was in attendance.

 

I don't know what to say other than I am happy that his fight with his health is over but I am way sad to see him go.

 

RIP Myron! You are one great Yinzer that will be very much missed. Triple Yoi!

 

Wow Skip! I had no clue as to how close your family was to Myron. There will never be another VOICE of the Steelers like MC.

 

I was reading the online Post Gazette earlier. The mayor said something about designing a Terrible Towel shaped flag to hang outside the courthouse in honor of Myron Cope. Rest in peace old friend.

[max]

The voice of the Steelers is dead.

 

I wanted very much to start this thread but work and all that got in the way. I knew Myron Cope since I was a young child. I knew him because he knew my mother from the University of Pittsburgh. Myron acted like a crazy man on the radio but in real life he was anything but that. He was an incredibly generous man with a warm heart. He used to stop over my parents house weekly as my mother did all his typing for him. That typing was a favor as my mother was not a secretary but actually a pretty high department head at Pitt. It was only because of their friendship that my mother would do him those typing favors. It always seemed like she was typing top secret documents for the Pentagon or something but he was a regular around our house. He never missed a birthday gift for any of us six children and his Christmas gift was always something very special. One really big thing that I remember about Myron was him showing up at a High School football game of mine and it was like the president was in attendance.

 

I don't know what to say other than I am happy that his fight with his health is over but I am way sad to see him go.

 

RIP Myron! You are one great Yinzer that will be very much missed. Triple Yoi!

 

 

Well said Skippy. You are truly a class act, my friend.

 

Today is a very sad day for the Pittsburgh Steelers, their fans and the NFL. Myron Cope was so very unique in what he brought to the table for so many years. He was the leader of the Steelers nation and created probably the most known piece of memorobilia in the NFL in the Terrible Towel. It has often been imitated but never duplicated. Nobody that I have ever come across that has met Myron has ever had a negative thing to say about him. I don't know how common it is in other cities to turn off the sound on the TV and put the radio broadcast on the radio during the game but it was a common practice in Pittsburgh because of the great Myron Cope. He was a joy to listen to over the years and I feel greatful that Myron was a big part of my Steeler experience. Rest in peace Myron. You will live in spirit across the Steelers nation forever. God bless you Mr. Cope.

[BeeR]

Sad to hear it. He was very entertaining to listen to the few times I got to hear him. Definitely one of a kind.

Same here - funny as hell announcer and that voice, how could you not crack up. RIP

[Steeltown Dre]

The voice of the Steelers is dead.

 

I wanted very much to start this thread but work and all that got in the way. I knew Myron Cope since I was a young child. I knew him because he knew my mother from the University of Pittsburgh. Myron acted like a crazy man on the radio but in real life he was anything but that. He was an incredibly generous man with a warm heart. He used to stop over my parents house weekly as my mother did all his typing for him. That typing was a favor as my mother was not a secretary but actually a pretty high department head at Pitt. It was only because of their friendship that my mother would do him those typing favors. It always seemed like she was typing top secret documents for the Pentagon or something but he was a regular around our house. He never missed a birthday gift for any of us six children and his Christmas gift was always something very special. One really big thing that I remember about Myron was him showing up at a High School football game of mine and it was like the president was in attendance.

 

I don't know what to say other than I am happy that his fight with his health is over but I am way sad to see him go.

 

RIP Myron! You are one great Yinzer that will be very much missed. Triple Yoi!

 

Great story. Sorry to hear of his death and since you knew him personally, sorry for your loss. At least it sounds like you have plenty of great personal memories in addition to Steelers memories involving him.

[Suture]

The first time I heard Myron's voice... my initial reaction was "What the hell is this?" It was shrill and obnoxious. Then I'd find myself tuning in after ever game as I drove home to Virginia. His voice grows on you, and the more you listened, the more you "got" his personality. As other commenters had said, he really was the voice of Pittsburgh, and will be missed. RIP, Myron, and thanks for the memories.

[Menudo]

The voice of the Steelers is dead.

 

I wanted very much to start this thread but work and all that got in the way. I knew Myron Cope since I was a young child. I knew him because he knew my mother from the University of Pittsburgh. Myron acted like a crazy man on the radio but in real life he was anything but that. He was an incredibly generous man with a warm heart. He used to stop over my parents house weekly as my mother did all his typing for him. That typing was a favor as my mother was not a secretary but actually a pretty high department head at Pitt. It was only because of their friendship that my mother would do him those typing favors. It always seemed like she was typing top secret documents for the Pentagon or something but he was a regular around our house. He never missed a birthday gift for any of us six children and his Christmas gift was always something very special. One really big thing that I remember about Myron was him showing up at a High School football game of mine and it was like the president was in attendance.

 

I don't know what to say other than I am happy that his fight with his health is over but I am way sad to see him go.

 

RIP Myron! You are one great Yinzer that will be very much missed. Triple Yoi!

 

Wow, I'm surprised I never heard you share that story before. That is awesome that you got to know him on a personal level. It is very sad to see Myron go. He was a phenomenal personality, and has been missed on the radio since he has been gone. RIP Myron.