The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Cosell, Howard
(ksl´) (KEY) , 1920–95, American sports broadcaster, b. Winston-Salem, N.C., as Howard William Cohen. Formerly a lawyer, he began covering sports for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in 1956, and was identified especially with ABC’s prime-time “Monday Night Football” (1970–84) and as a vocal advocate for Muhammad Ali. Cosell’s often abrasive style, marked by his frequent claims to “tell it like it is,” made him one of television’s most familiar figures.
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l´) (KEY) , 1920–95, American sports broadcaster, b. Winston-Salem, N.C., as Howard William Cohen. Formerly a lawyer, he began covering sports for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in 1956, and was identified especially with ABC’s prime-time “Monday Night Football” (1970–84) and as a vocal advocate for Muhammad Ali. Cosell’s often abrasive style, marked by his frequent claims to “tell it like it is,” made him one of television’s most familiar figures.
