1993 – Howard Cosell

Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on March 25, 1918, sportscasting legend Howard Cosell was most famous as an analyst on ABC’s “Monday Night Football” from 1970-1983. Cosell’s broadcasting career began in 1953, after he sold the idea of a radio program in which Little Leaguers asked major league players questions to ABC radio. For the first three years of his career Cosell was a part-time broadcaster; then in 1956, he ended his career as a lawyer to become a full-time radio broadcaster. In 1961, Cosell made the move from radio to television, when he was hired by WABC-TV, as a sports Anchor. Then in 1970, he began his 13 year run on “Monday Night Football.”Along with his years on “Monday Night Football,” Cosell also appeared on “Wide World of Sports,” announced boxing, and hosted his own sports show during his career. Cosell left ABC-TV in 1985 and went back to radio broadcasting, where he hosted two shows for ABC radio, until his retirement in 1992. During his career Cosell revolutionized sportscasting with his analytical, and controversial style. He was once voted Americas most popular and most disliked sportscaster at the same time. Along with his work as a broadcaster, Cosell also wrote four best selling books. Cosell died in 1995. He was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame on April 26, 1993.