That's a great story.
One of my favorite sports media writers, Phil Mushnick of the NY Post, has chimed in-
I've always been envious of guys who grew up in or near Pittsburgh. They were seasonally blessed with two genuine, one-of-a-kind sportscasters - incredible characters, really.
Bob Prince, the Pirates' gruff and tumble play-by- player, took care of the springs and summers. Myron Cope, Steelers radio analyst from 1970 to 2004, radio talk show host and creator of the "Terrible Towel" waved at Steelers games, handled the fall and winter.
Prince died in 1985. Cope, a gremlin-like man with a voice to match - he sounded like Phil Rizzuto tossed into a clothes dryer - died Wednesday at 79.
Born Myron Kopelman, Cope naturally produced unnatural sounds. And his emotions were so raw and rumpled that when he grew excited, those sounds, as opposed to words, came out. Then those sounds, throughout the western half of Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and much of West Virginia, became words.
The most famous of those "words" was hollered by Cope when the Steelers did something extraordinary. It was, "Yoi!"
Holler "Yoi!" at someone who lived near Pittsburgh; they'll snap turn and answer, "Myron Cope." And they'll be smiling when they do.
One of my favorite sports media writers, Phil Mushnick of the NY Post, has chimed in-
I've always been envious of guys who grew up in or near Pittsburgh. They were seasonally blessed with two genuine, one-of-a-kind sportscasters - incredible characters, really.
Bob Prince, the Pirates' gruff and tumble play-by- player, took care of the springs and summers. Myron Cope, Steelers radio analyst from 1970 to 2004, radio talk show host and creator of the "Terrible Towel" waved at Steelers games, handled the fall and winter.
Prince died in 1985. Cope, a gremlin-like man with a voice to match - he sounded like Phil Rizzuto tossed into a clothes dryer - died Wednesday at 79.
Born Myron Kopelman, Cope naturally produced unnatural sounds. And his emotions were so raw and rumpled that when he grew excited, those sounds, as opposed to words, came out. Then those sounds, throughout the western half of Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and much of West Virginia, became words.
The most famous of those "words" was hollered by Cope when the Steelers did something extraordinary. It was, "Yoi!"
Holler "Yoi!" at someone who lived near Pittsburgh; they'll snap turn and answer, "Myron Cope." And they'll be smiling when they do.
