Yoi and double yoi. To those of you poor people who are not Pittsburgh Steelers Fans those words ( Yes they ARE words) hold no real significance ,but to the initiated they will always bring a smile of recognition to our faces and a pang of joy to our hearts.
It was announced this week end that Myron Cope is retiring after 35 years as the voice of the Steelers. His sterling career began in 1970 after a W.T.A.E. radio big wig thought his unique voice coupled with his vast knowledge of the game would make a winning combination. Little did he know it marked the beginning of a dynasty.
Myron began his career as a Steeler announcer at age forty, a time when most are settled into their positions. Myron was directly responsible for inventing the terrible towel. For those of you that have faced the power of the towel ……..enough said, but for those who have never seen what it can do, well, it is awesome. It is small in size, just like Myron. It is about 12 inches by 24 inches. It is golden in color with black markings and of course the Steelers logo and trust me there are very few things more distracting when trying to make a play than 10’s of thousands of yellow towels waving in the seats.
\ Myron was famous for his “cope-isms” a few will give you a idea…..Cleve Brownies = Cleveland Browns Da Yonkos = Denver Broncos Cincy Bungles=Cincinnati Bengal’s Cope –A – Nut =A prize for making a valid point on his talk show. Cope –A- Stetic = OK or even the Cope –Ra- Scope Myron’s version of his crystal ball. All of these shouted with a voice that could only be described as making finger nails on a chalkboard sound like the Four Tops. Stillers- okel dokel-Gadzooks (holy cow) –Gorgonzola (hogwash) the Emperor Chas= Chuck Noll There was no bigger fan and we will all miss him terribly.
Jerome Bettis (the Bus) said of Myron…..He doesn’t play, he doesn’t put on the pads, BUT he is as revered as much as Franco Harris or Rocky Blier.
God bless you Myron and thanks for all the great moments that you gave us.