'Boxing has been good to me, Howard'
Howard William Cosell (/koʊˈsɛl/; né Cohen; March 25, 1918 – April 23, 1995) was an American sports journalist and author. Cosell became prominent and influential during his tenure with ABC Sports from 1953 until 1985, and became the voice of boxing for much of American during that period, and is the 'Howard' that Mork often refers to when he is punch drunk / punchy / or brain drained.
About[]
Cosell was widely known for his blustery, confident personality. And though he commentated on a wide range of sports, it is in regards to his boxing commentating that he is affiliated with/referenced to within the show.
He rose to prominence in the early-1960s, covering boxer Muhammad Ali, beginning from the time he fought under his birth name, Cassius Clay. The two seemed to have an affinity despite their different personalities, and complemented each other in broadcasts. Cosell was one of the first sportscasters to refer to the boxer as Muhammad Ali after he changed his name, and supported him when he refused to be inducted into the military.
Cosell provided blow-by-blow commentary for ABC of some of boxing's biggest matches during the 1970s and the early-1980s, including Ken Norton's upset win over Ali in 1973 and Ali's defeat of Leon Spinks in 1978 recapturing the heavyweight title for the third time. His signature toupee was unceremoniously knocked off in front of live ABC cameras when a scuffle broke out after a broadcast match between Scott LeDoux and Johnny Boudreaux. Cosell quickly retrieved his hairpiece and replaced it. During interviews in studio with Ali, the champion would tease and threaten to remove the hairpiece with Cosell playing along but never allowing it to be touched. On one of these occasions, Ali quipped, "Cosell, you're a phony, and that thing on your head comes from the tail of a pony.
In the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal, and the 1984 games in Los Angeles, Cosell was the main voice for boxing.
Beginning in 1976, Cosell hosted a series of specials known as Battle of the Network Stars. The two-hour specials pitted stars from each of the three broadcast networks against each other in various physical and mental competitions. Cosell hosted all but one of the nineteen specials, including the final episode, airing in 1988. and interviewed Robin Williams in his one and only appearance in the competition in 1979.
Mork References[]
Mork references him numerous times normally with the line 'Boxing has been good to me, Howard', throughout the seasons, generally after being hit, or his intelligence being drained somehow:
- Mork's First Christmas - Mork tells Fred his new rug is just like Howard Cosell's only Indoor / Outdoor.
- Mork's Greatest Hit - After George punches him in the Eatery
- Mork vs. The Necrotons, Part 2 - When the Necrotons try to suck his brain out his ear
- Putting the Ork Back in Mork, Part 2 - After The Elder gets him to walk repeatedly into a brick wall to get him to say 'Shazbot'
- Metamorphosis, the TV Show - When his mind is swapped back with Mearths
- I Don't Remember Mama - When Orson wipes his memory of Mindy and his family and all things Earth to get him to refocus on his job.
- Gotta Run, Part 2 - During his telekinetic duel with Kalnik