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Originally posted by TXJIM:

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Originally posted by TMats:

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Originally posted by TXJIM:

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Originally posted by TMats:
I suppose it was true that us Denver Broncos fans had a persecution complex in those years, but Cosell was despised by the Denver fan base. Area bars used to do a MNF promotion where someone present in the bar would win the opportunity to throw a brick through a television when Costello was talking.

I thought he was a blowhard

Interesting considering it was a Denver player he refereed to as a "little monkey " on a Monday night game in 1983 that led to the racial dust up mentioned in my above post. He "retired" from calling football at the end of that season.

I remember that incident, I was watching the game. He denied saying it and, of course, was on tape having done so. I remember thinking "Ruh Roh," when it occurred. He called a lot of MNF before that night and the monkey incident had no bearing on fan opinion of Cosell up to that night--it was already set.

Thinking back on it further, the animosity was largely related to MNF's halftime highlights. Remember this was before ESPN. Cosell presented the highlights and whether or not your team was featured had a lot to do with what that team's fans thought of him.

He actually denied that it was racial. He said it was term he used often to refer to his grandkids as they ran around the back yard. He was on tape calling a white player a little monkey as early as 1972. He refused to apologize as he felt he had done nothing wrong.