Myron Cope

Myron Cope
Cope during his final radio show in 1995.
Born
Myron Sidney Kopelman[1]

January 23, 1929
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedFebruary 27, 2008(2008-02-27) (aged 79)
Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Known for
Sports commentary career
TeamPittsburgh Steelers
SportAmerican football

Myron Sidney Kopelman (January 23, 1929 – February 27, 2008), known professionally as Myron Cope, was an American sports journalist, radio personality, and sportscaster. He is best known for being "the voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers".

Cope was a color commentator for the Steelers' radio broadcasts for 35 years. He was known for his distinctive, higher-pitched nasally voice with an identifiable Pittsburgh accent, idiosyncratic speech pattern, and a level of excitement rarely exhibited in the broadcast booth. Cope's most notable catch phrase was "yoi"[2] /ˈjɔɪ/. He helped popularize the Terrible Towel, a rally towel associated with the Steelers. In 1996, Cope gave the rights to the towel to Allegheny Valley School, which has received more than $6 million in proceeds from towel sales.

Cope was the first football announcer inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.[3] Cope's autobiography, Double Yoi!, was published in 2002.[4]

  1. ^ "Myron Cope". Radio Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on March 3, 2008. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
  2. ^ Fybush, Scott (March 3, 2008). "This Week's Bloodbath: Citadel". NorthEast Radio Watch.
  3. ^ Gene Collier (February 28, 2008). "Remembering Myron Cope: He spoke for Steelers Nation in a language all his own". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  4. ^ Cope, Myron (2002). Double Yoi!. Sports Publishing, L.L.C. p. 229. ISBN 1-58261-548-9.