RIP, Beano
The sport of football has lost two ‘old-timey’ legends over the last 24 hours.
Yesterday former Detroit Lions all-star turned Webster’s father, Alex Karras passed away.
Today we lost legendary media personality, Beano Cook. (Link)
Beano Cook, a longtime staple of the Pittsburgh sports scene and an ESPN college football studio commentator since 1986, has died. He was 81.
Cook, a 1954 University of Pittsburgh grad, began his career as a sports publicist for the school from 1956-66. He later worked with a number of organizations, including the Pittsburgh Civic Arena.
Beano Cook’s breadth of knowledge of the history of the college game earned him the moniker, the “Cardinal of College Football.” Cook was a studio commentator for ABC from 1982-85 before joining ESPN. He also worked as ABC’s press director from 1966-74, and for the St. Petersburg Times newspaper, as well as the Miami Dolphins. He also worked as a publicist for CBS Sports.
4 Responses to “RIP, Beano”
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I remember in Beano’s later years a lot of fans would dog him for being an old man, etc. etc. Thing is, in his life he forgot more about college football than most fans would ever know. He was a true gem and you always knew where he stood.
This from twitter:
“Best Beano legend. As Pitt SID, supposedly took call from woman wanting names of all football players so she could sleep with every one. Without missing a beat, Beano replied. “First up, Cook, Carroll, offensive tackle.”
During my most recent deployment, Beano kept my morale high because I was able to download podcasts and listen to them on my ipod while on missions. He made me seem like the secret keeper because I would always know the latest and greatest in college football. RIP Sir.
Damn. RIP Beano.