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Page 17
The Panther
Cosell Critical of ‘Sports-
Crazed’ Country.
August 25,1980
BY VEVERLY Y. BYRD
Panther Sports Editor
Through the eyes of Howard
Cosell, sports has become “out
of whack" in this country and a
dangerously "corrupt part of it."
“People are taught from birth
that a game is sanctum, that all
athletes are heroes... that sports
is a refuge from real life,” said
Cosell, who was in Atlanta
August 15 to broadcast the
Atlanta Falcons - Pittsburgh
Steelers football games.
"This craze - this sports
epidemic - has been created by
what I call the sports syndrome,”
he said. “And I am deeply
concerned about the sports and
its place in this country.”
Speaking at a luncheon spon
sored by the local chapter of the
National Academy of Television
Arts and Sciences,Cosell said the
degree of dissension caused by
the actions of President Carter in
the Olympic boycott movement
is a good example of the sports
syndrome.
Cosell questioned the validity
of U.S. Olympic officials’ fight
against the boycott.
“Where were these people
(U.S. Olympic officials) in 1972,”
he asked. "Who fought for Rick.
Dumont (who had his gold
medal taken away because a
drug his doctor prescribed for
him for asthma was not on the
Olympic Committee’s approved
list). . . and what about the two
fastest runners then, Eddie Hart
and Ranard Robinson (the tract
stars who accidently missed their
heats because their coach had
given them the wrong time, and
were eliminated), who fought
for them . . . and who fought for
the U.S. basketball team (which
lost to the Soviet Union on con
troversial timekeeping,” he said.
I
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1980 Panther Football Schedule s
September
I
Howard Cosell is sportscaster turned preacher during his recent visit
to Atlanta. (Photo by Jerome Gwinn)
said the sports polls,” he said. "Let’s put the
13 Virginia Union
20
Richmond, VA
1:30 pjn.
27 Fisk
Atlanta, GA
2:00 p.m.
October
4 Ft. Valley
11 Open
18
Griffin, GA
8:00 pjn.
25 Savannah (Homecoming)
6:00 p.m.
November
1 Albany State
Albany, GA
1:30 p.m.
8 Kentucky State
Frankfort, KT
1:30 pjn.
15 Morehouse
Atlanta, GA
2:00 p.m.
27 Morris Brown
Atlanta, GA
2:00 pjn.
c.osel
syndrome has distorted people's
minds and become an obsession.
Although sports has its proper
place in this country it should not
be above the law, he said.
"Who has the power to make
foreign policy,” he said. “Has it
been entrusted to a water polo
player, a skullest, a gymnast, a
boxer? I feelPresidentCarterdid
the absolutely right and only th
ing he could have done about
the Olympics.”
To have gone would have
given "tacid” forgiveness and
even approval of what the
Soviets have done, he con
tinued.
Although the sportscaster ad
mitted television is not without
fault, he placed the basic blame
for the sports syndrome on print
media.
"Long before network cables
were strong, the print media had
developed weekly ratings and
blame where it belongs.”
He added that the print media
are also responsible for Olympic
nationalism. "It was, after all, the
print media who created the
unofficial system of points
scoring, pitting the U.S. against
Russia,” he said. "We need
honest journalism, not false
heroes. Let's not make an athlete
what he’s not.
Turning his thoughts to the
Muhammed Ali - Larry Holmes
fight, Cosell said Ali’s reason for
agreeing to fight Holmes is
greatly due to his need for
money.” Larry Holmes is a
respectable, solid fighter . . .
Holmes will beat him. I just hope
he elects not to hurt him.”
Cosell stated that Ali may
possess the characteristics to
achieve the impossible and that
he is very suddened by his
decision to fight.”
Cosell discusses Ali-Holmes Fight. (Photo by Jerome Gwinn)
l-O-W-O'*
The Clark College Panther Newspaper Announces
The First Annual
Black College Day Essay Contest
YOU COULD WIN AN ALL EXPENSE PAID TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
TO ATTEND THE FIRST ANNUAL BLACK COLLEGE MARCH AND RALLY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1980.
SPONSORED BY THE PROJECT '80 COALITION FOR BLACK COLLEGES
Send all entries to:
Essay Contest
Hie Clark College
Panther Newspaper
P.O. Box 154
Clark College
240 Chestnut St. SW
Atlanta, Ga. 30314
I
See page 8 for contest roles I
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