Cope hospitalized
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Steelers radio broadcaster Myron Cope, known for his nails-on-chalkboard voice, was hospitalized Monday, a day after he couldn’t finish the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Cope, 75, who works for the Steelers Radio Network, was under observation at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, said hospital spokeswoman Maureen McGaffin.
Hospital officials declined to release further information and Cope was not granting interviews, McGaffin said.
Cope, also known for his twists on the names of opposing teams, apparently hit his head during a fall Saturday but went to Heinz Field for the game.
He couldn’t continue beyond the first half and was taken to the hospital.
“When he got there he said he just had to catch his breath. … Once he caught his breath it didn’t matter,” said play-by-play announcer Bill Hillgrove, part of the broadcasting team. “He admitted, ‘I’m not very good today,’ and I think we figured out the reason why and that’s why they sent him to the hospital.”
Hillgrove said Cope was checked over during halftime and a medic told him he should get to a hospital.
“I wish him the best. He’s a fire horse, when you ring the bell he’s ready to go, but yesterday he wasn’t as ready as he should have been and that is the way it goes,” Hillgrove said.
Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley, who are a part of the broadcasting crew, took over Cope’s post-game locker-room show.