40 Years Ago Today Howard Cosell Announced John Lennon's Assassination at an MNF Game 💔😢
Monday Night Football has been around for fufstik years. That's FIFTY whole years of Mondays being less sucky for all the degens and alta kockers out there.
In 1974, John Lennon was interviewed by Howard Cosell at an MNF game, saying that American football "makes rock concerts look like tea parties" and teased about a Beatles reunion. Six years later, Lennon's return to MNF couldn't have looked more different.
They say you always remember where you were when you hear truly shocking news. As a '90's kid, the best example for my generation is 9/11. I was in gym class in grade 6 when my teacher sat us all down and did her best to explain what just happened to a bunch of 11-year-olds. All of us in disbelief.
The other night, my parents and I were watching football and talking about assassinations...as you do. I'm not exactly sure why. Probably because dead celebrities have been on my mind, thanks to #TheCousins Deathpool 🙄.
(I don't want to win the pool but I do really want the mug ☕.)
That's when my Mom told me something that absolutely rocked me: where she was when she heard about John Lennon's assassination. She claimed when she was a teenager on vacation in Miami, she went to her first ever NFL game and that the announcer was the one who broke the news. I couldn't believe it. For a few reasons.
Probably the hardest part to believe was that my Mom was actually at a football game. So obviously I had to look it up and I want to share my findings with you, as tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of Lennon's death.
I asked my Mom if she remembered who was playing and she thought New England. Much to my surprise, when I began googling, I discovered that there was indeed an MNF game played the day Lennon died. In Miami. Between the Dolphins and the Patriots.
And trust me, you cannot Google this game without finding the YouTube clip of Howard Cosell announcing the "unspeakable tragedy" during the game...twice.
During a timeout, Cosell told a stunned crowd (that I still can't believe included my Mom!) and all the viewers at home that Lennon had been shot twice and was announced dead on arrival after being rushed to the hospital 😢.
The whole second half of the game still had to be played. The Dolphins went on to beat the Patriots 16-13 in overtime, but I can't imagine it mattered a whole heck of a lot. The world lost one if its most talented musicians and peace activists in such a horrid, unfair way. At only 40 years old 💔.
"Remember, this is just a football game, no matter who wins or loses," Cosell began the announcement.
Here we are, 40 years later, and things somehow feel so similar in this very moment. Same, same, but different. Nobody has been assassinated, but COVID-19 is sure as hell pulling a lot of triggers.
The National Football League has yet to cancel a football game this season. Sure, games have been postponed 100 times and we're starting to get used to football Tuesday and Wednesday nights (and, sometimes, days 🤦♀️). But like Cosell said all those years ago, ultimately it's "just a football game."
Not that we need anyone to put this into perspective for us, but with all the mishegas going on in the world, it doesn't hurt to be reminded. Safety first, football second.
All you need is love ❤️️ (and a mask 😷.)
🌸🌺✌️Rest in Peace, John. ✌️🌺🌸