The Average White Guy

Well it’s been far too long since I’ve updated my site here. I’ve been asked about this regularly for the past few months, still I did nothing. What do you expect? I’m hardly the over-acheiver. Being a life-long Pittsburgh Steeler fan, I couldn’t maintain my silence today. Today Pittsburgh lost one of it’s royalty. Myron Cope - long time announcer and reporter for the Pittsburgh Steelers dies today. Myron was 79 years old. He will be missed by this city more than most of you will know.

Myron was more than an announcer. He was also an extremely talented writer. In his younger days, he wrote columns for Sports Illustrated - the pinnacle of sports writing. Myron was also the inventor of one of the most identifiable sports paraphernalia ever: The Terrible Towel. I don’t think he ever intended for it to take off the way it did, but it really did take off. Check out any Steeler game on TV (even when the team is on the road), and you’re guaranteed to see at least a few thousand of them waving in the crowd. It’s the unmistakable symbol of a Steeler fan. Thanks Myron.

What’s more about Myron Cope? He was THE poster child for the “Yinzer”. I’ll quickly explain what a yinzer is. A yinzer is one of us Pittsburghers who speak with that heavy Pittsburgh accent, drinks Iron City Beer (brewed here in Pittsburgh) exclusively, and either works in a mill, or wishes the steel mills were still the prevailing industry in the city. No one ever spoke with the Pittsburgh accent more than Myron. In addition to his articulation of the Pittsburgh accent, Myron also added a few terms to the Pittsburgh dictionary.

Hmm-Ha! Hmm-Ha! He’d say during his broadcasts. What the hell did that ever mean? He said it was his way of pausing to think of something to say. Some people might say ”ahhhh….” or “ummmm”, still others might say both; Myron used “hmm-ha”.

Yoi! Double-Yoi! Triple Yoi! Another famous Cope colloquialism. Yoi was the way Myron expressed excitement - both good and bad. Yoi almost literaly translates to “Holy Shit!”. Prefixing the yoi with double, triple, or even quadrupal (which I only heard once) adds more emphasis. Some people  might say “Holy Fucking Shit!”, which would be the double-yoi. You can keep going up if you like, but I think you have the point.

I guess I should mention that Myron divided this city as much as he united it behind football. Not everyone here liked the guy. I’m sure they didn’t mean they didn’t like him personally, but as an icon; some couldn’t tolerate him. Given the extreme mannerisms, vocabulary, and personality, Myron wasn’t one of those guys you could say like a little bit, or dislike a little bit. Myron was a love him or hate him kind of guy. I’d say that those who don’t like him, probably really only don’t like how people see Pittsburgh as a town full of Myron Copes. While you Myron could only have come from Pittsburgh, he certainly wasn’t the norm for this town. He was eccentric, unique and unforgettable.

I get this perfectly; It’s hard for me to imagine that you (being from places other than Pittsburgh) might not understand his impact on this town. I guess I could compare him to Harry Carey - long time broadcaster of the Chicago Cubs. In fact, that’s almost a perfect comparison. Harry was a sportscaster, an oddball, an icon in his hometown and beyond, and (forgive me Myron) a bit of a drinker. I guess that’s the best comparison I can come up with.

 Myron hadn’t been in the booth calling the games for a few years; his health had been ailing for some time. Nonetheless, I am sure the entire Steeler Nation misses Myron immensely. I know I do. So long Myron… enjoy the Cabana in the sky, YOI!