Okle Dokle! City of Pittsburgh Gives Cope Key, Good Wishes

Wednesday, June 29, 2005
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The high-ceilinged grandeur of Pittsburgh's City Council Chamber instilled not one whit of political correctness in yesterday's star visitor.
Steve Mellon, Post-Gazette

Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope at yesterday's Pittsburgh City Council meeting -- "I apologize for not wearing a necktie before this august body, but it is my retirement."

Myron Cope, 76, kicked off a brief speech with a narrative of the drive downtown from his Mt. Lebanon home, during which he spotted an "outstanding blonde" jogging toward him in a baseball cap and T-shirt. His car stereo played George Shearing's rendition of the jazz song, "What is this Thing Called Love?" he recounted.

"I lit up a cigarette in defiance of the health Nazis who would have us go down into a sewer to have a smoke," he told council, a gaggle of visitors and TV viewers.
"For those of you wondering, 'Will that old guy ever be happy in retirement?' -- you got your answer," Cope said.

Cope was there to receive a proclamation sponsored by Councilman Luke Ravenstahl, in honor of the veteran Steelers color analyst's retirement, announced June 21. More than that, though, he rasped some life into a dog day in city government, otherwise marked by zoning changes and small-dollar budget adjustments.

Dressed in a slightly oversized, bright yellow suit jacket, Cope promptly took charge, asking Deputy City Clerk Mary Beth Doheny to give up her seat for him.
"I apologize for not wearing a necktie before this august body, but it is my retirement," he said.

Later he remarked that having yesterday declared "Myron Cope Day in Pittsburgh" was just one of the unusual honors he'd received since announcing an end to 35 years in the broadcast booth, which followed numerous writing gigs, including with the Post-Gazette.

"I never expected this," Cope said of the national attention his departure has received. CNN, The New York Times, and even the international business wire service Reuters have run stories. "What's Reuters want with me?" Cope quipped.

Ravenstahl presented Cope with a ceremonial key to the city. "Everything Myron has given to us, that's the least we could do for him," said the councilman and former Washington & Jefferson College kicker.

Cope held the key up for the assembled cameras. "Maybe I could use it to get into the various councilmen's booze closets," he said.
Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope, with Councilman Jim Motznik, at yesterday's council meeting -- "I apologize for not wearing a necktie before this august body, but it is my retirement."

(Rich Lord can be reached at rlord@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1542.)