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...then love 'em or hate 'em, take a minute today to remember the man who invented them. Myron Cope died this morning at the age of 79. To anyone but a Steelers fan, Myron Cope was a tiny little man (5'4") with an annoying voice who said the strangest things during football games. "Yoi!" "Double Yoi" "Cleve Brownies and Cincy Bungles, n'at..." His accent was strong, his high-pitched voice cut like Franco Harris in his prime, but darn it if the little guy didn't grow on you. As a kid growing up in Western Pennsylvania and well into my adulthood, the only way to watch a Steelers game was with the sound on the tv turned down and the radio (and Myron) turned up. Who cared if the timing was a little off, Myron usually was too. But we listened -- partly to be entertained -- partly to see what he would say next -- partly because we knew we were one syllable away from an audio train wreck, but that was the beauty of Myron.

If you ever listened to a Steelers game on the radio, or heard one of his calls on an ESPN highlight, then you understand. If not, then you missed out on a slice of Americana -- one definately not cut from the mold that produced so many modern day sportscasters. Myron was odd, he was different, and had probably the most loyal group of fans I've ever seen. Players came and went, Myron stayed. He announced Steeler games for some 35 years and even in his final days it was standing room only for his live post-game radio shows.

I had the chance to meet Myron several times over the years and he always entertained me, although I'm pretty sure never intentionally. My favorite "Myron moment" came at Steelers training camp in 2002. We were in the media room waiting on Coach Cowher for his morning briefing. There was a stand-up cooler by the door filled with water/gatorade/soda (pop)/etc. -- so Myron walks in wearing the ugliest purple-ish colored Bill Cosby sweater, reaches into the cooler and somehow, from somewhere, pulls out a beer. One of the veteran journalists who was standing beside me and saw it along with me turns and says, "Geez Myron, it's a little early isn't it?" To which Myron replies in his trademark stutter, "Well.. they... they... they didn't have any Diet! Zoinks!" That was Myron. In his world it made perfect sense.

Myron Cope, who invented the Terrible Towel and coined the phrase "Immaculate Reception" died at the age of 79 --- fitting perhaps as 1979 will always be known as the year Pittsburgh was the City of Champions. Yoi! and Double Yoi! indeed.