Long time Steelers color analyst Myron Cope passed away this morning at 79.  Cope had been battling various health ailments over the last few years, including multiple bouts with pneumonia. 

Cope was the Steelers color analyst for 35 years.  He worked first along Jack Fleming and then Bill Hillgrove in later years.  Cope was known for a very colorful style, coming up with many zany catch phrases, songs, and general craziness from the booth.  He hosted a long running and popular radio talk show, and contributed many commantaries to local news stations. 

His raspy, high-pitched yelp was his trademark.   Once one heard his voice, it was instantly recognizable and unforgettable.  In a way, Cope was a kind of mascot for the Steelers over the years.  Save the Cheif himself, no one person is more identifiable with Steelers football. 

Cope also has the distinction of creating one of most well known and recognizable gimmicks in sports, the Terrible Towel.  The Steelers asked Cope if he could come up with something to get the fans involved at the game.  A week before a 1975 regular season game, Cope implored people on his radio show to bring a gold towel to the Steelers game that Sunday.  The towel waving quickly caught on, and eventually became the mass produced product of the Terrible Towel.  While he did create it, Cope didn't have a large cash in on it.  Almost all of the proceeds of Terrible Towel sales go to charities that Myron supported.  Terrible Towels have been a staple at Steeler games for over three decades, and have become the easiet way to identify the Steeler Nation.

Before Cope became a broadcaster for the Steelers, he was well respected sports writer in Pittsburgh and nationally.  Cope wrote pieces for the Saturday Evening Post and Sports Illustrated.  His expose on Muhammad Ali is widely considered one of the finest pieces sports journalism ever done.  He also wrote a very famous piece on Roberto Clemente that got him a reputation as hypocondriac. 

About the truest compliment that I could give Cope is that he was a true Pittsburgh original.  Quite simply, there is no one like him and it safe bet that there won't be any one else like him.  In a town with some very distinct sports announcers in Bob Prince and Mike Lange, Cope towered above all.  You knew you weren't too far from Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania when you heard Cope's voice.  It was like a homing beacon. 

Cope was already missed in booth as he retired after the 2004 season.  An attempt to get him to Detroit to announce Super Bowl XL was voided by his poor health.  Myron Cope will always be the voice of the Steelers, no matter who comes after him.  To all Steeler fans, give your Terrible Towel a wave in memorum.  Yoi and double Yoi.