Yinka Double Dare

October 11th, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^

I know he was getting up there in age, but still weird to see commentators you've watched for a long time go.

I hear Zombeano Cook will still be picking Notre Dame to win the national title though.

Willhouse

October 11th, 2012 at 1:02 PM ^

He seemed to be one of the elder statesman of the game, and a throwback to the good old days. Even as his health deterioriated, he still had a sharp wit about him.

Despite his obvious Irish homerisms, I will miss him. RIP Beano.

Hannibal.

October 11th, 2012 at 1:07 PM ^

I grew very fond of Beano's weekly chats with Ivan Maisel on ESPN's college football podcast.  He has been joking around for the past few years that he doesn't mind dying as long as it's not in the middle of the college football season.  Sorry that you didn't get your wish, Beano.  RIP.

LSAClassOf2000

October 11th, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^

He was a great wit with a great knwoledge of the game, and his insight and his injection of a good laugh into the sport will be missed. One of my favorite quotes from him:

"You only have to bat a thousand in two things; flying and heart transplants. Everything else you can go 4 for five. "

 

 

Hannibal.

October 11th, 2012 at 1:22 PM ^

Yeah, he had a hilarious dry sense of humor to him.  His knowledge of football past 1981 was practically worthless, but it was great to listen to him on the podcasts, because he was allowed to bitch about all kinds of stuff that would never be allowed on TV (like how much he hated baseball).

IncrediblySTIFF

October 11th, 2012 at 1:20 PM ^

When I heard the bews I said, "nooooooooooo." Listening to Ivan and Beano podcasts during the off season was the only way I got information about non B1G teams. He will be missed.

chewieblue

October 11th, 2012 at 1:31 PM ^

...."Noh-tra-Dame" and "Minnie-shota".  The guy seemed like a good man and was always entertaining.  He showed his passion for the college game and more than once reminded us why we love it so much.

Rest peacefully Beano.  Thanks for the memories.

TrppWlbrnID

October 11th, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^

hated him in my teens

tolerated him in my 20s

appreciated him in my 30s

no one made the 1950s feel as close to today as he did, knew every name of every player and where they went to high school, provided they went to high school in western PA and played for Pitt, ND, Penn St or a service academy.

RIP

WolverineHistorian

October 11th, 2012 at 2:35 PM ^

Over the years, any time his name came up, I said not so nice things and pointed out the hundreds of times his predictions were wrong.  But I'll restrain myself on this day because the man had loved ones.  So to him I say, rest in peace. 

I'm sure the folks at Penn State aren't happy today seeing that Beano picked them to win the national championship every year from 1975 to 2010. 

M-Dog

October 11th, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^

May he win 2 Heismans in heaven.

Cool Beano story Bro:

Beano picked Penn State to trounce Michigan in the 1997 game at Happy Valley.  It was him, I believe, that said Michigan should just send the band because it won't make any difference.  Beano Cook was often wrong, but never in doubt.

Needless to say he was really, really wrong.  I was at that game and Beano was broadcasting updates throughout the day from the ESPN booth outside the stadium.  After the game, a bunch of us Michigan fans went over there and taunted the hell out of him.  We sang the Victors loudly every time he tried to talk.  Finally he just gave up and pretended to be our orchestra conductor whenever we would sing.  

He made it up to us by telling us that he would vote us #1 the next day over FSU and Nebraska.  That placated us, so from there on out when he would speak we would shout "We love you, Beano!".

A good time was had by all.  Except Penn State. 

WolverineHistorian

October 11th, 2012 at 2:59 PM ^

That infamous prediction was made in September, on the Fabulous Sports Babe Show (which ended up getting cancelled a little over a year later).  The exact quote was:



"Michigan will be a good team this year but they will lose 2-3 games.  Circle one of those losses when they play Penn State in Happy Valley on November 8th.  Heck, don't even bother going.  Send the Michigan band and have them play the Victors for 3 hours so both sides can go home happy.

Don

October 11th, 2012 at 3:36 PM ^

but I have to say that he was the most unhealthy-looking man I've ever seen on TV. His deathly-gray pallor gave his recent appearances a bizarre, surreal edge to me. I half expected him to be carrying a scythe.

markusr2007

October 11th, 2012 at 5:23 PM ^

I remember he was always considered a college football expert, but  all of his college football national championship and Heisman trophy predictions were horribly inaccurate, like

Notre Dame will win the National Championship (1982)

Ron Powlus will win the Heisman. Twice?

Penn State national championship (1981)

USC national championship for (1984)

Oh god the list goes on an on with that guy.

What I liked about him was his great memory of notable events for big games and plays made back in the 1950s , 1960s and 70s.  He had a knack for recalling past glorious moments, which fans of course liked about him.

 

Eskimoan

October 11th, 2012 at 8:15 PM ^

I wonder if he will be buried in a Winged helmet? ( I'm assuming other people on here have seen the video where he said he wanted to be buried in one )