The Main Event Scores With Bob Costas

Bob Costas, one of the world's most respected sportscasters, made a stop in West Orange last week to share some of his experiences in a career that has stretched over 30 years.

Costas regaled a crowd of 450 with amusing anecdotes at The Main Event, held at Mayfair Farms. The event was sponsored by United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ. UJC stands at the center of a network of 20 local and three overseas partner agencies that help meet the educational, vocational, recreational, and social needs of people in MetroWest, Israel, and in 60 countries around the world.

Costas has done just about everything possible in a decorated career. He spoke about some of his mentors, including the iconic Howard Cosell. He talked about the first time he met Cosell.

"It was quintessential Cosell," recalled Costas who met the legendary sportscaster for the first time during the 1983 World Series between the Phillies and Orioles. "There he was, in the hideous ABC mustard yellow blazer, his toupee precariously sitting on top of his head, holding a cigar roughly the size of a Louisville slugger."

Costas also delivered spot-on impersonations of Cosell and the beloved Jim McKay, another legendary sportscaster. He shared "Yogisms" — malaprops that have been supplied over the decades by Yankee great Yogi Berra. Costas also talked about his favorite sports bloopers.

He called Game 6 of the 1975 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds as being the greatest World Series game; boxer Muhammad Ali as the most interesting and charismatic athlete he ever met; and the first Yankee game after 9/11 as his most patriotic experience as a sportscaster.