Interview with The Legend Keith Jackson

[ChrisYandek]

Hey guys. Hope you are all well.

 

In a rare interview with myself, ABC Sports legend Keith Jackson reflects on his career, retirement, why he stayed around after announcing his first retirement in 1998, memories of Howard Cosell, a set of college football questions, 1972 Munich Olympics, and so much more from The Legend with the famous catch phrase Whoa Nelly.

 

You can read and listen to it at the link below.

 

http://www.thesportsinterview.com/keith_jackson.htm

 

All feedback is appreciated.

[UConn James]

I think the lightest moment that occurred might have been in a Denver airport one day when a fellow was rubbing my feet with his wand. I said to him, 'If you rub my feet one more time I am gonna kiss you.' He went through the back door on the run.

 

Someone should tell Keith to avoid the double entendres!

 

Haven't seen many of his games of late as he mainly covers the Left Coast, but college football will not have the same feel w/o him in the booth. So much of what creates the rich tradition and the aura of crisp Saturday afternoons is the consistency, goodwill and respect that an announcer has b/c of long experience and taht they're just good.

 

I've talked with a guy who covered mostly int'l soccer, NBA, Olympics, etc. for 40+ years who was heading into semi-retirement and he also said it's the traveling that's the biggest drain.

 

Your 'favorite rivalry' question elicited a great answer. That provincialism is something that's starting to go away here in the Northeast with the breakup of the Big East, and it's sad that it was all about a little bit of money. Miami and VT, maybe they do fit better in the ACC. But BC-UConn would have been a great rivalry in a few years; their admin told us they were committed, we built a 40,000-seat stadium... and they bolted.

 

Hope he enjoys his retirement. Thanks for sharing that.