Cousy To Be Back In Limited Role...

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

He'll call 7 or 8 key games, which will leave the rest of the
broadcasts to Captain Shill and the Sycophant...

      Boston Herald    

      Cousy won't exit, but role is limited 
      by Jim Baker 
      Friday, August 27, 1999
      An inital reaction to word yesterday that Bob Cousy signed a three-year 
      deal with the Celtics that includes some game analysis on Fox Sports New 
      England might be that a public relations disaster was avoided. But all 
      parties admit Cooz will work only six or seven ``key'' games, mostly in 
      late-season. 
      Last season, he had about 40 road dates on Ch. 68. The conclusion here is 
      viewers are the losers.
      The question neither FSNE chief David Woodman nor Celtic veep Rich Pond 
      could answer was who would tell viewers in more than 70 of FSNE's 81 
      telecasts what the Celtics are doing wrong. Oh, Mike Gorman will provide 
      steady play-calling again, Tom Heinsohn will stress bright lights and 
      harpoon referees, and Eric Frede will handle a second season of 
      wrap-around shows and features.
      But candor from the C's greatest-ever guard will be missed most of the 
      way.
      Cooz, who at age 71 is recovering well from hip replacement surgery, gave 
      a strong hint of what happened: ``Because my deal is with the C's, they'd 
      like me to have a presence on the broadcasts. Fox genuinely wanted me 
      involved, but offered me roles in anything but games. We talked for two 
      weeks and I just didn't want to get into those areas at this stage of my 
      life. Things like a series on the great Celtic teams are fine, but I'm not 
      a professional TV announcer. I've been an analyst for 28 years.''
      Cousy also didn't want to create a controversy. At one point in the last 
      few days, he said: ``I don't want to go out in the middle of a firestorm. 
      If someone wants to get rid of me, just kick me off the team plane.''
      He also knew FSNE has a longstanding duo, Gorman and Heinsohn. ``I wasn't 
      asking to take anything away from anyone. I just wanted to keep things the 
      same (as a road-game analyst). A week ago, I was feeling sorry for myself, 
      but I have no regrets now. Everyone's happy. We came to a compromise. The 
      Celtics stepped up at a time when I needed support.''
      Woodman and Pond announced a ``joint agreement,'' but Cousy's deal is with 
      the team. It involves marketing and promotion and with someone else, you 
      might expect outbursts of in-game rah-rah for the check-signer. Even 
      though he jokes, ``All of a sudden I'm a house man,'' that's not the Cooz. 
      He's a candid kind of guy. And that's what game viewers will miss most of 
      the season.