Bob Costas
Sports Broadcaster
About This Interview
In his one-and-a-half hour Archive interview, Bob Costas talks about his early interest in sports broadcasting. He describes his approach to sportscasting, chronicles his early jobs as a play-by-play announcer, and recounts getting hiring by Don Ohlmeyer at NBC Sports. He recalls how Ohlmeyer encouraged him to allow his personality to come through on television and how he developed his broadcasting style. Costas discusses various aspects of sports play-by-play: prepping for a broadcast, splitting his view between the field and the monitor on air, and the importance of historical sports knowledge. He outlines his expanded work at NBC, starting with Today and subsequently Later with Bob Costas. He speaks of helming On the Record with Bob Costas, and details his role as prime-time host of The Olympics. Karen Herman conducted the interview on October 24, 2008 in New York, NY.
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Highlights
Bob Costas on hosting the Olympics
Clip begins at: 04:07, Duration: 00m 48s- Bob Costas on the Centennial Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics
Clip begins at: 07:21, Duration: 01m 54s 
Bob Costas on his style of delivery
Clip begins at: 06:17, Duration: 01m 43s- Bob Costas on an amazing story guest Anthony Quinn told on Later with Bob Costas
Clip begins at: 42:27, Duration: 03m 38s - Bob Costas on covering the 1982 World Series and the 1984 "Sandberg game"
Clip begins at: 29:45, Duration: 01m 19s - Bob Costas on Kirk Gibson hitting the home-run off Dennis Eckersley in the 1988 World Series
Clip begins at: 35:17, Duration: 01m 36s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his childhood and early influences; on wanting to be a broadcaster; on developing his voice and broadcasting style
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On studying Public Communications at Syracuse University and working at the campus radio station; on his first professional job - broadcasting hockey; on joining KMOX in St. Louis and announcing for the local ABA team (alternative league to the NBA)
Clip begins at: 09:52 - On getting hired at NBC and Don Ohlmeyer recognizing his talent, but thinking Costas looked very young; on learning to loosen up on television; on his preparations for broadcasts
Clip begins at: 18:01 - On being paired with announcer/former baseball player Tony Kubek; on memorable sports moments he called during the 1980s: 1982 World Series, and the 1984 "Sandberg Game"; on his interest in history
Clip begins at: 26:59 - On expanding his role at NBC - appearing on Today, and hosting Later with Bob Costas and the Olympics; on interviewing guests on Later with Bob Costas
Clip begins at: 36:54 - On the first time he served as prime-time host of the Olympics - 1992 in Barcelona; on how he handles live and taped events; on what he anticipates for the 2012 London Olympics
Clip begins at: 51:09 - Part 2
- On hosting The Olympics and accenting the human interest stories; on decisions Dick Ebersol has to make as producer of The Olympics
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On the Centennial Park bombing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics; on the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2004 Athens Olympics; on the response he gets to his Olympic coverage and the dynamics of international sports
Clip begins at: 07:21 - On hosting HBO's On the Record with Bob Costas; on filling in for Larry King on Larry King Live
Clip begins at: 17:55 - On covering NBC Football
Clip begins at: 23:32 - On how the business of televised sports has changed; on how his style affects telling the story of sports; on the importance of new media platforms
Clip begins at: 25:13
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