Howard Cosell Quotes in Ali (2001)

[Ali lifts up Howard Cosell's toupee on national television]

Howard Cosell: [to the camera] We'll be right back.

Muhammad Ali: You want some food for that thing?

Howard Cosell: How could you do something like that to a man you revere?

Muhammad Ali: Cos it's funny.

Muhammad Ali: Man, without me, you'd just be a mouth and a microphone.

Howard Cosell: And without me, you'd just be a mouth.

Howard Cosell: This is tremendous, Don, just tremendous. The atmosphere heavy, uncertain, overtones of ugliness. A reminder, in a way, of how it was in March of 1964 at Miami Beach when Clay met Liston for the first time and nobody was certain how it would turn out. The crowd is tense; they've been here since ten this morning. And... and I think I see... the door beginning to open. El Presidente may be coming out. The door opens. It's he... it's El Presidente waving at the crowd. A shot rings out! He turns... he runs back toward the building, trying to get in. This crowd is going wild. He's caught in a crossfire of bullets. And down! It's over! It's all over for El Presidente!

[last lines]

Howard Cosell: I think we should leave the happy couple on that note. It's hard to tell what may happen in the future. But they may live happily ever after. Again, they may not. Be assured of this, though. Wherever the action is, we will be there with ABC's Wide World of Sports to cover it. Now, on behalf of Nancy and Fielding Mellish and all of the others who have made this possible, this is Howard Cosell thanking you for joining us and wishing you a most pleasant good night.

Howard Cosell: Sir, you've been shot! When did you know it was all over?

Howard Cosell: [after interviewing General Emilio M. Vargas] Well, you've heard it with your own eyes! Now we're going to have to see what the future brings. But right now, from the little dictatorship of San Marcos in Latin America, let's go back to Jim McLean in our studios in New York.