Ariel Helwani speaks to basketball and sports broadcasting legend Bob Costas.
For many sports fans in North America, one singular voice has dominated the sports broadcasting landscape over the last forty-plus years. Celebrated for his unmatched abilities, spine-tingling calls, brutal honesty, and unwavering calmness in the most chaotic of moments, Bob Costas is the gold standard of sports broadcasting. And despite his decades of World Series, Super Bowl, and Olympics broadcasting experience, it’s perhaps his coverage of the NBA in the 1990s that sports fans remember most fondly. And on today’s episode, Costas joins Ariel Helwani to look back on not just a period many consider to be the best era of NBA basketball, but also to reflect on a career that’s spanned multiple sports, countless iconic moments, and generations past and present. Together, the two Syracuse alumni discuss:
– Why we look back so fondly to the NBA on NBC era of the 1990s
– His legendary call of the 1998 NBA Finals, an era-defining moment we often look back on when remembering the glory of Michael Jordan’s Bulls
– What it was like to relive the magic of the ’90s by watching “The Last Dance” during the COVID-19 pandemic
– His bone-chilling memories of broadcasting during the NBA Finals on June 17, 1994 — the day of the infamous O.J. Simpson chase — and what he would do differently if he could do that day all over again
– Hosting NBC’s coverage of the 1992 Summer Olympics and his favorite memories of “The Dream Team”
– His relationship with the late NBA commissioner David Stern and whether Stern ever reprimanded him for his tough line of questioning in their conversations
– The current state of NBA broadcasting
Plus, Costas tells us whether he has any interest in covering the NBA ever again. Bob Costas is a titan of American sports broadcasting. From 1980-2019, he worked for NBC Sports, where he covered the NBA, MLB, and NFL. In addition, he hosted NBC’s coverage of 12 Olympic Games. The 2018 winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for MLB broadcasting, Costas is also a 28-time Emmy Award winner. We could go on about his endless accolades, but you get the point. Audio clips courtesy of NBC Sports.
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10 Comments
Bob's recollection of the night of the OJ Simpson car chase night – and what he'd have done differently – was fascinating.
In the realm of combat sports, a tale unfurled,
Of a reporter named Ariel, who challenged the world.
With pen and microphone, his passion ablaze,
He sought to bring stories from the MMA maze.
But obstacles arose, in the form of one man,
Dana White, a figure with a heavy hand.
He aimed to keep Ariel silent, his voice suppressed,
To diminish his presence, to deny him his best.
Ridicule and unfair treatment, Dana did bestow,
Mocking Ariel's tears, for he dared to show,
Emotions that were deemed unfit for a man,
But Ariel stood strong, his spirit would not bend.
Dana dragged his kids into the conversation,
Shaming him as a father, with cruel insinuation.
But Ariel held his ground, refused to be shaken,
For his strength came from within, never to be taken.
Years passed by, the tides began to turn,
For the world witnessed Dana's actions, hard to discern.
He slapped his wife, an act of aggression,
A stain on his character, a public confession.
In that moment, Ariel stood tall and strong,
The tables had turned, justice sang its song.
No longer the target of ridicule and scorn,
He emerged as a symbol, adversity reborn.
For in the face of adversity, he found his might,
Overcoming Dana's attempts to smother his light.
His journey a testament to resilience and grace,
Ariel Helwani, a symbol of triumph in this space.
So let this tale remind us, in moments of despair,
That even in darkness, hope will always be there.
For those who face ridicule and unjust plight,
Remember Ariel's story, and keep fighting the fight.
Congrats on this one. Bucket list. Pun intended
🔥🔥
Costas is the best
Absolutely fantastic questions and interview. Fantastic Ariel!
They had car phones then not really cell phones 25:25 lol. Good interview
Imagine not asking bob costas on his vince mcmahon interviews!
Great job on the interview today!
P.S.: NBA can possibly return to NBC in 2 years from now. I’m very ecstatic about it.
Yea Ahmad Rashad was a big part of NBA on NBC. NBA Inside Stuff was big with the youth as well.