Recollections of Beano Cook

Beano’s death hurts even more today. These are the first few days in a long time that I can not call him. Surely, it is a long distance call to him now. That reminds me of something he once wrote to me regarding my quite frequent calls to him in Pittsburgh from my New York residence. He quipped that his phone stock must double because of my calls. Regarding the phone company, he said on the air “it was the only thing that worked in this country and now they are breaking it up.”

Beano did not realize all that he accomplished and would be astounded at all the tributes to him upon his death. At times, I would call him and without saying anything play one of his on air comments. I found one recently; Nebraska is a juggernaut, unbeaten and playing at Oklahoma in their regular season finale. The year is 1983 and though I am a part of the Scoreboard Show I am not there that day. On that show, Beano picks Nebraska to win (28-21). Late in the game Nebraska leads (28-21) but Oklahoma has the ball first and goal around the Nebraska five. The game has “mythical national championship” implications but someone wagered the total points in the game would exceed fifty and that is “more important.” At that point, “that someone” remembers Beano’s pick and though he likes Beano and knows an “exact pick” will help him, “that someone” wants Oklahoma to score. When the game ends (28-21) Nebraska and two days later Beano’s “exact pick” is hailed in USA Today “that someone” laments, why did Beano have to be that good! He surely was that good and not just at picking games.

It is early morning and there will be more Beano stories in the days to come. I truly regret not doing a “Beano you are dead” tape that he would have balked at but loved to have completed. My first year with the show another great, Jack Whitaker (you think he had a father in the business as with these “nepotism” cases who flood the airwaves today!) was on air with Beano and host, Jim Lampley. After one of the shows, Whitaker asked me if I knew what Beano would like to happen on his last day on earth? I do not and he tells me. One “thing” is he loves Stefanie Powers and years later, ESPN (They had some nice tributes to Beano after his death) had Ms.Powers call Beano and flirt with him on the air.

Another involves the success of his picks; wanting wins in the east and then the west. So help me, the following happened: For some reason, the after work establishment the ABC people were in allowed a number of dogs to run within its confines that day. The next day, NFL Sunday, all five or so underdogs (called dogs in betting parlance) picked by Beano won their games, minimum within the “bettors point spread” as Lampley called it and some had outright victories. The dogs running about were a “sign.”

Followup on Stefanie Powers, who was gracious when I interviewed her some years back. She really “perked up” when I told her that I was Beano’s friend. She declared her “love” for him playing it for all it was worth and then some. The next day I played the tape for Beano. Usually, Beano was not impressed by tapes or more concerned with his Sunday morning news shows. On this occasion he was impressed, surprised and delighted.

Stefanie Powers

Beano Cook