Howard Cosell Exposes Sham of Smith & Carlos Expulsion from 1968 Olympics - ABC News - 10/18/1968 

Cosell's analysis here is dead on... and way ahead of its time. A courageous commentary.

Say what you want about Howard Cosell, but as a black guy, I always admired and respected him for courageously speaking out on racial injustice and defending black athletes like Tommie Smith and Muhammad Ali. He was the first to refer to Ali by his Muslim name when other sport announcers insisted on calling him Cassius Clay. RIP..

Holy cow, you have to praise the man for his ability to stand up for these guys especially during this time period when they were facing near-universal condemnation in the media and public

52 years and we're still fighting this battle. I hope that 2020 will be a turning point worth remembering

Only Cosell ! What a iconic journalist, a ONE of a kind.

Damn Cosell, I'm impressed.....

I could NEVER have done better than Cosell myself!! Well said, Howard!! :) :)

That was a bold statement from Howard Cosell two years before I was born.

This guy went hard!!

Howard...tell us what you really think. Respect.

Yes Howard Cosell

You will never get THAT kind of commentary in the last 40 years on a television broadcast. Those bad old days are long gone, it's all smooth commercial moves now.

"... He's aware of backlash and has had it for 400 years." ✌️

cosell always meant the very best. he's one of the few announcers or teams that make a big fight feel like a big fight for me. i can't explain it better than that, without howard cosell, jim lampley, or a few others, they don't feel like big fights. here he goes way beyond sports and sticks his neck and his job out to try and give a little bit back. he makes a living, after all, in part on the work of spectacular black athletes. ali made howard, surely, but howard had his back and helped him whenever he could. that's how it ought to be.

The IOC would have had Cosell thrown out one second after he said this. Because he spoke truth.

This was Broadcasting as it was meant to be. In 1968, ABC was owned by an entity named "American Broadcasting Companies." Not Cap Cities, Not Disney...ABC in 1968 had in its employ, several Giants of the medium of Television; people who understood the importance of Broadcasting. People like Leonard Goldenson, Roone Arledge, Howard Cosell and Jim McKay - and many more, both on the screen and behind the scenes. Mr. Cosell's editorial was ABC at its best; along with Mr. McKay's reporting of the tragic events at Munich, 1972. These are the moments that transcend quotidian reportage - the powerful, visceral moments that touch human hearts and souls forever. It was Broadcasting, "The ABC Way." Regretfully - it's all gone; because sadly, when it comes to people like the aforementioned: "They're All Gone."

Wow - what wonderful words from the great Howard.

I ♥️ & respect this man totally.

0:32 Do you hear this, Laura Ingraham?!

Interesting I HD never seen Howard Cosels post commentary before and it strikes a chord for human decency everywhere.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos were right.

Hoo Hoo Cosell telling it like it was some 53 years ago... And how he lambasted the USOC in the process. The fight goes on.

tell it Howard!

This man called it for what it is here! Tough!

And this was 1968 . . . 😩

Omg I didn't know this type of criticism was possible in American tv back then with all the background and social tension at the time. Spot on though.

Howard is spot on

Howard Cosell Telling it like it is 💯💯💯😎

Wow. That took my respect for Howard Cosell way, way up! THAT was real courage in the flesh.

Howard Cosell and his rambling commentary and bloated ego got on my nerves to the nth degree. But he ALWAYS saw athletes as people first. He respected an intelligent point of view, even if it was unpopular. He was spot on with his analysis of the USOC and their actions. He actually was angry as he called them out. He just “got it.”

HOWARD !!! BOMBAYE !!!

I agree with Mr. Cowell. Thank you Mr. Carlos, Mr. Smith, and the late great Australian Mr. Norman for the stand you all took that October day in 1968

Preach. Musberger went typical..

Too bad no modern announcer has had the balls to stand up like this for the peaceful protests of athletes across multiple sports over the last 4 years.

Why don't you tell us what you really think, Howard? :-O :-D I remember this incident very well and I agree with Cosell 100%.

WOW! If howard could say that in 1968 then everyone in 2022 should be able to do the same!!!!

do you have a longer version of this broadcast?

Would ♥️ to read comments at Breitbart if this was posted there.🤪

Boom!💣💥

🔥🔥🔥🔥

Tommy Smith and John Carlos Won! Peter Norton gave them the gloves

Ali's influence