
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, December 3, 1993                   TAG: 9312030256
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Short

BROADCASTERS INDUCT COSELL

Howard Cosell, too ill to appear in person, was inducted into the American Sportscasters Hall of Fame Thursday night by boxing great Muhammad Ali.

"Cancer is only one of Howard's problems," said Shelby Whitfield of ABC Radio Sports, who accepted the honor on Cosell's behalf. "He has had a series of strokes that have left him virtually incapacitated."

Cosell, 73, underwent cancer surgery two years ago.

Ali, the former heavyweight champion, and Cosell rode parallel roads to success at about the same time, with Cosell describing many of Ali's fights.

He was one of the first sportscasters to acknowledge Ali by his new name after he changed it from Cassius Clay, and he supported Ali when the heavyweight champion lost his title for refusing to enter military service during the Vietnam War.

by CNB