Dan Cook

Daniel John Cook, Jr. (August 12, 1926 – July 3, 2008) was a sports writer for the San Antonio Express-News, where he worked for 51 years.[1] He is most notable for popularizing the phrase "the opera ain't over 'til the fat lady sings."[2] Described as a "sports icon",[1] Cook also was a sports anchor at San Antonio television station KENS from 1956 to 2000.[3] For most of these years, the TV station was owned by the San Antonio Express-News.[4]

Dan Cook
Born(1926-08-12)August 12, 1926
Houston, Texas
DiedJuly 3, 2008(2008-07-03) (aged 81)[1]
San Antonio, Texas
NationalityAmerican
OccupationSports writer
Sports telecaster
Known forSports writer
Sports telecaster
"the opera ain't over till the fat lady sings"

Career

After beginning his sportswriting career at the Houston Post,[5] Cook worked at the San Antonio Express-News from August 14, 1952 until he retired on August 3, 2003.[3] In early 1956, he first made national headlines when, acting on a tip, he confronted a suspect in a Houston robbery and in the process wound up himself arrested and charged with armed robbery.[6] (He would later be exonerated when the suspect confessed to the original crime.) Cook wrote his first sports column for the San Antonio Express-News on November 29, 1956.[2] In addition to his newspaper and television duties, he wrote six columns per week, and had two sports telecasts and two radio commentaries daily. He also served as the Express-News' executive sports editor from 1960 to 1975.[1]

The phrase

He first said the phrase "the opera ain't over until the fat lady sings" on a 1978 newscast discussing the NBA playoff series between the San Antonio Spurs and the Washington Bullets. The phrase was then attributed to Bullets coach Dick Motta, who had borrowed it during Washington's successful 1978 title run.[7]

The Yale Book of Quotations later concluded that it first appeared in print in 1976, attributed to Texas Tech sports information director Ralph Carpenter, and was a variation on an old Southern saying.[1]

Honors and awards

On March 1, 1996, Cook was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame for his work as a columnist and a broadcaster.[3]

Personal life

Cook was born and raised in Houston, Texas.[2] He graduated St. Thomas High School in Houston and attended the University of Houston for two years.[5] He had a wife, Katy, a brother, Frank Cook from Houston, two daughters, Marie Gian of Rockport and Alice Ann Ashton of San Antonio, a son, Danny Cook of San Antonio, and, at the time of his death, three grandchildren.[1]

Death

Cook died on the night of July 3, 2008, after a long illness.[1]

Partial bibliography
  • Cook, Dan (November 2001). The Best of Dan Cook, 1956-1990. Corona Publishing. pp. 245pp. ISBN 978-0-931722-15-8.
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References
  1. Associated Press (2008-07-04). "San Antonio sports icon Dan Cook dead at 81". International Herald-Tribune.
  2. Bailey, W. Scott (2002-03-29). "Dan Cook: The fat lady still isn't ready to sing". San Antonio Business Journal.
  3. Frazzini, Kevin; Michael Knoop (2008-07-04). "Dan Cook's career highlights, controversy". San Antonio Express-News.
  4. "San Antonio sports journalism icon Dan Cook dies". San Antonio Express-News. 2008-07-04.
  5. Whisler, John (2008-07-09). "He was always so humble". San Antonio Express-News.
  6. "Stop the presses". TIME Magazine. 1956-05-07.
  7. Wade, Harless (1988-10-11). "Sports Today". The Dallas Morning News.
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