Keith Olbermann: From Cornell Communications to Political Commentary
Keith Olbermann, a prominent figure in American media, has carved a distinctive path through the realms of sports journalism and political commentary. His career, marked by sharp intellect, unwavering conviction, and a penchant for controversy, began to take shape during his formative years at Cornell University, where he pursued a degree in communications arts. This educational foundation, coupled with early broadcasting experiences, laid the groundwork for a multifaceted career that would see him become a household name on both sports and news networks.
The Cornell Years: A Crucible for Broadcast Talent
Olbermann entered Cornell at the young age of 16, a year younger than his classmates. His academic journey was initially steered towards Boston University, where he held a full scholarship, and even received a rejection from Harvard. However, a realization that a communications major at Boston University necessitated a two-year preliminary liberal arts program led him to choose Cornell. He arrived at Cornell with little knowledge of the campus radio station, WVBR, but found it to be an unparalleled training ground. "There is nothing that I have experienced professionally that I did not experience there," Olbermann remarked, highlighting the station's competitive spirit, which rivaled professional outlets, and the presence of office politics and professional ambitions mirroring those he would encounter later in his career.
His time at WVBR was not without its academic challenges. To graduate, Olbermann had to complete 28 credits in his senior spring semester, and he was uncertain until the day before graduation whether he would officially be a member of the Class of 1979. "It was a little stressful," he stated sarcastically, even admitting to dreaming about it recently. While not a regular attendee of hockey games, he occasionally covered playoff matches for WVBR, recalling a particularly dramatic 1979 game where the Red's came back from a 5-1 deficit to win in overtime. This experience, he noted, rivaled even his coverage of the 1980 Olympics, including the iconic "Miracle on Ice" game against Russia. During his college years, he also briefly worked for The Sun newspaper.
The Ascent in Sports Journalism: From Local Radio to ESPN's SportsCenter
Olbermann's professional career began with a stint at UPI and RKO Radio, followed by an early role at CNN in 1981. He then transitioned to local television, serving as a sports anchor at WCVB-TV in Boston in 1984. Subsequently, he relocated to Los Angeles, dedicating five years to radio sports broadcasting, where he amassed an impressive eleven Golden Mike Awards and was recognized as Best Sportscaster of the Year three times. His audience significantly broadened in 1992 when he joined ESPN as a co-host of SportsCenter, a role he held until 1997. It was during this period that he and Dan Patrick formed a popular and influential anchor team, shaping the show's dynamic for a generation of sports fans.
Olbermann's tenure at ESPN was characterized by a drive for professionalism that, at times, contrasted with the network's early operational standards. He recalled that until the year before his departure, ESPN lacked dedicated makeup artists, a reality reflected in the candid commercials featuring him and Dan Patrick in the bathroom. This contrasted sharply with his later experience at Fox Sports, where, on the broadcast side, a dedicated staff member was available to provide breakfast menus. "At Fox [on the broadcast side], there was a guy whose job it was to bring us menus for breakfast. His name was Dan. He was Dan the breakfast man," Olbermann observed.
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His career in sports journalism extended beyond ESPN. He worked for NBC and Fox, covering major sporting events such as a Super Bowl, a World Series, and several All-Star Games. He also anchored nightly and weekly sports news shows on Fox Sports Net. Comparing Fox Sports to ESPN at the time, Olbermann noted, "Fox Sports was an infant trying to stand [in comparison to ESPN]," but on the broadcast side, he felt there was "no comparison -- ESPN was the bush leagues." After leaving ESPN in 1997, he moved to NBC, which included work for NBC Sports and hosting a new "news variety" show on MSNBC.
The Pivot to News: MSNBC, Frustration, and a Return to Form
Olbermann's foray into news broadcasting began in 1997 with MSNBC's "The Big Show." This one-hour program typically delved into three or four distinct topics. However, the escalating Clinton-Lewinsky investigations profoundly impacted the show's focus, leading to Olbermann's growing frustration. "About three weeks ago I awakened from my stupor on this subject and told my employers that I simply could not continue doing this show about the endless investigation and the investigation of the investigation, and the investigation of the investigation of the investigation," Olbermann stated in a 1997 convocation speech. This dissatisfaction ultimately led to his departure from MSNBC.
He later returned to news as a freelance reporter for CNN, and then rejoined MSNBC in 2003. The impetus for his return was the creation of "Countdown with Keith Olbermann." Neil Shapiro, then president of NBC News, was drawn to the program's title and its concept of freeing a newscast from the necessity of leading with the day's most prominent news. Olbermann found this role to be his most enjoyable to date. "The fit cannot be better," he expressed. "I get bored from covering just one story. I need a format in which I can express different sides. This format allows me to do that. It lets me do what I want to do." Under his tenure, the show's ratings doubled within its first year and a half. Olbermann recognized the importance of sustained presence, stating, "The key to success in television is longevity. If we are still doing this show a year-and-a-half from now, I think we'll be doing pretty good." He also acknowledged the demanding nature of the role, admitting, "I worry sometimes whether I can write 6,000 words every day, but it has gone very well."
The structure of "Countdown" was unique, typically featuring Olbermann ranking the five biggest news stories of the day. The initial segments often focused on government, politics, and world events, with the top-ranked stories sometimes veering into lighter fare, including celebrities, sports, and the bizarre in a segment he dubbed "Oddball." Olbermann offered his commentary and engaged in interviews, though he faced criticism for allegedly featuring only like-minded guests. In a poignant nod to broadcast history, Olbermann concluded each show for the final six years by noting the number of days since President George W. Bush had declared the end of "major combat operations" in Iraq. He would then crumple his notes and toss them at the camera, echoing Edward R. Murrow's sign-off with "Good night and good luck."
The 2004 Election Irregularities: A Deep Dive into Voting System Flaws
A significant period of Olbermann's career at MSNBC was marked by his in-depth coverage of the voting irregularities in the 2004 presidential election. This story, which he felt compelled to investigate, stemmed from a seemingly innocuous report about a "lockdown" at a Warren County, Ohio courthouse due to a "terrorist threat" on the election night. Olbermann found this explanation inherently suspicious. As he encountered numerous other reports of minor voting inaccuracies, it became evident to him that there was a pattern suggesting widespread issues. "Suddenly it was clear to me that there were a large number of stories suggesting widespread voting irregularities," he stated. He further observed, "At a minimum we know the election hardware is not working."
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When questioned about the lack of coverage from other major news personalities, Olbermann speculated on several reasons. He suggested that after Kerry conceded, political reporters might have taken time off. He also pointed to the networks' negative experiences in 2000, when they were heavily criticized by newspapers for their election coverage, leading to a reluctance to face similar scrutiny again. "This time, nobody got beaten up," he noted. Olbermann also highlighted the networks' hesitation to address problems with exit polls and the tendency of political reporters to follow the lead of Democratic and Republican party statements. "If there was a prominent Democrat saying this, it would be front page news," he remarked.
Olbermann was unequivocal about the need to address these issues. "I don't think there is any question that Ohio messed up the election [in some way]. The question is: was it deliberate or accidental? And I don't really care which answer is correct," he asserted. He pointed to instances like precincts in Ohio requesting more machines due to long lines and waits, describing these as "suggestive facts." He argued for ventilation of the issue to understand the flaws in the voting machines: "The only way that we can find out what happened is to ventilate the issue and find out what's wrong with these 'Rube Goldberg' voting machines." He warned of the consequences of inaction, stating, "There is no national standard for elections, and if we don't get one, we are going to have an election just like the one in the Ukraine."
The potential ramifications of overturning the Ohio result were also a subject of Olbermann's analysis. He considered it "political science fiction" but fascinating to contemplate the Republican response. He posited that Republican members of Congress would face a difficult choice: support the President and risk their own seats, or prioritize self-preservation. "We have proved time and time again that self-interest will trump party interests. This could become a non-partisan issue," Olbermann concluded.
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