After all, is football a game or a religion?

The two seemed to be friends despite their very different personalities and complemented each other in broadcasts. During his time in the service he married Mary Edith Abrams in 1944 in a judge's chambers in Brooklyn. Mahler's confusion could have arisen from a 1974 documentary entitled "The Bronx is Burning": it is likely Mahler confused the documentary with his recollection of Cosell's comments when writing his book.

Cosell said of himself "Arrogant pompous obnoxious vain cruel verbose a showoff. There's no question that I'm all of those things.