Howard Cosell interviews John Lennon during a 1974 MNF Broadcast

It was 30 years ago today that John Lennon was shot and killed outside his apartment building in Manhattan, a brilliant artist taken too early from this life by a madman. Most of us first heard about Lennon’s death during a Monday Night Football broadcast, in which the legendary Howard Cosell was faced with the difficult task of breaking this tragic news to the world.

ESPN’s Outside the Lines recently released this fascinating behind-the-scenes audio of Cosell and his broadcast partner Frank Gifford receiving the news during a commercial timeout:

It’s an amazing insight to hear Cosell struggle with how he’s going to fit the newsflash into the flow of the game, and ask his producers how to handle it. But perhaps more interesting is Gifford stepping in as the voice of reason, imploring Cosell that it was their duty to broadcast the news:

“If we know it, we’ve gotta do it … Don’t hang on it. It’s a tragic moment gonna and this is going to shake up the whole world.”

And the rest, as they say, is history …

WATCH THE MNF BROADCAST OF COSELL ANNOUNCING LENNON’S DEATH AFTER THE JUMP

(Photoshop/hack job by ArtieFufkin)

Psychological warfare has long been an important part of military strategy.  From Alexander the Great to Ghengis Khan to Winston Churchill, world leaders have always used propaganda and other psychological tactics to get into the minds of their enemies.

And now, NewsRadio WTMJ reports that Iraqi detainees have been targeting American soldiers with their own brand of psychological warfare.  One in which they’re using our own sports heroes against us!:

According to a military official, detainees at a Wisconsin National Guard camp in Iraq are using Brett Favre as a manner of getting at the guard troops there.

“They know Favre by name,” said First Lieutenant Tim Boehnen, who is from New Richmond, Wis.

“One of the big words they know now is shenanigan. They’ll constantly talk about ‘Favre shenanigans,’ ‘He’s so good for the Vikings,’ and ‘The Packers have got to really feel bad about that one.’ “

Apparently the Cheesehead troops were outfitting their camp with Packer green & gold, which gave their prisoners the opening they were looking for.  The next plan is to taunt the Oakland National Guard about JaMarcus Russell until they break down in tears.  And then everyone will escape.  And the very fabric of our society will crumble.  Way to go, Al Davis.

Maualuga, Polamalu, Peko and Tatupu (clockwise from top-L)

We had been writing an article for the past couple of weeks now about the influx of Samoan talent in the NFL lately.  Athletes like Junior Seau, Lofa Tatupu, Troy Polamalu and rookie Rey Maualuga have all put their stamp on the game, and you can’t help but notice the recent trend in the league of large gentlemen flying around the field with long locks of hair overflowing from their helmets.

There are currently over 30 NFL players with ties to Samoa (5 of whom were born there), and all of them are reeling after a tsunami hit the area on Tuesday, claiming over 170 lives.  So while most players are doing last minute preparation for tomorrow’s games, these players were briefed today on the status of recovery and relief in their homeland.

“There’s a lot more Samoans in the NFL now, and it hit a lot of us, it really hit home,” said Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Domata Peko, an American Samoa native, following a briefing with Federal Emergency Management Agency and Red Cross officials. “We’re real concerned, and we’re going to do all we can to raise as much money as we can to help out the people of Samoa.”  He encouraged people to go the Red Cross Web site to aid victims of Tuesday’s earthquake and tsunami.

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Paul Soliai mourned the deaths of at least two relatives in the Samoas this week – and feared the family toll could get worse.

Clearly, these players have bigger things on their mind this weekend.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families, and those affected by this tragedy.

CONTINUE READING AFTER THE JUMP FOR MORE FACTS ABOUT SAMOANS IN THE NFL

A few more facts about Samoans and football from NFL.com:

• In the last five years, 15 percent of boys playing football for the Samoa Island’s six high schools have earned football scholarships from American universities, according to a recent Washington Post report.
• It has been estimated that a Samoan boy is 40 times more likely to reach the NFL than a boy growing up in the United States.
• There are an estimated half million Samoans in the world, and more than 200 play Division I college football.