She has paved the way for generations of women to follow in her footsteps. She’s a force, a visionary, a voice; most importantly she’s an inspirer. Linda Cohn sat down with Sports As Told By A Girl to recap her journey to the top, and reveal some of her most valuable advice for those of us striving to achieve her greatness.
SPORTSASTOLD: As an athlete during your high school and college years, was it always your goal to eventually be a sportscaster or did you ever consider exploring the route of becoming a professional athlete?
LINDA COHN: Great question. It was so long ago, as I date myself, that if there was a place as there is now for women playing hockey such as the NWHL, there is no question I would have pursued that. I’m so competitive. I love hockey to this day.
As recently as September I was in my full equipment and goalie skates for a charity event; so I would have done it even though the money isn’t great- that’s number one. Number two, there wasn’t anything like that, so I took that competitive fire that I had from playing sports and I attempted to become something in sports where I could get paid.
I always had this philosophy; where I wanted to be on television first, it didn’t happen that way. I ended up being on the radio, but I never gave up my dream to be on T.V. and I always had a back up plan. If I couldn’t get into sports broadcasting- in any capacity- then I would be a part of a team and go into public relations, so sports could be something that was my occupation. I really loved it so much. It was a huge part of my childhood in so many ways.
SPORTSASTOLD: Touching upon that, you’ve attributed your love of sports to your father from growing up and watching sports with him; what advice did he give you when you decided to dive into sports at a time where it really was such a man’s world?
LC: Not only my dad, but my mom too, they were always so positive. When I went to college it was the late 70’s into the early 80’s and there were really no women in this field that, let’s say, were super critical at that time. With that, it was really a pipe dream to many but my parents always thought that anything was possible and they really kept my spirits up in every way. Even when I was in college and facing rejections left and right, the parental support- people around you have to be positive. You have to rid yourself of the negative around you. I tell young people that all the time. Even if it means cutting the chord with friends from your childhood who has just turned into Ms & Mr. Negative. You don’t what that around you.
You know, family you can manage. You can’t cut the chord but you can lessen the amount of time you spend with them, but friends you can have control over that.
SPORTSASTOLD: Was there anyone in the early stages of your career that took you under their wing especially when you got to ESPN, that helped open the door for you and mentor you to get you moving forward in your career?
LC: Once I got to ESPN there really wasn’t anyone in particular because they really have this – to their credit, they’re ESPN- when they hire you they expect you to be what they see of you. To that, it’s not only an instant success, but someone who can grow even bigger and grow while they’re at ESPN.
I had several guiding lights, but at that time there weren’t a lot of women. I started in 1992, so at the time Robin Roberts was still there and she was great. I asked her, “what is your secret?” And I’ll always remember the advice she gave, and when I saw her a few years ago I brought it up to her how that stuck with me. The advice she gave was that you have to come here and believe that you’re the best sportscaster here at ESPN. You have to shake off anything you feel was a bad moment. It’s really about having that inner swag and knowing you’re here for a reason and owning it.
SPORTASTOLD: You are the longest tenured anchor on SportsCenter, how does that feel as far as where you’ve come from in your career? Is this your top accomplishment, what’s next?
LC: One day I’ll look back on that knowing I’ve done the most SportsCenters, but really it’s about how I just kept my head down and powering through with a smile on my face. It’s not always what we think it is, it’s not always like a SportsCenter commercial where it’s all fun and games- but then again it is a lot like that. You’re working with people who love sports like you, which is great.
Now since doing a nightly show on ESPN+, In the Crease, is a big deal for me. My own show, doing hockey every night; hockey analysis, highlights, having fun – and let’s face it, that’s where the field is going regarding sport casting. Plus is like the Netflix of ESPN; it’s watching things when you want.
SPORTSASTOLD: We love hockey as Sports As Told By A Girl. I personally went to St. John’s for Sports Management myself. The field is growing and it’s great now how women don’t have to be afraid to dive in. We can sit and talk the talk with guys.
LC: Right! For sure. I think little by little guys are appreciating and respecting women, because women still have to prove themselves more than a guy, but that’s just the way it is, you know? You can prove yourself and prove that you belong.
That’s a big message of mine too, that in today’s society we expect people- whether it’s young people or older people- to be treated equally in the field, but I still feel whether you’re male or female, you still have to prove that you belong. Just saying, “hey I’m a woman and you don’t have women doing this job”, no. That’s not a reason. I mean, you have to prove that you belong and that you know what you’re talking about. That’s how were all earn respect- male or female. That’s how we earn all respect. We do our job, we have something to offer, we have value, and don’t expect to have anything on a platter.
Its doesn’t matter how times have changed, but thank goodness that women are being looked at equally, which is what I love. That women are getting the opportunity to prove that women are just as good – if not, better- than a guy applying for the same job. That’s where I think the biggest victory has been.
SPORTASTOLD: You, across the industry, are a pioneer. You have opened so many doors for women who want to be part of sports. Aside from what you’ve already expressed, what advice do you have for someone like me, who went to school to be in sports, what is that one key piece of advice you would share? What do you want to tell them?
LC: Just keep pushing. What’s great about young people like you, you have the opportunity to get your face, your voice, out there. Don’t try to go after your job that you might love to go after in a conventional way. Think about, “how you can set yourself apart. How do you get someone’s attention?”
My dad gave me great advice back in the day. You never want to look back and say you didn’t go all out. Try 110%. You’re going to look back and say, “I don’t believe it”, because someone is going to get the job that you didn’t even though they has less qualifications or less value. I think that’s really what it is. You never want to look back and say you didn’t give it your all to get you so-called dream job. That’s why I say keep pushing and striving.
The other thing is, please, don’t base the present on the past. Meaning if you tried to go somewhere 4 months ago and you were shut down, or someone told you, you didn’t have enough experience, circle back and go at it again! Maybe go from a different direction, but don’t give up on your dream just because six months ago no one was calling you.
SPORTSASTOLD: If you look back on your career to this point, can you pinpoint one defining moment that helped you decide who you wanted to be as far as not only a woman in sports, but as a career woman? Was there an interview, a moment, a game that you had that moment when you said to yourself, this is it. This is who I’m going to be. This is who I want people to know me as?
LC: Well I think there were a lot of moments. When I made it to SportsCenter and was on regularly; and when athletes would come up to me. They wouldn’t just give me a head nod acknowledging I was on EPSN. They would come up to me and say, “you do a good job”, or “you look out for us”. I felt their respect of me. I felt it because they wanted to sit and talk with me; they wanted to chat with me without the mic and camera on so they could let down their guard. They trusted me to do so. That was big. That was when I knew I was communicating my passion. I was communicating what really makes me glow to the outside world.
The other aspect when I knew I made it was when guys would approach as viewers of me and say, “ hey, I’ve never cared to watch sports from a a woman before you came along”; and they would always preface that with the, “don’t take this the wrong way”. But I never took it the wrong way. To me, that’s just another way of knowing I needed to keep getting better and doing what I was doing. That’s how you know you’ve made it; when people take their time to tell you in an articulate fashion- whether it’s athletes or viewers- to keep doing what you’re doing.
SPORTSASTOLD: Before we wrap up- let’s talk baseball. You’re an avid New York sports fan. What are you hoping to see next year from the Mets & the Yanks.
LC: I grew up a Mets fan and I know they made a deal to get Robinson Cano. I know all Mets fans can relate to this, we love to go out and get guys who are past their prime. I’m hoping for the best. But the Yankees, they always seem to find a way.
