Linda Cohn
Encyclopedia
Linda Cohn is an American
sportscaster
. She regularly anchors ESPN
's SportsCenter
.
er, demonstrated talent at ice hockey
, making her high school's boys team. She is also an avid New York Giants
, New York Mets
, New York Knicks
and New York Rangers
fan.
After graduating from Newfield High School
, based in Selden
on Long Island
, Cohn attended SUNY at Oswego
, graduating with a bachelors degree in arts and communications in 1981. She was also the goalie for the women's ice hockey team at Oswego and was inducted to the Oswego State athletics hall of fame in 2006.
, New York
-based radio station
WALK-AM (also WALK-FM). After leaving that station in 1984, she worked as a sports anchor for four other New York area radio stations until 1987. The most notable stop was a brief stint as an update person at WFAN
, New York.
female sports anchor on a national radio network when she was hired by ABC
. She anchored WABC TalkRadio from 1987–89. In 1988, Cohn got her first television break, after being hired by what was at the time one of ESPN's top competitors, SportsChannel America
. In 1989, she hosted a call-in radio sports show back home in New York.
Cohn was a reporter at the SportsChannel America Network before being hired by KIRO-TV
in Seattle, Washington to work as a sports anchor there.
, and has since become a familiar face among SportsCenter viewers. She has also been featured in many of the show's comical This is SportsCenter
commercials.
In 2005, Cohn signed a contract extension with ESPN, which added play-by-play for WNBA
telecasts to her duties.
On June 20, 2008, ESPN announced that Cohn would be a regular anchor for the new morning block of SportsCenter, which launched on August 11. She would have been the co-anchor, alongside Steve Berthiaume
, of the first three hours of the block, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET
on weekdays. Several weeks later, though, ESPN announced that the new SportsCenter morning block would be scaled back from nine to six hours.
Cohn continues to regularly anchor SportsCenter, which she has been doing since 1992.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
. She regularly anchors ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
.
Early life and education
As a teenager, Cohn, a New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
er, demonstrated talent at ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, making her high school's boys team. She is also an avid New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
fan.
After graduating from Newfield High School
Newfield High School
Newfield High School is a public high school in Selden, New York, which is located in Suffolk County, Long Island in the United States. It is located 1 mile north of Middle Country Road on Marshall Drive.-History and Overview:...
, based in Selden
Selden, New York
Selden is a hamlet in the town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 21,861 at the 2000 census.-Early Settlement:...
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, Cohn attended SUNY at Oswego
State University of New York at Oswego
State University of New York at Oswego, also known as SUNY Oswego and Oswego State, is a public university in the City of Oswego and Town of Oswego, New York, on the shore of Lake Ontario...
, graduating with a bachelors degree in arts and communications in 1981. She was also the goalie for the women's ice hockey team at Oswego and was inducted to the Oswego State athletics hall of fame in 2006.
Early years
In 1981, Cohn debuted as a sports anchor for the PatchoguePatchogue, New York
-Notable citizens:* Franc D'Ambrosio, Broadway Actor, best known for being the longest running Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. Graduated Pat-Med HS 1981* Michael Fagan, professional bowler...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
WALK-AM (also WALK-FM). After leaving that station in 1984, she worked as a sports anchor for four other New York area radio stations until 1987. The most notable stop was a brief stint as an update person at WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
, New York.
1987–1991
In 1987, Cohn made sportscasting history by becoming the first full-time U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
female sports anchor on a national radio network when she was hired by ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. She anchored WABC TalkRadio from 1987–89. In 1988, Cohn got her first television break, after being hired by what was at the time one of ESPN's top competitors, SportsChannel America
SportsChannel America
SportsChannel America was a cable television network operated by Cablevision. It was the country's first regional sports network, and thus an important ancestor to many of the United States' regional sports outlets, especially Fox Sports Net and Comcast SportsNet. SportsChannel New York was the...
. In 1989, she hosted a call-in radio sports show back home in New York.
Cohn was a reporter at the SportsChannel America Network before being hired by KIRO-TV
KIRO-TV
KIRO-TV, virtual channel 7, is the CBS affiliate television station in Seattle, Washington. It broadcasts on digital channel 39. The station's offices and broadcasting center are located near Seattle Center in Belltown, and its transmitter is located on Queen Anne Hill...
in Seattle, Washington to work as a sports anchor there.
ESPN
Cohn returned to the East Coast in 1992, when she was hired by ESPN to work on SportsCenterSportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
, and has since become a familiar face among SportsCenter viewers. She has also been featured in many of the show's comical This is SportsCenter
This is SportsCenter
This is SportsCenter is the name of a series of comical television commercials run by ESPN to promote their SportsCenter sports news show. The ads are presented in a deadpan mockumentary style, lampooning various aspects of sports, and sports broadcasting. The commercials debuted in 1994...
commercials.
In 2005, Cohn signed a contract extension with ESPN, which added play-by-play for WNBA
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
telecasts to her duties.
On June 20, 2008, ESPN announced that Cohn would be a regular anchor for the new morning block of SportsCenter, which launched on August 11. She would have been the co-anchor, alongside Steve Berthiaume
Steve Berthiaume
Steve Berthiaume is an anchor on ESPN and a former sportscaster for SportsNet New York . He is married to current SportsCenter anchor Cindy Brunson...
, of the first three hours of the block, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET
Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
on weekdays. Several weeks later, though, ESPN announced that the new SportsCenter morning block would be scaled back from nine to six hours.
Cohn continues to regularly anchor SportsCenter, which she has been doing since 1992.