Those that aren’t familiar with the impact that Ron Cook left on Pittsburgh sports found out exactly what kind he had on Monday.
Cook announced his coming retirement later this week at the beginning of The Cook & Joe Show Monday.
Holding back tears, Joe Starkey and Bob Pompeani rolled out guest after guest, expressing their appreciation and friendship over the years.
Among those who took time to call or send Cook a message on Monday were Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Leyland and Jerome Bettis, two of the names on Cook’s Mount Rushmore.
“You’ve always treated me as a person, not a story,” said Bettis.
“He’s number one on the all-time list,” said Cook about Bettis.
Cook says covering Bettis during Super Bowl XL week in Detroit “the best week of my career, because he gave me total access.”
Another Hall of Famer Jack Ham, called in to say thank you while giving him a hard time as well. “You’ve had an incredible career as a writer and broadcaster.”
Former Pitt Basketball Head Coach Jamie Dixon called in as well. At the time of the hire, Cook wrote that he didn’t’ like the hire, but admitted to Dixon he was completely wrong.
Jamie told Cook it gets it, adding he wasn’t even his wife’s first choice, with a smile on his face.
Cook was also surprised a two-time Super Bowl champion and a man who had his own show on the Fan for seven years, Ben Roethlisberger.
“I wanted to call and congratulate you on your retirement, it just won’t be the same without you.”
Bruce Arians, the man who was Roethlisberger’s offensive coordinator for years also called it.
“I failed at retirement twice, I hope you do better than me,” said Arians
Some of the other big names include former Penguins player Rick Tocchet, legendary hockey announcer Doc Emerick, former Steelers David DeCastro and Alejandro Villanueva, Pirates manager Derek Shelton, former producer Joe Kapp (Horse), Matt Koll (Foalsy), longtime co-worker Ed Bouchette, former Pirates broadcaster Lanny Frattare.
The greatest caller though? Ron’s daughter Taylor who he will meet at the airport on Tuesday to spend some extended time with her.