Simpson and Gifford Respond to Cosell : O.J. Says of One Incident in Book: ‘It Never Happened That Way’

“Now what in the world would you want to talk to me about?” asked O.J. Simpson, returning a call.

Simpson laughed. He knew exactly what the reporter wanted.

In a chapter excerpted from Howard Cosell’s new book, “I Never Played the Game,” in TV Guide this week, Cosell raps Simpson’s broadcasting but says that his biggest disappointment was not with Simpson as a broadcaster, but as a friend.

The TV Guide excerpt ends before Cosell goes into the problem between him and Simpson.

Simpson, who has seen an advance copy of the book, said the feud Cosell is talking about stems from a line Simpson used during the ABC press conference in which it was announced that Simpson would replace Cosell on “Monday Night Football.”

“I said, ‘Howard can help me with my diction and I can help him with insight into the game,’ ” Simpson said. “I meant it as a gag and used it quite a bit after that. But I guess it bothered Howard.

“What he writes in the book is a great exaggeration. He says that when we talked about it, I was crying and he had to calm me down. I have to take exception with that. It never happened that way.”

About Simpson as Cosell’s replacement on “Monday Night Football,” Cosell writes: “I thought his speech was improving and he could handle the assignment. I was wrong.”

Said Simpson: “He’s probably right. I know I had a problem with my diction. But I’ve worked hard on my speech and I think I have improved.”

Simpson added: “The general attitude around the Monday night crew is, ‘That’s Howard.’ Let him go through what he feels he must do. Maybe he will feel better about it.

“You know, at the start of the season, Joe (Namath) and I were saying that since Howard had now been away from the show for a year, we might not be hearing as much about him as we did last season. But here he is again.”

About Frank Gifford, Cosell writes: “Like President Reagan, he is a Teflon man; no matter how many mistakes he makes during a telecast, no matter how glaring his weaknesses as a performer, nothing sticks to him.”

Answered Gifford: “I really don’t want to say much about it. I haven’t read the book, or any part of it. I really doubt that I will. But I’ve sure heard a lot about it.

“I don’t understand the purpose. I don’t understand why. It’s really kind of sad when you think about it. Here, at the end of his career, he is so bitter that he has to go flailing away at everyone. It’s really a pity.”