A labor attorney who became a prominent sports broadcaster with ABC from 1953-1985.

• A. Howard Cosell
• B. Jim McKay
• C. Bob Costas
• D. Al Michaels

Answer: (A)

This item centers on a person who trained as a labor attorney and then became a defining voice in ABC’s sports coverage starting in the early 1950s and continuing through the mid-1980s. Howard Cosell fits this exact story: he earned a legal education and practiced law before turning to broadcasting, joining ABC’s sports team in 1953. He became one of the most recognizable voices in American sports, especially as a key commentator on Monday Night Football beginning in 1970, a role he held through 1985. His legal background contributed to his sharp, analytical commentary and willingness to challenge players and conventional narratives, which helped shape the style and tone of sports broadcasting during that era.

Jim McKay is celebrated for his work as a host and anchor on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and Olympic coverage, but he did not come from a labor-law background. Bob Costas and Al Michaels are renowned broadcasters with strong ties to other networks and eras, not the labor-attorney-to-ABC-broadcaster path from 1953–1985.