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Jack Kent Cooke Quotes

Quotes made by and about Washington Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke, who died Sunday:

"I am in a state of ecstasy. Never mind that nonsense about euphoria and so on, it is sheer unadulterated, uncompromising ecstasy.'' — Cooke, during the locker room celebration after the Redskins won the 1983 Super Bowl.

"Having this interest here in the Redskins is the chief hobby of my life. And I would bet you that if you had your choice of any hobby in the world, an angel fairy came down and said, '[You can have anything] in the world you would like to own,' I wouldn't be surprised if you said a football club and particularly the Washington Redskins.'' — Jack Kent Cooke, at the Redskins mini-camp in spring 1996.

"Nobody's going to write a book about me [50 years from now], because nobody's going to find anything worth writing a book about.'' — Cooke, summer 1995.

"I have spoken to many, many Indian chiefs who say they have no objection whatsoever to the nickname. As far as I'm concerned, it's a dead issue. I'm not even interested in it. The name of the Redskins will remain the Redskins.'' — Jack Kent Cooke, March 1994.

"I don't intend to die.'' — Cooke, quoted in Sports Illustrated, Dec. 16, 1991.

"I didn't like him as a person. Nobody did. He wouldn't let you. The man didn't know how to relax.'' — Hot Rod Hundley, who worked for Cooke as a broadcaster for the Los Angeles Lakers, from the same SI article.

"He was a tough negotiator. He wouldn't have made all his money if he had been a softy. ... I regret that he didn't live long enough to see the stadium completed. It was one of his dreams. In fact, he was almost obsessed with it.'' — D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, who haggled with Cooke for several years over a new stadium.

"He was one of those rare people who was a tough guy, a super-smart guy and he was always better when things were at their worst. We are all really going to miss him, particularly the people in Washington. I just sent him a letter three months ago and told him that I hoped we could spend some time in heaven, kind of share things together. He assured me that was going to be the case. I feel good about that.'' — Joe Gibbs, who won three Super Bowls as Redskins coach under Cooke from 1981-1993.

"His straight-shooting style and love of the fans earned him respect and admiration throughout the sports world.'' — President Clinton

"Jack Kent Cooke will be remembered as one of the premier owners in NFL history and one of the great sportsmen and entrepreneurs of American business. A self-made man of wide-ranging talents, Jack Kent Cooke loved the game, loved to win and knew how to field a winner, including three Super Bowl championship teams.'' — NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

© Copyright 1997 The Associated Press

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