5 questions four... Linda Cohn
Linda Cohn, “SportsCenter” anchor and recent inductee into the National Sports Media Association’s Hall of Fame, talked to The Post’s Justin Terranova about her future at ESPN and her favorite co-anchors.
Q: What were your thoughts when you learned you were going into this Hall of Fame?
A: When I first heard the news, I wondered why I wasn’t more excited. And I was talking to my brother and he said, “You never quit and the Hall of Fame usually marks the end of a career. And you’re always someone who is looking for the next thing.” Since that conversation I’ve looked at it for what it is, an amazing recognition for what I’ve done over the last few decades and not the fact that it’s over.
Q: Do you have a “next thing” in mind right now?
A: I would like to kick Gary Bettman out of his position as NHL commissioner and take over that job, honestly. A backup plan would be to do something else in the NHL, whether that be between the benches, part of management, part of the community outreach or all of the above. That is
my comfort zone, that is my passion … and I always wanted to be an analyst for a team. That’s something I could see myself doing.
Q: Have you done anything to take the step?
A: I have one year left on my deal at ESPN, and I have no idea what’s going to happen or what my future holds there. I do want to put it out there that I can do this. I feel like I’ve been a pioneer along with other women in this industry. Now it’s time for me to go another level and break some ground in this area.
Q: Who were your favorite anchors to work with?
A: The great Tom Mees. He passed away a cou- ple of years after I got there, but we used to do many a 2 a.m. “SportsCenters” and had tremendous chemistry. ... He was so animated and all about the highlight and showing his fandom. That’s what was so great. It was really significant to me, and I really modeled myself after him. He let me know it was OK to be that way. Q: What is your advice to women trying to get into the business? A: When the ones I mentor say, “I want to be this person or that person,” I always say, “Be you. Develop your own personality. Don’t think you have to be a robot. You have to be that person that got you into sports in the first place.” And a lot of women say they want to be a sideline reporter, and the first thing I say is aim higher. With all due respect to the quality ones out there, I feel it’s a one-dimensional type of role. ... You could do better than that.