Forty one years ago on 8 December 1980, John Lennon was murdered as he returned to his home at the Dakota apartment building in New York.
Monday Night Football was on and the Miami Dolphins were playing the New England Patriots when the booth informed Cosell of Lennon’s murder. The sportscaster then told the country “Remember, this is just a football game, no matter who wins or loses,”
“An unspeakable tragedy confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City. John Lennon, outside of his apartment building on the West Side of New York City. The most famous perhaps, of all of the Beatles, shot twice in the back, rushed to Roosevelt Hospital. Dead on arrival.”