The UFC on ABC 3 broadcast team will sport a classic look of the network on Saturday.
One of the best sports television programs in history, “ABC’s Wide World of Sports,” is known for more than award-winning programming, hosts and commentators. The program introduced the iconic look of the yellow blazer with a giant network logo patch, which quickly became one of the most recognizable looks in sports broadcasting.
On Friday, the UFC on ABC 3 broadcast crew of Jon Anik, Paul Felder, Din Thomas, and Megan Olivi received their own blazers as a surprise gift ahead of the event airing on ABC, which will add a throwback element to the event at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.
Check out a video of the team receiving their blazers in the video below (via Instagram):
“Day = made,” Anik wrote in the Instagram caption. “Thank you to our incredible @espnmma team for making this happen! Truly will be an honor to wear this tomorrow on ABC.”
ABC’s Emmy award-winning host Jim McKay was first to wear the iconic blazer in the 1960s. The blazer became a staple across ABC’s sports coverage and programming, including Monday Night Football where the dynamic trio of Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford, and Don Meredith called the action while wearing the yellow threads. There were a few different styles of network patches, depending on the event or programming.
The ABC blazer became a major part of Cosell’s character throughout his career. Outside of his real-world sports coverage of football, basketball, and boxing, he wore it in guest appearances on the television show “The Odd Couple” where he portrayed himself.
For combat sports fans, it was his antics with boxing legend Muhammad Ali that would leave a lasting image of the yellow jacket in their minds. The pair are known for their hilarious back-and-forth interactions, and for a good amount of them, Cosell was wearing that iconic yellow blazer.
Whether you love or hate the look, it’s an undeniable part of the ABC sports legacy. It’s also pretty cool to see the UFC crew pay homage to the legends before them.
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UFC on ABC 3 broadcast team receive iconic ‘Wide World of Sports’ blazers