He worked for Channel 9 for over 15 years, but tragically died of a brain tumor in January 1992. A friend of mine sent a video of some clips of Brenners best/funniest moments. Brought back some nice memories. Keith Olbermann called him the best “local tv sports reporter” in the country in his & Dan Patrick’s book “The Big Show.”
Wow. I haven’t thought about him for years. I totally remember him, and had no idea he’d even died. I left the area before '92.
He had a gift for sportscasting, and I seem to recall him and Gordon Peterson always going at each other, making his bit even more entertaining. I could be imagining this, though… it was a long time ago. I think I remember him so well because not only was he great at his job, but he seemed so likeable. George Michael is also a great sportscaster, but not very endearing, IMO.
Where’d this tape come from? I’ll buy it if it’s for sale someplace.
Born and raised in DC, now living in Texas. Brenner was great. Entertaining, funny, knowledgable, just the best. I remember the day he died, too. I watched Channel 9 that night, and watching the anchors crying, and me crying too. I hated getting that broken up over a news anchor, but watching those guys remember their friend was one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen.
All of the guys with attitude and cute catch phrases can’t hold a candle to Glenn Brenner.
Has it been ten years already? I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was very sad. I couldn’t believe I was crying for someone I didn’t know, but just watching his fellow newscasters unable to keep it together did me in.
I remember at one point some people wanted to name the new Redskins stadium after him, but unfortunately that didn’t happen. It would’ve had a nicer ring to it than “Jack Kent Cooke Stadium.”
Of course! EVERYBODY in the DC area remembers Glenn. (or atleast they should) He was a staple in the community. His name and face are instantly recognizable, like George Michael, Maureen Bunyon, Sue Palka.
There is a charity run every year to benefit cancer research. It’s the Glenn Brenner 5k/10k. All you DC dopers and former-DC dopers might want to run it in memory.
Way back when, before Glenn Brenner, Warner Wolf did sports for Channel 9.
Glenn Brenner was a really entertaining guy that realized that sports was a diversion from the rest of the “serious” news. I distinctly remember when he interviewed a Redskins player (who happened to be wearing a pair of big, wrap-around sunglasses). Said Glenn, “You know, you look just like the bass player for the Grateful Dead.”
Hey, I left the DC area in '86 and since I ended up all the way across the Atlantic, I never even knew that Glenn Brenner had died.
I also remember him very fondly (especially since I was never a fan of George Michael. George Michael seemed a little to ‘New York’ for me. He just didn’t seem to fit in, and I don’t think he ever showd the same ‘love’ for the 'Skins that Glenn did.
Speaking of the 'Skins: I would love to know what some of my favorite players from those days are doing now (players llike Joe Jacoby, Jeff Bostic, Russ Grimm, Mark May, Dexter Manley, Art Monk, Joe Washington, Gary Clark, Chrlie Brown, etc.)
Boy, this whole thread is making me feel sentimental for those days. I still have nightmares about the screen pass to Joe Washington against the Raiders, but then I force myself to wake up and remember the ‘Diesel’ rumbling downfield out of Chip-70 for 44 yards to beat the Dolphins. (Not to mention our beatings of the Broncos and Bills to finally erase the shame of Super Bowl XVIII)
Glenn was one of the sportscasters I watched back when I liked TV sports - and I now realize that guys like him (there weren’t many) were a big part of the reason. Class act beginning to end. (I recall reading that he’d been a major charitable donor, but anonymously. Now, that might have been a bit of posthumous glurge, but it sure didn’t surprise me at the time.)
Now it’s just a bunch of overgrown boys yelling. Can’t stand it.
Brenner was the best ever. He was the most entertaining person ever to do sports. He was so funny and I loved the way he would try to squeeze the most out of his segments by talking incredibly fast. If he had lived he could have been huge on ESPN or Fox sports.
Jeez, Mycroft, you’re totally giving me the chills and a small teary eye remembering that moment. I was just a tyke of about 10 years old at the time but in all my years as a Skins fan that was one of the most amazing. Dad and I used to visit Redskins park every Saturday before home games and somewhere I still have autographs from all those fellows back “in the day”. As far as “where are they now”, I’m not sure of the whereabouts of a lot of them but some are still local. Riggins comes into my dad’s auto parts shop from time to time and to this day my dad says he always looks like he just woke up. Joe Jacoby owns a Ford dealership, but I don’t know if he runs it. I think Dexter is doing some commentary/local sports shows.
For those who mentioned they didn’t know Glenn Brenner had died, he actually died of a heart attack during the Marine Corps marathon. Every year they do some kind of tribute to him, or some group raises money that day in his honor. That day was truly a loss to DC.
Wow. I, too, am getting Redskins flashbacks from this. I remember the weeks after Superbowl XVII, when Riggo must have been the most famous person in the city!
My only real-life contact with a Redskins player happened when Monty Coleman came to speak at the end of my pee-wee league’s season. He was funny and nice, he seemed about ten feet tall, and he signed everything that group of worshipful ten-year-olds thrust at him.
Not to hijack, but thinking about Glenn Brenner got me remembering Captain 20. Anyone else remember him?
Wow. I, too, am getting Redskins flashbacks from this. I remember the weeks after Superbowl XVII, when Riggo must have been the most famous person in the city!
My only real-life contact with a Redskins player happened when Monty Coleman came to speak at the end of my pee-wee league’s season. He was funny and nice, he seemed about ten feet tall, and he signed everything that group of worshipful ten-year-olds thrust at him.
Sorry for continuing the hijack, but thinking about Glenn Brenner got me remembering Captain 20. Anyone else remember him?
More info about Captain 20 and his current whereabouts (there were actually 3) – but the one I’m sure you remember is Dick Dyszel who hosted the show from 1972-1987. He’s now a local dj and does weddings/parties/etc. Here’s a link to some info about him:
I remember Glenn Brenner fondly. I was never interested in sports reporting, but I’d always make time for Glenn Brenner. It was so funny when Gordon Peterson and Gordon Barnes would be helpless with laughter and Maureen Bunyan would be sitting there wondering what was up with those maniacs. It was a quite a special occasion when Maureen would break up as well. The most poignant moment for me was when I heard that Sister Louise the Prognosticator, visited Glenn right before he passed away. Sister Louise was a local nun who became a celebrity when she correctly predicted which team would win. Glenn would ask her if the bishop told her what to say. She would scold him and say no. The news just isn’t the same anymore.
Dick Dyszel was also “Count Gore DeVol” and hosted Creature Feature every Saturday night. I’ve met him a few times at horror conventions, and he’s really nice. I’ve got a cool picture of him about to bite my neck.
He has a site that he updates weekly:
Count Gore. He will also be attending the Horrorfind Weekend in Baltimore (August 23-25). Also, Linda Blair and the cast of Evil Dead will be there, too, among many others.
I thought he died of a brain tumor. From what I can recall, he battled the tumor, went into remission and ran the race, but collapsed. He died in the hospital shortly after that.
I’ve tried searching for it on Google, but haven’t been able to find anything regarding the cause of death.