On December 8, 1980, a major news story broke in the middle of a Monday evening. There was no Social Media, no Internet, and no 24 hour cable news networks.

How did most of America hear the news? Via Howard Cosell.

Cosell was broadcasting ABC’s Monday Night Football and broke in with an unforgettable announcement:

“AN UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY…JOHN LENNON…SHOT TWICE IN THE BACK…DEAD ON ARRIVAL.”

Check it out here