Harold Bell is the last angry man, andhe still has something to say.
The longtime Washington radio and television broadcaster wants pro athletes to give back to the community. He wants teams to become more involved, too. And he wants people to worship more than money. If calling it like it is upsets people, then Bell might crack a smile over tweaking the status quo.
“I’m dangerous because you can’t buy Harold Bell — everybody knows that,” he said. “There are very few guys like that nowadays. I stood up for what I believed. Maybe some time I should have toned my act down, but I help people. If you stand up and tell the truth, you’re dangerous. America does not honor integrity and truth. They honor thieves and liars.”
But what really rankles Bell nowadays is youth not learning from the past. That’s why Bell is releasing his old TV video clips onto DVDs through his Web site hbsportslegends.com. It’s a video snapshot of the 1970s, complete with Bell’s tall afro, colorful shirts and “right on” during interviews.
“We have so much great history that is being lost,” he said. “Our kids have no idea about this great sports history.”
Bell, 68, was a pioneer in local sports TV programming with “Inside Sports” often rattling sports leaders in days long before sports talk radio or bloggers.
“When I was on the air, nobody was doing commentary, attacking the establishments not only in sports, but political,” he said. “The only thing back then you got was a score. I came through at a good time with athletes. I had cooperation with them.”
The highlight of Bell’s tapes is an interview with Muhammad Ali. The two met in Cleveland during a publicity tour and became good friends. Ali was often interviewed on Bell’s radio and TV shows. To see him rattle off prose like snapping a quick jab is must-see TV.
“Ali was a jewel,” Bell said. “People couldn’t understand how I could get him on the show all the time. I had a friend in his camp.
“Ali was one of a kind. He was a human angel. He had a good heart. He invited me to go to Zaire [for the 1974 Ali-George Foreman fight]. I was afraid to fly. I had a bad experience in the air. He said, ‘Cluck, cluck, cluck’ and called me chicken. I wish I had made that trip.’ ”
Bell remains heavily involved in youth charities, including a toy giveaway during a Christmas party for 100 children for 38 years as part of his Kids In Trouble foundation.
“Working with young people energizes me,” he said. “They’re not bad. They just need some direction. My wife and I put our money in the community so this gives me another chance to do the work with young children. There are very few financial rewards working with kids, but there are spiritual awards.”
And for once, a spirit that burns bright can soften for a moment or two.
“If I leave here today or tomorrow, nobody owes me nothing,” Bell said. “I did it my way.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
