Alright so today I got curious about this whole Bob Costas height thing after seeing tweets arguing about it. Grabbed my coffee, opened like five tabs on my laptop, and dug in. Here’s the messy truth.
What Actually Started This Madness
First I remembered Bob looked kinda tiny next to athletes in old interviews. Googled “Bob Costas height” straight up. All these fan sites claimed 5‘6″ or 5’7″. Sounded legit until I clicked NBC’s actual bio page… nothing listed. Weird, right? How’s the internet so sure if the network ain’t saying?
Deep Diving Into Old Footage
Pulled up YouTube clips like a detective:
- Found him standing next to 6’4″ Al Michaels – looked like a foot difference minimum
- 1992 Olympics clip with 6’0″ sprinter Carl Lewis – Bob’s eyes barely at shoulder level
- Bonus: him interviewing 6’9″ Shaq in the ’90s. Hilarious. Like a kid talking to a tree.
The camera angles tell the story. Directors always shoot him low or seat him during tall-guest interviews. Sneaky but smart.
The Live TV Moment That Settled It
This is gold: Found a 2018 MLB broadcast clip. Bob walks past retired pitcher Randy Johnson (6’10″). Legit looked like an ant next to a skyscraper. Did quick math – if Johnson’s height checks out, Costas is max 5’7″ in boots. Case closed.
Why People Even Care (My Rant)
So what’s the big deal? Here’s my take:
- Surprise factor: Dude’s voice sounds like it belongs to a 6’2″ giant. Total mismatch.
- Broadcast illusion: TV makes everyone look the same size until reality hits.
- Old-school bias: People assume legendary sportscasters must be tall. Total BS.
My final thought? His height matters ZERO. The man’s called 11 Olympics and 25 Super Bowls while sounding like velvet. Could be 4’ tall and still own the mic.
