Keith Olbermann

Keith Olbermann (born January 27, 1959 in New York City, New York) is an American news anchor and former sportscaster. He currently hosts Countdown with Keith Olbermann on MSNBC, an hour-long nightly newscast that counts down the top news stories of the day.

Smoking

On Monday, August 8, 2005, the day following Peter Jennings's death from lung cancer, Olbermann revealed on-air that he had had a benign, fibrous tumor removed from the roof of his mouth just ten days earlier. In an explicit and controversial monologue, he attributed his tumor (and the resulting fear and pain) directly to his 27-year habit of smoking pipes and cigars. He vigorously urged his viewers not to wait until they see symptoms to quit. "Do whatever you have to do to stop smoking ? now. While it's easier." According to Don Imus on the following morning's Imus In The Morning broadcast, that statement nearly got Olbermann fired.

Related Topics:
Peter Jennings - Don Imus - Imus In The Morning

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This marks the beginning of "I quit," a recurring segment on Countdown which offers anti-smoking tips and encouragement. On August 16, 2005, Olbermann's colleague at NBC Mike Taibbi joined him for "I quit" to discuss kicking the habit.

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See: "Flush the Butts" Bloggerman Entry from August 8, 2005.

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