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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2012 13:10:24 GMT -5
The football world says goodbye to a legend of the sport on Tuesday. Steve Sabol, President of NFL Films, has died at the age of 69 years old after an 18 month battle with brain cancer.
Sabol took over the mantle of NFL Films President in 1985 from his father Ed, who founded the company. Steve learned in March of 2011 that he had a brain tumor that can't be removed. He introduced his father during Ed's emotional enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August of 2011. Sabol is survived by his wife, Penny, his son Casey, his parents Audrey and Ed, and his sister Blair.
"Steve was the creative genius behind NFL Films' remarkable work," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday in an email to NFL personnel. "Steve's passion for football was matched only by his talent and energy. He was a major contributor to the success of the NFL, a man who changed the way we looked at football and sports, and a great friend. His legacy is assured.
"Steve was an incredible visionary. He spent 50 years at the NFL and changed the way we see pro football. So when you're watching the games this week, it's worth remembering just how much Steve contributed to the way we think, see, and love our game."
Generations of NFL fans learned to love the game of football through the lens of Ed and Steve Sabol. Steve started out as a cameraman for the company before eventually running the company.
My View
This is very sad news to me...NFL films presents is one of the best sports programs in this universe and he and his dad,along with John Facenda captured the essence of Pro football in these films. I still watch them every chance I get.
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Post by lostabroad2 on Sept 18, 2012 16:19:49 GMT -5
A sad day for me too. I will forever remember the NFL Films collaborations with Sam Spence, especially when I see I see those 'Techicolor Films' with Ramblin Man from Gramblin being played.
edit: I know that that music pre-dates the 1985 'Sabol switchover', but that change was seamless. Maybe it wasn't and i'm just showing my age. It feels like another link to my youth has gone. My condolences to his family.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2012 18:11:23 GMT -5
Very sad indeed. I heard this on sports talk on the way home. The Sabols were indeed instrumental in football films. If you ever get the chance to watch the documentary about how it all started please do. You will get chills. I forget where I saw it, but it's amazing what they did.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2012 18:31:57 GMT -5
I grew up with this music and voice and videos. Even though this is a raider one, it makes the point of how awesome the Sabol's were and are.
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PatsFan
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Post by PatsFan on Sept 18, 2012 19:34:19 GMT -5
RIP Steve. My mom had a brain tumor but thank God she was able to get it removed with no side effects. This just makes me think about how lucky I am
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2012 20:09:31 GMT -5
steve is a legend now. the pioneer who began filming nfl games. its a sad day in the nfl knowing hes gone. his memory and spirit will live on though
R.I.P Steve Sabol
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Post by TonOdanK on Sept 18, 2012 21:41:32 GMT -5
sad day
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Post by cantonhall34 on Sept 18, 2012 21:41:36 GMT -5
Hey guys -
I posted this over at the other site, so I figured I might as well post it here too...
You know, I work nights, so I sleep mostly during the day and don't always hear the "news of the day" until much later. I must say that when I heard THIS news today, I was filled with an unbelievable sadness. For someone who grew up having very little as I did, there were certain things that were always THERE for me to be able to count on. In my childhood one of the most important things (at least for me) was the game of football and the magnificent storytelling skills of those at NFL Films.
As a kid, one of my favorite days of the year was Super Sunday (and STILL is) but the NIGHT BEFORE was always something special too, where all the NFL Films productions of the past Super Bowls were shown back to back overnight. I used to stay up and watch them all in order, and ALMOST always made it until the finish the next morning. Steve Sabol was part of those, introducing a great many of them at the start of each show. These days I have the collection of all of those on DVD and from time to time I'll throw one in and check it out, usually around the start of each season or around Super Sunday.
Anyway, please forgive my rambling but this is one of those losses that the league will miss the most. Here is an article from LAST year's Pro Football HOF induction of Ed Sabol, Steve's dad, and it applies as much to Steve as it did to Ed. Bear with this, it's a short article, but HERE a little of a lengthy read. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now Mr. Sabol wasn’t one of the NFL’s greatest coaches or players, but he was one of it’s greatest contributors. For many football fans his film company WAS the league. Many of us grew up watching his NFL Films tell the story of our game and the men who played. We were able to experience the league and it’s greatest players in a way that would not have been possible otherwise. For their part, NFL Films remains humble about their importance in the history of the league. They see their role as “The Keepers of the Flame” and nothing more. Well for fans, NFL Films means much more than that.
Through the lens of their camera, NFL Films captured anything and everything that fans love about the game. They gave us a glimpse into the game and players like never before and educated fans about players from bygone eras. I was too young to see guys like Jim Brown, Deacon Jones and Bart Starr play. Through NFL Films though, I have been able to see them in action. It’s like a portal to another era.
Some of the more famous productions from NFL Films were the Football Follies collections, the Game of the Week, and of course the Super Bowl highlight shows. An exquisite package of style and substance, NFL Films has created such impressive productions that a Hollywood director would be proud to call them his own. For the production value, there is no equal in sports.
Innovation and storytelling are some of NFL Films’ greatest assets. From the music of Sam Spence, to the “Voice of God” John Facenda, NFL Films has demonstrated a perfect pitch, timing, and flair for the dramatic. Every time the season is about to start, if you listen closely, it seems you can still hear the voice:
“The Autumn wind is a pirate”…
“Right from the very first play Super Bowl Twelve was a coach’s nightmare”…
“One last moment, for the Master”…
“On came Marcus Allen, running with the night”…
If anything, NFL Films, with all of it’s Emmy Awards, has stood the test of time. It’s style is unmistakable. It helped the NFL transition from it’s humble roots as a sideshow attraction to it’s current position as the most popular sports league in America. Most if not all of the highlights in the Hall are from NFL Films.
For NFL fans everywhere, I say congratulations Mr. Sabol, and thank you. We all owe you a debt of gratitude. It is fitting that an organization that has helped grow the league as much as NFL Films is finally getting it’s rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope fans everywhere will take pause at some point today and remember one of the true pioneers in film and sports. The league is as popular as it is today for many reasons, but maybe the BIGGEST reason is due to the efforts and skill of Steve Sabol, Ed Sabol, and the rest of the folks at NFL Films.
Anyway, sorry to get so melancholy everyone...just wanted to add my thoughts on the passing of one of the league's greats.
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Post by Playahataz on Sept 18, 2012 21:44:50 GMT -5
Great post's guys, nothing I can reall add.
R.I.P. Steve Sabol, you'll be sadly missed by millions of people, and we'll always hear your voice.
God Bless You.
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Post by lostabroad2 on Sept 18, 2012 22:15:47 GMT -5
It's nice to see cantonhall34 posting here. I hope he posts here more often and under better circumstances.
I still have several old VHS tapes from 'back in the day' that were produced by Steve Sabol. 2 of them are from the "Most Memorable Games of the Decade" series. One has the Jets/Colts game from 1972 with the Patriots/Raiders game from 1976. The other has the Raiders/Dolphins game from 1974 along with the Cowboys/Redskins game from the same year, (Clint Longley game).
Here's a link to a full NFL FIlms program that was uploaded to YouTube:
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