Frank Gifford - RIP

[exmediahack]

NFL Legend Frank Gifford Passes Away at 84 - NBC News

Definitely a "life in full".

 

[Songbird]

Gallery. NFL.com Photos - Frank Gifford

 

[old_tony]

Possibly the best former player turned announcer. RIP.

 

[wicked]

Summerall was better than Gifford. Nonetheless, RIP Frank.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

In 1953, Gifford ran for two scores, caught four touchdown passes, threw a TD on a halfback option, returned an interception for a score, kicked a field goal and converted a pair of extra points.

 

[old_tony]

Summerall was better than Gifford. Nonetheless, RIP Frank.

Yeah, that is probably true. Particularly because Summerall was also excellent in the tower as a golf announcer. Otherwise I really only remember Summerall as a play-by-play guy while Gifford did play-by-play and analysis in the booth and was also host of NFL Today through much of the late 60s and early 70s.

 

[Batman]

This life is ****ing over.
RIP.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

This life is ****ing over.
RIP.

Gifford used to always tell the story of how, right afterward, Bednarik felt bad about the hit, and Gifford understood and was going to call him and tell him not to be upset, but the two teams were playing again right afterward, so he waited to call in hopes that Bednarik would still be feeling guilty entering the second game.

It didn't work, as the Giants lost again. They had been 5-1-1 entering the Eagles series, and went 1-3-1 afterward.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Yeah, that is probably true. Particularly because Summerall was also excellent in the tower as a golf announcer. Otherwise I really only remember Summerall as a play-by-play guy while Gifford did play-by-play and analysis in the booth and was also host of NFL Today through much of the late 60s and early 70s.

Gifford was certainly the best announcer was who also a Hall of Fame football player (though Summerall was a decent kicker).

 

[wicked]

I always felt bad for Frank. His wife dragging every little thing from home onto her show must've been grating. No wonder he went for that flight attendant.

 

[YorksArcades]

She was a harpy. (Not the flight attendant.)

The best response to that came when Harpy Lee was on the celebrity version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, and Regis, while introducing her, says dryly: "Well, according to my card, you're married with XX kids ..."

Back to Frank: I thought he was OK as an announcer, but I thought he seemed slow and crotchety near the end.

 

[BTExpress]

"Gifford, who screwed Johnny Carson's wife in his spare time, was 84."

 

[Steak Snabler]

She was a harpy. (Not the flight attendant.)


Back to Frank: I thought he was OK as an announcer, but I thought he seemed slow and crotchety near the end.

Aren't we all?

 

[YorksArcades]

Near the end of his announcing time.

 

[Steak Snabler]

The trick with any announcer is not to hang on too long. Even the greats — Summerall and Keith Jackson, to name two — were terrible by the end. Verne Lundquist is another in that category.

In many (if not most) cases, failing eyesight has a lot to do with it.

 

[wicked]

Given the access to spotters and technology those guys have, I doubt eyesight is a big factor anymore. It's more mental sharpness.

 

[qtlaw24]

I always admired Gifford's attempt to stay professional while Cosell and Meredith were screwing around. As for Kathie Lee Gifford, I was ill-informed and thought she was Miss "Goody Two Shoes" but saw her on Watch What Happens Live with my wife who loves the show and Ms. Gifford was quite fun and admitted to smoking marijuana when she was in college.

Wow, entire MNF booth now in the big booth in the sky.

May he RIP.

 

[poindexter]

Keith Jackson, who did pbp on the first season of MNF, is still alive.

 

[expendable]

The trick with any announcer is not to hang on too long. Even the greats — Summerall and Keith Jackson, to name two — were terrible by the end. Verne Lundquist is another in that category.

In many (if not most) cases, failing eyesight has a lot to do with it.

With Summerall, it was more problems with alcohol. He actually sharpened up for a short while after he got clean. Then, the clock caught up to him.

I'm not ready to put Uncle Verne to pasture, yet.

 

[Bronco77]

I always admired Gifford's attempt to stay professional while Cosell and Meredith were screwing around.

I had the same thought. He was sort of the voice of reason in that booth.

Wonder how many people remember that Keith Jackson actually did that first year of MNF play-by-play. I recall reading somewhere that he wasn't happy about the change at the time, but obviously it worked out quite well for him in the long run.