Feb
05
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011 Includes NFL Films Founder Ed Sabol
In what only can be described as the correct move, reporters elected the founder of NFL Films, Ed Sabol to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sabol who is now 94 years old was elected to the Contributors category. His impact on the NFL cannot be measured. Sabol began his career as the NFL’s official filmmaker with the 1962 NFL Championship Game as he purchased the rights to film the game. Commissioner Pete Rozelle seeing the value of filming each game and thus, providing marketing for the league, convinced the NFL’s owners to commission NFL Films, allowed Ed Sabol and his son, Steve free reign to run the division as they saw fit.
Some 51 years later, Ed Sabol will take his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame later this year. Among the innovations of NFL Films, using slow motion in his films, tight close-ups, producing highlight films for each team every season, weekly highlight shows, the use of orchestral music, bringing narrators John Facenda and Harry Kalas to the national spotlight as well as showing the flight of the ball in the air.
Ed and Steve Sabol ran the company together until 1995 when Ed retired. Since then, Steve has run the company alone, but Ed’s influences remain on NFL Films. Why it took so long for Ed to be elected to the Hall of Fame is beyond me, but he’s in now and that’s what counts.
Now if Steve can be elected in his own right, that would be ideal.
Ed Sabol will go in with two current NFL Network analysts, Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders. Others to be elected are Richard Dent, Shannon Sharpe, Chris Hanburger and Les Richter. All will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in August.
From NFL Films’ Twitter and Facebook account, we have this statement:
NFL FILMS FOUNDER ED SABOL ELECTED TO THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME – Congratulations Big Ed, for today being named a member of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011. Nearly fifty years ago you began a celebration of America’s Game that each day we are honored to continue. From all the “Keepers of the Flame” that you ignited with your passion for football and storytelling, thanks for your leadership and vision in creating a place where football lives forever.
More on this coming up.
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