RIP Steve Sabol

[TrebMaxx]

Love NFL Films, RIP sir!

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet

Very sad. From Commissioner Goodell: "Deeply saddened to announce Steve Sabol died this morning after his 18 month battle with brain cancer"


RIP

[Rain Man]

Whoa. That was unexpected.

He seemed like a likable guy.

[htismaqe]

What a bummer.

Isn't his dad still alive?

[htismaqe]

Whoa. That was unexpected.

He seemed like a likable guy.

He had brain cancer. He's been battling with it for over a year.

[LVNHACK]

RIP.....Always enjoyed his work

[Frazod]

That sucks. RIP

[pimpchief]

Wow. Lost someone really cool. Rip

[Rain Man]

He had brain cancer. He's been battling with it for over a year.

He never mentioned that to me.

[The Franchise]

Damn.......RIP.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

He couldn't tolerate this organization and finally quit fighting. RIP !

[Predarat]

RIP Steve Sabol.

[Rain Man]

What a bummer.

Isn't his dad still alive?

I was wondering that myself. I just watched a documentary on NFL Network about Ed. Looks like Ed is still around.

The documentary was kind of interesting. I guess Ed's father-in-law was stinking rich by making overcoats. Ed was a "vice president" at the overcoat factory but had no interest in it. Eventually the father-in-law sold the company on retirement realizing that he had no one to take over. Ed got some of that money and went wild with it - big house, high-end Mercedes, etc. It also gave him the money to start a film company, and he eventually found his way to the NFL.

I wasn't paying close attention, but it sounded like he initially paid the NFL to do their films, presumably then selling them himself. It started getting too expensive, so he approached them about setting up a film company within the NFL, and the rest is slow-motion, John Facenda-narrated history.

[Rasputin]

R.I.P. Steve Sabol

Thank you for all the Football takes you made!

[CoMoChief]

Def changed the way we see games.

RIP

[htismaqe]

I was wondering that myself. I just watched a documentary on NFL Network about Ed. Looks like Ed is still around.

The documentary was kind of interesting. I guess Ed's father-in-law was stinking rich by making overcoats. Ed was a "vice president" at the overcoat factory but had no interest in it. Eventually the father-in-law sold the company on retirement realizing that he had no one to take over. Ed got some of that money and went wild with it - big house, high-end Mercedes, etc. It also gave him the money to start a film company, and he eventually found his way to the NFL.

I wasn't paying close attention, but it sounded like he initially paid the NFL to do their films, presumably then selling them himself. It started getting too expensive, so he approached them about setting up a film company within the NFL, and the rest is slow-motion, John Facenda-narrated history.

According to Wikipedia, he's 96 years old and still alive.

And btw, the part in bold kind of gives me chills. :thumb:

[gblowfish]

His father Ed just went into the pro football HOF this year, he's 96. This is very sad. NFL Films was, and is, the greatest sports film company in the world. Steve had a great sense of humor, and was a very talented guy. I lost one of my best buddies from high school to brain cancer after a prolonged battle. Sad day for the Sabol family and for the NFL.

[Micjones]

Sabol made an indelible mark on the NFL.
Sad day for my favorite sport.

[Radar Chief]

Wow, first I’ve read of it.
RIP to one of the NFL greats.
Hard to imagine what the NFL would be without the Sabol family and their contributions.

[Kraus]

I freakin' love NFL films - RIP Steve.

[Luke Warm]

Damn that sux. RIP Mr. Sabol

[BoneKrusher]

Sad News.
RIP

[Mugalug]

NFL films was top notch. Steve Sabol did great work. RIP

[mikey23545]

It was 18 months ago right here in Kansas City that NFL Films genius Steve Sabol suffered a seizure while attending the annual 101 Awards Banquet.

The cause of the seizure was a cancerous tumor on the left side of his brain. On Tuesday that cancer claimed Sabol’s life. He passed away at his home in suburban Philadelphia. Steve Sabol was 69 years old.

Sabol was the son of the father/son combination of Sabols that turned NFL Films into one of the greatest chroniclers of professional football and helped lead the league to its status as America’s past-time.

“We see the game as art as much as sport,” Sabol said before his father Ed was inducted into the Pro Football Hal of Fame last year. “That helped us nurture not only the game’s traditions but to develop mythology: America’s Team, The Catch, the Frozen Tundra.”

Ed Sabol is 96 years old and survives his only son.

“My dad has a great expression,” Sabol said last year. “‘Tell me a fact, and I’ll learn. Tell me a truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever’.”

Steve Sabol is also survived by his wife Penny, son Casey and his sister Blair.

“Steve’s passion for football was matched only by his talent and energy,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “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.”



Edit: Sorry about the Q

[In58men]

QQQQQQ

[Buck]

This q-ly sucks.

[In58men]

This q-ly sucks.

Q

[ModSocks]

Oh that really fucking sucks.

R.I.P Steve, football wouldn't have been the same w/o you.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Shit , twice in one day !

[listopencil]

RIP

[DaFace]

Merged. Sorry to hear this - he's got a legacy in the NFL that rivals some of the founders. RIP.

[listopencil]

Still gives me goosebumps:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/v7AhBi7dEnE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Hammock Parties]

Everything NFL films, ever, is fucking magic.

RIP

[listopencil]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WEELeovGCa8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Munson]

I loved watching his work. It was legendary.

RIP

[Ace Gunner]

love his work. RIP

[Hammock Parties]

Steve Sabol is pretty much the reason I am a Chiefs fan. It all kinda started for me with this video:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61CacRqUgTL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[chiefqueen]

What a bummer.

Isn't his dad still alive?

I believe Ed is still alive and is around 95. Steve had one daughter that I know of who is in her late 20's.

[KCUnited]

John Fox just challenged the death.

[displacedinMN]

This is a sad day for football. He and Ed were innovators in their work. I loved watching the commentary on the history of NFL Films. Laughed a lot.

[Ultra Peanut]

Whoa, Jesus. Like two days ago I randomly started wondering how he was doing and thinking, "Oh god, he's got to be pretty old by now."

I had no idea about the cancer, that's awful.

[ILChief]

I'm glad Clark released a statement on this but is completely silent on his dipshit QB and his band of rejects.

[Braincase]

I'd love to see Sabol's first NFL film from the great beyond.

"As Derrick Thomas drops Johnny Unitas for a 7 yard loss..."

[boogblaster]

RIP .. a visionary .....

[Chiefs=Champions]

RIP

[pr_capone]

RIP Sabol. You were massively influential in my learning about the game and learning to love it. I loved watching your NFL films and learning about legends of the past which only fueled my love for this sport.

You will be a rockstar in heaven.

[listopencil]

I'd love to see Sabol's first NFL film from the great beyond.

"As Derrick Thomas drops Johnny Unitas for a 7 yard loss..."

Who is going to beat Lombardi's team though? CP should have an all-dead fantasy draft, and include HC/OC/DC.

[Bump]

one of the best film makers of our generation. Really made a huge impact. RIP.

[cdcox]

Steve Sabol could make Matt Cassel look good.


RIP

[Deberg_1990]

RIP Sabol.....definately helped bring the game to the masses....


I remember we used to have to wait a whole day to get game highlights. During MNF Howard Cosell would narrate each Sundays NFL Filmsgame highlights.


I gave to ask though......is NFL films still relevant in the age of Internet, instant access, Sunday Ticket, Redzone channel, 24 hour sports highlights, etc.......?