Ed Sabol

START OF PRESENTER VIDEO

Steve Sabol (Presenter):
Let me tell you about my dad. He was a loving father. He was generous boss. He was a leader. He was a dreamer. But most of all, he was the funniest man I've ever known.

He had a brief career on Broadway. He was with the Ritz Brothers who were sort of the K-Mart version of the Marx Brothers and he loved to perform. My sister and I always used to say that dad was two Stooges short of a good routine. Our family vacations were like Hollywood movies and my dad was always the star.

He was a great athlete. As a high school swimmer, he held the world's record for the 100-meter free style when he was at Blair Academy. You know there are some fathers that become sort of like the second coach and they drive their kids. But my dad always felt that sports should be fun and that's the way he treated my participation.

He served in World War II under General Patton. When he returned, he got a job with my grandfather as an overcoat salesman and he hated it. Thomas Jefferson said "every man's work is always a portrait of himself." Well my mother wanted to have a portrait of my father but dad didn't want to be in a business suit. My dad wanted to be a matador (Steve holds up a painting of Ed in matador dressing).

He was a showman at heart and his hobby was movies. Home movies at the time but you could see that that's what he really wanted to do. I don't remember my father having a head in those days. It was just these arms and this metal camera on top of his shoulders. My first pony ride; my first haircut; my first football game my dad filmed. My grandfather got to the point where he was going to retire. My dad decided, now he wanted to create a business, and what better business did he know than making movies. So he decided to make his hobby his profession.

When we did the '62 Championship Game, we needed a big name to host the show. The biggest name in the NFL was Frank Gifford. But when Frank showed up to the stadium, he didn't have a jacket and it was cold. So dad took his overcoat and gave it to Frank.

As a boss, he believed in us. So we believed in ourselves.

Dad always used to tell our cameramen "Don't worry about failure. Don't worry about taking a risk." He'd always say, "You can't soar like an eagle and crap like a canary."

He had it all. He did it all, and loved it all. When dad was inducted into the Hall of Fame, he called me and he said, "Send me a producer. I've got one more film left in me."

And so, here it is, the last film directed by Ed Sabol.

Ed Sabol:
George Halas once called NFL Films the "keepers of the flame." Our passion for preserving football history was ignited 50 years ago. It all began with a vision and legendary voice.

Narrator:
(Vince) Lombardi, a certain magic still lingers in the very name. It speaks of duals in the snow and cold November night.

The autumn wind is a raider, pillaging just for fun, he'll knock you round and upside down and laugh when he's conquered and won.

They are the Dallas Cowboys, America's team.

Ed Sabol:
As football became America's game, we looked for new ways to show it. A grown man's love of a little boy's game, that's what inspires those who play football and it inspired us.

Narrator:
Football has a scope as rich and diverse as America itself. It's a game played with the exuberance of youth. It's a game played with a warrior's heart.

Ed Sabol:
In the NFL the torch like a perfect spiral is passed from one generation to the next. It's the same way at NFL Films, we're the "keepers of football's eternal flame." Make sure that the spirit of the game burns bright forever.

Steve Sabol:
Ladies and gentlemen, I present my dad…Ed Sabol

END OF VIDEO

Ed Sabol:
I dreamed a dream, the impossible dream. I dreamed the impossible dream, and I'm living it right this minute. I said that twice because at my age, you know, your memory starts to go a little bit. In case I forgot it, I would have a backup. Now if you can figure that out, you're pretty smart.

I have been to many of these events in the past, usually shooting a camera and the Enshrinees would usually come up and most of them would say pretty much the same thing. They would congratulate their pro coach, their college coach, their high school coach, their grammar school coach, and even sometimes their 80 pound coach.

But I didn't have the luxury of the advice for all of those wonderful coaches, but I do have some fans. And those fans are all you people sitting out there in those seats.

But of course this honor tonight really goes to NFL Films. I just happen to be accepting all the accolades and all of the other things that go with it. But it has been really exceptional.

I just want to say one thing, I've been very, very happy and very proud to have been your boss for all these years. You're a great bunch of people dedicated and loyal and hardworking, and you're the reason I'm sitting up here.

So as we get to the end of this, I just want to say thank you, which really doesn't mean much when I say thank you. It's not adequate. Al Jolson, who is an old time entertainer way before your time, when he finished his act he used to say, "Folks, you ain't seen nothing yet."

So I'm just going to say, thank you, God bless you, good luck and thank you again.