FYI...
By Derek Caney and Doug Young
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pat Summerall said Tuesday he will step down as one of the lead play-by-play broadcasters on the Fox network's National Football League coverage following this year's Super Bowl on Feb. 3, after 21 years with his partner John Madden.
Summerall, 71, who has spent a combined 50 years as a player, coach and a broadcaster, said he plans to write a book and focus on his production company.
``I'm used to looking at career statistics, but I wasn't really thinking about how to make the most of my time,'' he said in a statement. ``The idea of working on a book project, traveling less, focusing more on my company (Pat Summerall Productions) and spending time with family and friends sounds good to me right now.''
Madden, the former Oakland Raiders coach who joined Summerall in 1981, said in a statement, ``My relationship with with Pat has been more than just a broadcast partnership and my respect for him goes beyond football. There are some things in your life that can never be replaced.''
The timing of the announcement seemed unusual just two weeks away from the Super Bowl.
``I thought this was a time it would be less of a distraction before the Super Bowl because it was this far ahead of time,'' Summerall said during a conference call to discuss his decision. ``I wanted to talk with John before anyone started speculating ... and I just felt this was an appropriate time.''
Asked if he was forced out, Summerall told reporters, ``This is totally my move. But I'm not saying they're not glad I decided to do this.''
He stressed that he did not want to leave sports broadcasting. ``I still want to do games,'' he said. ``I still want to work in the NFL. I'd love to get back involved with golf in some way. I'd love to do tennis again.''
He acknowledged being miffed by talk that he is past his prime. ``Obviously it would bother anybody if you hear anybody saying you're over the hill, you've lost it, especially if you've been around as long as I have,'' he said. ``As the course of this year past, that sort of died down.
Summerall noted that Fox Sports President Ed Goren said, ''Pat Summerall is not only a Hall of Fame broadcaster, but one of the classiest men to ever work in the business. Quite simply, for generations of fans, Pat Summerall was the voice of the NFL.''
Summerall began broadcasting in 1960 with the CBS network. He jumped to News Corp.'s Fox in 1994 after the network outbid CBS for the football broadcast rights. He began his professional football career in 1952 as a kicker and a tight end with the Chicago Cardinals.
Summerall's production company produces business videos used in sales of tools for smaller companies.
By Derek Caney and Doug Young
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pat Summerall said Tuesday he will step down as one of the lead play-by-play broadcasters on the Fox network's National Football League coverage following this year's Super Bowl on Feb. 3, after 21 years with his partner John Madden.
Summerall, 71, who has spent a combined 50 years as a player, coach and a broadcaster, said he plans to write a book and focus on his production company.
``I'm used to looking at career statistics, but I wasn't really thinking about how to make the most of my time,'' he said in a statement. ``The idea of working on a book project, traveling less, focusing more on my company (Pat Summerall Productions) and spending time with family and friends sounds good to me right now.''
Madden, the former Oakland Raiders coach who joined Summerall in 1981, said in a statement, ``My relationship with with Pat has been more than just a broadcast partnership and my respect for him goes beyond football. There are some things in your life that can never be replaced.''
The timing of the announcement seemed unusual just two weeks away from the Super Bowl.
``I thought this was a time it would be less of a distraction before the Super Bowl because it was this far ahead of time,'' Summerall said during a conference call to discuss his decision. ``I wanted to talk with John before anyone started speculating ... and I just felt this was an appropriate time.''
Asked if he was forced out, Summerall told reporters, ``This is totally my move. But I'm not saying they're not glad I decided to do this.''
He stressed that he did not want to leave sports broadcasting. ``I still want to do games,'' he said. ``I still want to work in the NFL. I'd love to get back involved with golf in some way. I'd love to do tennis again.''
He acknowledged being miffed by talk that he is past his prime. ``Obviously it would bother anybody if you hear anybody saying you're over the hill, you've lost it, especially if you've been around as long as I have,'' he said. ``As the course of this year past, that sort of died down.
Summerall noted that Fox Sports President Ed Goren said, ''Pat Summerall is not only a Hall of Fame broadcaster, but one of the classiest men to ever work in the business. Quite simply, for generations of fans, Pat Summerall was the voice of the NFL.''
Summerall began broadcasting in 1960 with the CBS network. He jumped to News Corp.'s Fox in 1994 after the network outbid CBS for the football broadcast rights. He began his professional football career in 1952 as a kicker and a tight end with the Chicago Cardinals.
Summerall's production company produces business videos used in sales of tools for smaller companies.
