The other night I was catching up on some TiVo and watched a Centerstage production on the YES Network, this one with host Michael Kay interviewing Frank Gifford.
You might wonder in advance what Frank Gifford has to do with the Denver Broncos, and save for his many appearances doing Monday Night Football games in which the Broncos were participants, nothing at all is the correct answer.
But if you are in pro football, or a fan of pro football, then we are all part of the fabric of the same culture, all of us cut from the same cloth of interest in and appreciation for the game and its greats.
Frank Gifford is a guy whom I only saw play on black and white television back in the days of my youth, but then many years later I came to know him through his work on Monday Night Football.
And he is one of my favorite guys.
So this entry might be a little bit random, but when you write in stream of consciousness you just get more honest, I feel, so the straight stuff is what comes out.
The last couple of decades Frank has been mostly in retirement, and people are aware of his ill-fated affair that challenged his marriage to Kathie Lee. Easy to criticize, but he was honest and above board, and they are still happily married 22 years later.
It was easy to criticize him as an announcer on the MNF games, people throwing stones who never should have even thought of picking up a stone.
He had one of the most difficult broadcasting assignments in football history, sitting between Don Meredith and Howard Cosell. Actually, some might say (myself for one) that have Howard Cosell on either side of you automatically made it one of broadcasting toughest assignments. But he handled his “MC” role with aplomb and became a lifelong friend of Don Meredith’s along the way.
Gifford moved a documented (by his mother) 37 times as a youngster, although he says he thinks it might have been more than that. His day was an oil field worker, tough job, and they finally settled in Bakersfield.
The hard land and tough men who patrolled those Bakersfield oil fields were unlikely to produce one of our most elegant gentlemen in sports, but that’s what happened.
The refinement probably began at USC (just initials, you know the school) but the finishing school was New York City.
He was said by some to be Joe Namath before Joe Namath, and I would agree with that assessment. Film work and television followed quickly, the fame on MNF to come at the end of a Hall of Fame playing career which had him making the Pro Bowl both as a halfback and as a wide receiver.
Asked one time who the three best players he ever saw were, Gifford said, “Jimmy Brown, Jimmy Brown, and Jimmy Brown.”
What I love about Frank are his elements of style, grace, politeness, and professionalism. He was always the best to work with. The best.
And here’s a quality that I have always found in Frank that many might not think he has: humility, baskets of it, and a true caring about other people, especially the less fortunate.
I really like this guy, first class all the way, and I just wanted to share these thoughts.
JimmyJm I totally agree. It was very sad to see all the steeler fans on MNF. My first game I saw in Denver was agaist the steelers and there were some/ few but not alot of their fans. Denver crushed them like 38-7. I still can’t believe we lost to the skins. 3 weeks in a row out coached and out played.Our D is dead tired by the middle of the 4th quarter in all 3 games. We will not have to worry about that this week cuz SD will have the game won by the 3 quarter. Here is my predition 37-13 SD.
20-13 halftime 30-13 end of 3rd.If we can’t beat the skins we can’t beat SD, Philly, NY, Indy or sweep KC WHO beat the skins.That leaves us with 2 wins Oakland ans KC at home, 8-8 again.And other trivia question. The only team to start 6-0 and not make the playoffs?, add to ly questions;The only team to have sole possetion of first place from week 1 until week 15 not to win their division, and only team to have a 3 game lead w/ 3 to play and lose.
SD does not lose to the bad teams like we do. When was the last time they lost to Oakland or KC? We split with both almost every year. SD Has won 13 straight and 7 straight.SD will not lose to the skins.
The crappy thing is, that after shutting all those so called “experts” mouths to begin the season, now we have to listen to, “see, we told you Denver was going to suck this year”.
If they could just figure out what the deal is on offense and put some points on the board, this team would be unstoppable.
If it weren’t for 2 blown coverages against Washington, Denver would not have scored at all, and if Orton could throw the ball he might not have missed a WIDE open Eddie Royal.
But then again, if my Grandma had wheels she’d be a wagon.
Someone asked how many points the O has scored in th last 3 games. The answer is 7.(Ravens 3 Quarter) 6 quaters and 7 pts. Are we the browns now?
I think IF Orton hits Royal for the score the skins would of gave up.That is why you have to put the crap teams away early.
Came here to read some posts and just ran in to tnalen talking to himself.lol………………. stay positive it’s a looooooong season.
(tnalen66) San Diego does lose to bad teams. 13 straight & 7 straight?? They lost to Kansas City in San Diego 30-16 in 2007 under Norv Turner’s regime. The Chiefs ended that season with a 4 & 12 record. The year before when Marty was coaching them they went 14 & 2 but still lost to KC in KC, and KC @ 9 & 7 was no powerhouse that year. I can give you more examples if you like. Not to mention San Diego has never won a Super Bowl and has a all time regular season losing record of 368 wins, 370 losses & 11 ties compared to Denver Broncos 2 Super Bowl wins, 6 appearances which ranks 2nd only to the Steelers & Cowboys with 7. We have an all time winning regular season record of 392 wins, 347 losses & 10 ties. As far as your San Diego predictions for this week, I hope you’re wrong and that’s why they play the games. I think we have a very good chance to beat them. They have a very injury riddled linebacking core going into Sunday’s game. Hang in there like coachemup said “It’s a looooooong season.”
take that piss poor attitude somewhere else . your not true bronco fans .
your we sux crying makes me sick !!
Great article, yeah people this really isn’t the venue, come over to Denver Broncos discussion board a lot of interesting subjects to talk about over there.
Thanks for another interesting article Jim. There is something special about the quality of football players from the past. They are genuine strong men who would never behave rudely but like gentlemen. Something that players and fans today would do well to learn from.
Mr Saccomano:
Vertical striped socks are cool. 1960 uniforms looked good. Here is a good trivia question for you: Which original 1960 AFL team was a last minute addition to their inaugeral season?
Actually Frank Gifford was not on the MNF broadcast team the first year. He replaced Keith Jackson after the first year.
It has recently come to my attention (thanks to the famous Lou from Littleton) that Mr. McDaniels and I both grew up in NE Ohio. In fact his Canton McKinley teams played my alma mater Akron Garfield a few times. Please let him know that McKinley’s playoff season is going well with 2 wins, and they have to play Massilon on Saturday.