WE HAVE NEVER reviewed any film, be it feature, short, serial, TV episode or what have you, that did so much to tug at our heartstrings as did this installment of NFL Films' A FOOTBALL LIFE: Steve Sabol. Much like so many of the people interviewed, we had sent him letters; but this was after the time when he had been diagnosed with the brain cancer. We did receive a phone call from his secretary, telling of his reading them; as they did contain some of our ideas. He never responded in letter form, as he succumbed to the cancer soon thereafter.
HIS NAME WAS one that was familiar, for some years. His story was told in an issue of Sports Illustrated; which highlighted his personality, his great sense of humor and a uniquely one of a kind ability to fool the world at large with his own tongue in cheek self-promotion.
EVEN BEFORE WE found this SI story (probably either at the barber shop or the family doctor's waiting room) we'd read of his exploits in the pages of the old weightlifting/bodybuilding fitness journal, Strength & Health. This account told us of his creation of the "Sudden Death" Sabol moniker; as well as his manufacturing of his fictional biographical history.
IN RELATION TO the subject matter of S & H, the article stated that while doing some off-season bodybuilding in Philadelphia, he showed great promise in his progress with the iron. His improvement was so phenomenal, that he caught the eye of two fellow gym members; Pro Wrestling Champ, Buddy Rogers and the 1964 AAU Mr. America, Val Vasileff. Both men urged Steve to enter the upcoming Mr. Philadelphia Contest. He did so and, although he'd never before competed in a physique contest, he won.
AS WE STATED before, this was really quite a program. It was a fine and deserving a tribute to Mr. Steve Sabol: the man, athlete, artist, sports photographer, writer and true American success story.
ALL OF THESE things he was and this film has to be placed at the very zenith of the NFL Films' output. It is unfortunate that he had to leave this world so soon; but he Lord decreed that it was his time. What more could he have achieved in two or three lifetimes?
NOTE * WE lost a bar bet about Steve's Football career. I said that he had played in the National Football League with Philadelphia Eagles, my buddy Randy said no. A search of past rosters found that the guy with Philly was Steve Zabol, a Linebacker. Sorry Steve (both of yous).
HIS NAME WAS one that was familiar, for some years. His story was told in an issue of Sports Illustrated; which highlighted his personality, his great sense of humor and a uniquely one of a kind ability to fool the world at large with his own tongue in cheek self-promotion.
EVEN BEFORE WE found this SI story (probably either at the barber shop or the family doctor's waiting room) we'd read of his exploits in the pages of the old weightlifting/bodybuilding fitness journal, Strength & Health. This account told us of his creation of the "Sudden Death" Sabol moniker; as well as his manufacturing of his fictional biographical history.
IN RELATION TO the subject matter of S & H, the article stated that while doing some off-season bodybuilding in Philadelphia, he showed great promise in his progress with the iron. His improvement was so phenomenal, that he caught the eye of two fellow gym members; Pro Wrestling Champ, Buddy Rogers and the 1964 AAU Mr. America, Val Vasileff. Both men urged Steve to enter the upcoming Mr. Philadelphia Contest. He did so and, although he'd never before competed in a physique contest, he won.
AS WE STATED before, this was really quite a program. It was a fine and deserving a tribute to Mr. Steve Sabol: the man, athlete, artist, sports photographer, writer and true American success story.
ALL OF THESE things he was and this film has to be placed at the very zenith of the NFL Films' output. It is unfortunate that he had to leave this world so soon; but he Lord decreed that it was his time. What more could he have achieved in two or three lifetimes?
NOTE * WE lost a bar bet about Steve's Football career. I said that he had played in the National Football League with Philadelphia Eagles, my buddy Randy said no. A search of past rosters found that the guy with Philly was Steve Zabol, a Linebacker. Sorry Steve (both of yous).