Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Iconic "voice of Patriots' lore" Pat Summerall passes away at age 82

"Right down the Pipe."

Those are the words that live in Patriots' lore, as Adam Vinitieri's 48 yard field goal sailed through the uprights to give the New England Patriots a thrilling, last second win in Super Bowl 36 - words spoken by legendary NFL football commentator Pat Summerall as the Patriots sidelines erupted and players sprinted out onto the field, celebrating New England's first world title.

So hearts are heavy in New England today and, indeed, the world of sports over as the iconic broadcaster passed away this morning in Dallas from complications following hip surgery.

Summerall worked a record 16 Super Bowls, drawing on his football relationships made during his nine-plus years as a kicker in the NFL, primarily for the then-Chicago Cardinals and New York Giants from 1952 to 1961.

He had been ill off and on in his later years and had a liver transplant in 2004.

Summerall's cool grey call was a perfect contrast to his broadcast partner, the larger than life John Madden - and at the end of that final Super Bowl, with the Patriots in full chest-pounding celebration, Madden used all of the composure that he could muster:

"You are what the NFL is all about, what pro football is all about, and more important, what a man is all about and what a gentleman is all about," Madden testified amid all of the chaos...

...and nothing else really need be said - except thank you, posthumously, to the man whose voice will forever resonate in Patriots' lore.



1 comment:

  1. RIP Pat, I'll never forget you calling our first Super Bowl.

    ReplyDelete