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SPORTSMonday 10 August 2015
Gifford In this Sept. 15, 2013 file photo, former New York Giants player there’s no other way to put felt he was robbed by an
Frank Gifford looks on before an NFL football game between the it, really,” Gifford told The incorrectly spotted ball
Continued from Page 17 New York Giants and the Denver Broncos in East Rutherford, N.J. Associated Press in 1993. with less than three min-
“There’s nothing else like utes left in the fourth quar-
“We rejoice in the extraor- Associated Press it.” ter, though video technol-
dinary life he was privileged A handsome straight- ogy employed for a 50th
to live, and we feel grateful Klammer’s gold medal eight years he served as a shooter who came off as anniversary documentary
and blessed to have been run in 1976 is considered a calm buffer between the earnest and sincere, Gif- indicated the call was cor-
loved by such an amazing broadcasting masterpiece folksy Don Meredith and ford was popular with rect. In any event, the Gi-
human being,” his family — and announced 588 acerbic Howard Cosell. viewers, even if some ac- ants were forced to punt in
said in the statement. “We consecutive NFL games In its early years the show cused him of being a shill the ‘58 game, leading to a
ask that our privacy be for ABC, not even taking was a cultural touchstone, for the NFL. famous drive led by Colts
respected at this difficult time off after the death of with cities throwing pa- He experienced the quarterback Johnny Unitas
time and we thank you for his mother shortly before a rades for the visiting an- highs and lows as an NFL to send it into overtime.
your prayers.” broadcast in 1986. nouncers and celebrities player. Gifford fumbled Gifford had his best year in
Gifford was the center- While he worked with oth- such as John Lennon and twice early in the 1958 1956, rushing for 819 yards,
piece of a Giants offense ers, including Dan Dierdorf, Ronald Reagan making NFL championship game, picking up 603 yards re-
that went to five NFL title Al Michaels, Joe Namath appearances. both of which led to Balti- ceiving and scoring nine
games in the 1950s and and O.J. Simpson, Gifford “I hate to use the words more Colts touchdowns, touchdowns in 12 games.
‘60s. Beginning in 1971 he was most known for the ‘American institution,’ but and later came up short The Giants routed the Chi-
worked for ABC’s “Monday on a critical third down. cago Bears 47-7 at Yankee
Night Football,” at first as a The Colts eventually won Stadium, where Gifford
play-by-play announcer 23-17 in the league’s first shared a locker with Mick-
and then as an analyst. overtime game. The thrill- ey Mantle.
Later in life he stayed in the ing finish helped popularize A crushing hit by 233-pound
spotlight through his mar- the NFL and was dubbed Eagles linebacker Chuck
riage to Kathie Lee Gifford, “The Greatest Game Ever Bednarik in November
who famously called him Played,” although not by 1960 flattened Gifford and
a “human love machine” Gifford. likely shortened his football
and “lamb-chop” to her “Not my greatest game,” career. Bednarik was pic-
millions of viewers. Gifford told the AP in 2008. tured standing over the un-
Gifford hosted “Wide World “I fumbled going out (of conscious Gifford, pump-
of Sports,” covered several the end zone) and I fum- ing his fist in a celebration
Olympics — his call of Franz bled going in.” thought by many to be
Gifford and his teammates over the top.q
