OT: NFL TV pioneer Irv Cross dies at 81
Cross was a seventh-round defensive back pick out of Northwestern by Philadelphia in 1961 and went to two Pro Bowls as an Eagle. Also played for the Rams.
But of course he's most well known for being the first African American commentator in NFL history and had an outstanding 14-year run on the greatest pregame show of all time:
February 28th, 2021 at 8:50 PM ^
Who would have thought Musburger would have been the sole survivor?
February 28th, 2021 at 9:20 PM ^
Musburger is still looking LIVE.
February 28th, 2021 at 10:14 PM ^
Musburger died 10 years ago. What you've seen recently is CGI with AI speech. The algorithm went back to the shop for some fine tuning after the Katherine Webb incident.
Ok?!?! 2nd down and 9...
February 28th, 2021 at 9:00 PM ^
A loss. RIP.
February 28th, 2021 at 9:08 PM ^
Consummate professional on the field and in the studio. I'm sure he had to deal with ego and dribble with Brent, Jimmy the Greek and Phyllis George sharing the camera.
Never heard him say a bad word about anyone and always had a smile.
God bless you Irv.
February 28th, 2021 at 9:49 PM ^
Other than the stereotypical nonsense that was spewed back then by the haters about Phyllis George (remember, she was also a pioneer in her own right, as a female football/sports broadcaster), I've never read anything about her ego or anything else negative getting in the way.
Not 100% sure, but I think she passed away several years ago.
Rest in Peace, Irv Cross. You did well.
February 28th, 2021 at 10:16 PM ^
but I think she passed away several years ago.
Nope... just this past summer.
But +1 for ego comment. Don't know where VAWolverine got that from. By all accounts Phyllis George was tremendously liked and even more professionally respected.
February 28th, 2021 at 11:10 PM ^
Thanks for the correction on the date of Phyllis George's passing. I obviously forgot that it was in the last year.
Meh.
I imagine a lot of us are putting 2020 out of our minds.
Phyllis George was married to a politician.
This is all I have to say about that on this site!
February 28th, 2021 at 11:23 PM ^
Regarding Phillis George and ego (this is not to accuse her of having a big ego but just relates to the above comment). There was a fairly big incident (at the time) of The Greek hitting Musburger (didn't connect very well by reports). The issue was that Brent was responsible in his role for doling out air time between Jimmy the Greek and Phyllis George (apparently Irv was never a problem). George had left the show for a while and upon her return wanted more air time.
The reported source of the friction between Jimmy and Brent was that Brent hadn't given Jimmy enough time on the show.
I never thought jimmy the Greek added anything to that show. It was fine w just the three originals.
I pretty much grew with that pregame show! I recall him interviewing Forrest Gregg, the losing HC in 82 Super Bowl and very classy about it.
February 28th, 2021 at 9:13 PM ^
Class act. I tended to listen to him more than the others because his words were more measured and less sensationalized.
February 28th, 2021 at 9:34 PM ^
"Greatest pre-game show of all time."
This is factually accurate. Brent, Irv, Phyllis and Jimmy the Greek set the bar that none to date have matched IMO.
Godspeed Irv. You will be missed.
I wonder why they don't cycle guys through those roles more frequently, to keep it fresh. Not that I watch NFL pregame much, but I did see a bit this year and holy smokes is Terry Bradshaw embarrassing himself. Howie Long? They can't put these guys out to pasture?
February 28th, 2021 at 9:47 PM ^
RIP Irv
February 28th, 2021 at 9:53 PM ^
RIP Mr. Cross?
Truly a pioneer in the sports broadcasting industry.
Thanks for the memories ?
February 28th, 2021 at 10:16 PM ^
Really liked him. Classy and knowledgeable on the show. RIP Mr. Cross and condolences to his family.
February 28th, 2021 at 10:25 PM ^
Absolutely loved the NFL Today in the 80's. R.I.P Irv
February 28th, 2021 at 10:31 PM ^
Rest in peace, Irv.
February 28th, 2021 at 10:44 PM ^
I was 10 years old and a fanatic sports fan. My dad had taken me to a Tigers game and a Red Wings game, but I had never been to a college game in any sport. Nobody in my family had attended college. But, in the fall of 1960, my father's boss gave him 4 tickets to a U of M football game. My parents, my brother and I went to the game against Northwestern. The Wildcats were coached by Ara Parseghian and perhaps its best player was Irv Cross.
The game was played in a downpour and the Michigan Stadium field was a sloppy mess. The Wolverines won the game 14-7 and I still envision just one outstanding play from the game. In their attempt to catch up to the Wolverines, the Wildcats threw a long pass (I looked it up recently and it was only 27 yards) which Cross caught while laid out. He hit the ground and slid a few yards.
Every time I saw Cross as a broadcaster thereafter, I remembered the play. And I not only appreciated that catch, but the gracious, well-spoken way he spoke for the many years he was a broadcaster. He was always a class act.
And, my experience at that game caused me to fall in love with the pagentry and skill of college football. I have attended an additional 414 college football games since then--378 played by Michigan. I cannot wait for the next one and I will remember Irv Cross' catch all over again when I do.
February 28th, 2021 at 10:45 PM ^
Fun show back in the day. RIP Irv.
And an example of how often "less is more." In 2021 we get a combined 756,192 hours (roughly) of NFL pre-game shows between the networks every Sunday AM. The quality in 30 minutes of late 1980s era "The NFL Today" was arguably better than the combined quality today.
I agree. College Gameday is my example. It was must-watch when it was an hour long. Now it’s boring for three hours.
Don't mean to be a codger here, but I have to agree with you. I grew up outside of DC in the 60-70s. We had 5 VHF and 1 maybe 2 UHF channels, and there wasn't enough programming to keep them going all night, so they had the sign-off sermonette (look that up on the net for a laugh), played the national anthem, and then put a test pattern up on the screen until 5 or 6 in the morning when they came back on. Now we have 315 channels on cable, I still don't think we have enough decent programming to fill5 channel 24 hours a day, but hey, I realize some people need all those reality shows.
You're not a codger. It's just diminishing returns.
It can be the greatest and most anticipated football game ever (e.g., something like #1 Michigan vs #2 Ohio State in 2006!!!). But at some point, what the hell can you say anymore???
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Another thing that bothers me ---- ESPN will be doing a weeknight C-USA game on Wednesday night. Something like MTSU vs. UTEP. OK, that's not a top-tier college football game. But to the athletes playing in the game, their families, and the die-hard fans, that game is the most important thing in life for those 3.5 hours.
ESPN needs to respect that. Focus on the product in front of them, and give those athletes their due, instead of spending yet another 3.5 hours (in addition to the 500 other hours it's been discussed on various other platforms) talking about the #2 vs #5 match-up scheduled for Saturday.
February 28th, 2021 at 11:32 PM ^
R.I.P. Irv Cross. Being a pioneer is hard. Being the 'first Black ..." is harder than most can grasp. Thank you, Mr. Cross, for taking that burden on
On a related but less publicized note, Phyllis George passed away last year, at only 70
No doubt a classy guy as well as a fellow NW grad with Musburger. Loved that show, even the intrigue with Brent and Jimmy. Long before the internet, it was THE place to get good info.
It's funny in this information age how much many of us appreciated what little bits of "fresh" info we could get in the 1970s and 80s - this show gave us that insight.
RIP, Mr. Cross!
I always liked Irv. When I started actually watching football with my Dad early in the 80s NFL Today was what we watched pregame. Seeing clips of that show and hearing the theme music brings great memories.