The Ultimate Influencer
December 29th, 2021
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
I’ve owed a great debt to John Madden for the past decade.
Ed Sabol was one of 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011 and I was chosen to make the case for the creator of NFL Films. The man was 94 years old and this was his only realistic shot to earn a gold jacket, so there was considerable pressure heading into my first presentation as Tampa Bay’s lone representative on the Selection Committee.
Also on the ballot were Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Shannon Sharpe, Richard Dent, Curtis Martin, Dermontti Dawson, Cortez Kennedy, Andre Reed, Willie Roaf, Tim Brown, Charles Haley, Jerome Bettis, Cris Carter and Chris Doleman.
Because only a maximum of five could be chosen, Sabol faced a major challenge. Years later, he would have been placed in a separate contributor category, but in those days, he was up against elite players.
Hall of Fame coach John Madden, who passed away yesterday, helped craft a special moment for Ira Kaufman.
The Super Bowl was in Arlington, Texas that February and The Tampa Tribune sent me early in the week. I talked to a few people about Sabol’s impact on pro football and typed up my presentation.
On Thursday, I noticed Madden was handing out an award at the Convention Center that afternoon, so I went over and waited for him to finish. I told Madden I would be speaking on Sabol’s behalf on Saturday and asked for a comment.
He needed no prodding.
“What is the National Football League without its history?” Madden told me. “And we would have no history without Ed Sabol and NFL Films. The man has to go into the Hall of Fame, no questions asked.”
Two days later, I ended my presentation with Madden’s remarks. Within a few hours, Ed Sabol had a bust in Canton and I have to think Madden may have put him over the top.
On Super Bowl Sunday, I got off the elevator at Cowboys Stadium and the first person I saw in the press box was Ed’s son, Steve Sabol.
Although we had never met, Steve approached me with tears rolling down his cheeks and gave me an enormous hug, saying, “We can’t thank you enough, Ira.”
In my 45 years in this business, that moment remains right near the top.
The Highest Plane
Special people have special clout with Hall of Fame selectors.
When I made the pitch for Warren Sapp in 2013, I closed with the following comments from Bill Belichick: “The combination of Sapp and Derrick Brooks was the closest I’ve seen to Joe Greene and Jack Ham. But Sapp played closer to the ball and if you didn’t handle him, nothing else mattered.”
Madden had the same gravitas.
Who else was going to last 10 years as a head coach for Al Davis, who demanded excellence? When Madden ended his fabulous run with the Raiders following the 1978 season, he did it on his own, walking away while Davis pleaded for him to stay.
The Tampa Bay region played a critical role in Madden’s broadcasting career. The first game he and Pat Summerall ever worked together came on Nov. 25, 1979 in a matchup between the Bucs and Vikings at Tampa Stadium.
Minnesota won 23-22, blocking a punt and two extra-point attempts as the Madden-Summerall tandem made its debut in the booth. Madden’s legacy is unique because the man was universally beloved.
How rare is that? Try naming some others.
Tom Hanks? Maybe. Magic Johnson? Perhaps. Willie Mays? Could be.
Whether it was turducken or fast-acting Tinactin, Madden was a whale of a pitchman. He could sell anything because he was genuine.
Tied To Brady
Twenty years ago, Tom Brady made Madden eat his words with the whole world watching.
The Rams had just tied the Patriots 17-17 with 90 seconds remaining in the Super Bowl when Brady took over deep in his own territory. Madden suggested it would be wise for the 14-point underdogs to sit on the ball and head into overtime, but instead Brady led a long drive that ended with Adam Vinatieri’s 48-yard FG as time expired.
From that day on, Madden became a huge Tom Brady fan. When Madden died Tuesday at the age of 85, Brady was crestfallen.
“RIP to a legend of our game,” Brady said.
It was Madden who once suggested the busts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame speak to each other when the lights go out.
He and Ed Sabol, who passed away in 2015, must have had a heck of a conversation last night.
Yes, that warranty includes USED vehicles!
Ira drives a 2020 Ford Escape (cherry red).
December 29th, 2021 at 1:52 pm
Excellent article!
December 29th, 2021 at 2:09 pm
Well said Ira. Another great article describing the Legendary John Madden. Most people my age (38) remember him calling those Super Bowl’s & playoff games. We can’t speak of Madden without bringing up the game! It’s a culture that he help start. RIP Mr. Madden, man would love to be a fly on the wall when the busts come alive…
December 29th, 2021 at 2:31 pm
Madden for many years has been the heart of the NFL. Nice article Ira
December 29th, 2021 at 2:53 pm
Well done Ira. My home city until I was 18 (no I didn’t throw snowballs at Santa Claus or batteries at Richie Allen at Connie Mack Stadium) was Philadelphia. One of our local newcasters, John Facenda, was the voice of NFL films in the prime years of Lombardi’s Packers, Tom Landry’s Cowboys, Hank Stram’s Chiefs, Bud Grant’s VIkings and George Allen’s Rams/Redskins, to name a few. The Sabols produced NFL Films in Cherry Hill, NJ, across the river from Philly. Facenda’s dramatic narrarations made those films classics. They were so well produced and orchestrated with soundtracks.
In those days of black and white grainy broadcasts, NFL films gave you the best camera angles, the most spectacular color film quality and great storylines of football’s legendary players. Without NFL Films, too many of those great NFL hero’s from that era would have been forgotten. Sabol’s NFL Films bring them to life even today.
Your story about Steve Sabol thanking you is a real treat. His dad in my eyes was a pioneer in creating a film medium that helped take Pro Football from the transistor radio era to what is now today’s largest followed sport in the United States!
December 29th, 2021 at 4:08 pm
You’re already in my Hall of Fame, Sage!
December 29th, 2021 at 4:52 pm
Outstanding piece, Ira.
December 29th, 2021 at 5:20 pm
One of your all time great columns, Ira. Well done.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:06 pm
Dang Ira. I had to fight back a tear or two reading that.
December 29th, 2021 at 6:21 pm
Boom! That’s some great writing!
December 29th, 2021 at 7:02 pm
That gave me chills. Bin playing madden for over 20 years. Has helped me learn the game and have so much appreciation for it because of John madden. R.I.P. a tru legend
December 29th, 2021 at 7:17 pm
Thank you for that column Ira. As a kid, I lived and died with the Oakland Raiders. From the “mad bomber,” Daryl Lamonica to Warren Wells, Fred Biletnikov and Cliff Branch. The horrendous immaculate reception, which probably would have been an incomplete pass with today’s cameras, to the “holy roller” with Dave Casper. I still can’t believe the great Kenny Stabler is not in the HOF. The 1977, 1981 and 1984 Super Bowls were incredible.
I used to be in the media in the 1980’s and once led a bus trip as a news/sports guy with our radio/tv station from Naples to Miami to watch a Raiders/Dolphins game. I got hammered, lost my voice screaming for my Raiders and I’m sure I pissed off almost all the good folks who were Dolphins fans and paid to be on that bus. RIP John, you were a hell of a coach!
December 29th, 2021 at 7:27 pm
That was awesome Ira.
December 29th, 2021 at 8:27 pm
Excellent story Ira.
December 29th, 2021 at 9:19 pm
John Madden was one in a million. He was funny, bright and just plain fun. He is sorely missed.
December 29th, 2021 at 9:33 pm
Legendary! Thank you Ira.
December 30th, 2021 at 3:14 am
Very fitting tribute. Well done Sage, well done.
December 30th, 2021 at 9:10 am
Good work, Ira! That article is a great testament to Madden.
December 30th, 2021 at 3:54 pm
Beautiful. What is the NFL without Madden?