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Ed Sabol

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Filmmaker

The Resume

    (September 11, 1916-February 9, 2015)
    Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey
    Co-founder (with son Steve and others) of NFL Films (1962)
    Received a Lifetime Achievement Emmy (2003)
    Inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (1996) and Pro Football Hall of Fame (2011)

Why he might be annoying:

    He dropped out of college to pursue a short-lived acting career.
    He got a job selling coats for his father-in-law's company.
    During the fist NFL game he filmed -- the 1962 championship game between the Packers and the Giants -- he was so nervous that he developed diarrhea. (Steve Sabol: 'So he didn't see much of the game.')
    He and NFL Films have been criticized for ignoring the darker side of football, such as concussions and steroids.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was married to Audrey Hope Siegel for 73 years.
    He was a good enough swimmer to be selected for the 1936 Olympics, but refused to participate because the games were being held in Nazi Germany.
    He served in the Army in Europe during World War II.
    His work with NFL Films is considered the 'gold standard' for presenting sports.
    Fred Gaudelli of NBC Sunday Night Football said, 'NFL Films created this mythology and aura about the game that hooked the whole country.... They could make a three-yard run look like Armaggedon.'
    His innovations with NFL Films influenced Hollywood, with Ron Howard noting, 'NFL highlight reels had a real impact on how movies get made, particularly montages. Images on images. Using the slow-motion, combined with the live action. The hard-hitting sound effects, juxtaposed against incredible music, powerful music, creating a really emotional experience for the viewer.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 90.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 232 Votes: 61.64% Annoying