Steve Sabol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steve Sabol
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Sabol in 1998
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| Born |
Stephen Douglas Sabol
October 2, 1942 Moorestown, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | September 18, 2012 (aged 69) Moorestown, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Occupation |
Pro Football Hall of Fame 2020 Class
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| Years active | 1962–2012 |
| Spouse(s) | Lisa (divorced; 1 child) Penny |
| Parent(s) | Ed Sabol (1916–2015) Audrey Sabol |
Stephen Douglas Sabol (October 2, 1942 – September 18, 2012) was an American filmmaker. He was a very important person in the world of sports movies. Steve, along with his father Ed, started a company called NFL Films. This company changed how people watched and understood American football. Steve was also a talented artist.
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Early Life and Interests
Steve Sabol was born in Moorestown, New Jersey. His father, Ed Sabol, was also a filmmaker, and his mother, Audrey Sabol, loved collecting art.
Steve went to Colorado College. There, he studied art history, which helped him later in making creative films. He was also a good athlete and played American football as a running back. He was even named an All-Rocky Mountain Conference player.
Building NFL Films
Steve Sabol started his career in 1964, working with his father. His father had won the rights to film the 1962 NFL Championship Game. Steve's background in art history and his experience playing football made him perfect for making exciting football movies.
Their company grew into NFL Films. In the early years, Steve worked as a cameraman, editor, and writer. He helped create the unique style that NFL Films is known for. When ESPN started in 1979, they worked with NFL Films, and Steve became a personality on TV in the 1980s.
Steve Sabol and NFL Films were pioneers in sports filmmaking. They were the first to:
- Wire coaches and players for sound, so you could hear what they said during games.
- Use slow motion to show important plays in detail.
- Use montage editing, which means putting together many short clips to tell a story or show action.
In 1985, Steve took over NFL Films from his father. He helped build the NFL Network, a TV channel dedicated to football. Steve won many awards for his work, including 35 Emmy Awards.
Awards and Honors
Steve Sabol received many awards for his amazing work in sports filmmaking:
- In 1996, he was added to the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame.
- In 2002, Sporting News magazine named him the Sports Executive of the Year.
- He received the Pete Rozelle Award for his great contributions to the National Football League.
- In 2003, Steve and his father, Ed, received a special Lifetime Achievement Emmy. This award recognized how they changed the way people watched football.
- The Pro Football Hall of Fame honored Steve with the Dan Reeves Pioneer Award in 2007.
- In 2010, he received the Sports Leadership Award.
- Both Steve and his father were chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. This is a huge honor in football.
- He was also inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2011.
- In 2012, he received the "Champions – Pioneers & Innovators in Sports Business" award.
Steve Sabol won more than 40 Emmys during his time with NFL Films.
Personal Life
Steve Sabol was married and had one son named Casey. He was also a poet. He wrote a famous poem called "The Autumn Wind." This poem later became an unofficial song for the Oakland Raiders football team.
Death and Legacy
Steve Sabol passed away on September 18, 2012, at the age of 69. He had been battling brain cancer. The NFL honored him before every game in Week 3 of that season with a video tribute.
On January 15, 2020, Steve Sabol was officially elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020. His work at NFL Films truly changed how fans experience football, making him a legend in sports media.
See also
In Spanish: Steve Sabol para niños
