Longtime TV sports director SANDY GROSSMAN “has died after a long bout with cancer” at the age of 78. The eight-time Sports Emmy winner “directed 21 seasons of NFL coverage fronted by analyst JOHN MADDEN and play-by-play man PAT SUMMERALL for CBS and Fox.” Grossman directed a “record 10 Super Bowls -- seven for CBS and three for Fox -- five Stanley Cup Finals for Fox and 18 NBA Finals for CBS during his career.” Fox Sports President & COO ERIC SHANKS said Grossman was "part of the original heart and soul of Fox Sports." CBS Sports Chair SEAN MCMANUS: "Sandy is as much a part of the great tradition and heritage of CBS Sports as anyone” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 4/2). PRO FOOTBALL TALK’s Mike Florio wrote Grossman “typically got his mention when Summerall ran through the credits after the game was essentially over -- his own twist on DON MEREDITH crooning, ‘Turn out the lights, the party’s over’” (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 4/2).
TWITTER REAX: Reaction to Grossman's death has been prevalent on Twitter. The N.Y. Times' Richard Sandomir tweeted, "classy guy whose direction for CBS and Fox Sports helped me understand football production." Former NFLer London Fletcher wrote, "Sandy Grossman was an awesome guy, one of my all time favorites!" Fox' Kenny Albert tweeted, "A pioneer in sports television and a great man. It was an honor to work with Sandy and hear his tremendous stories."
