Pat Summerall - Summerall: On and Off the Air

Pat Summeralls remarkable tale is a great American success story that includes all the ups and downs of real life. From the playing field to the broadcast booth, from triumph to tragedy and back again, it is an inspiring story of achievement and redemption. One of the legendary voices of sports has a great deal to say that speaks to all of us.

Paul Tagliabue, NFL Commissioner

What a story! I know my old buddy Pat was a New York Giant, and of course, the cool, smooth voice of sports for many years. But, the new, rejuvenated Patrick Summeralls LIFE is just beginning. Now theres a story well all want to hear and want to cheer.

Tom Brookshier, CBS Broadcaster, Former Philadelphia Eagle

Pat Summerall is a true gentleman that has lived a life that will inspire each of us in some way. Im grateful that Pat is my friend and I thank him for sharing his story. Its a reminder on the importance of faith, family and friends. Pat has all three in abundance!

Troy Aikman, Former Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys

Summerall: On and Off the Air takes you on an intimate journey of Pat Summeralls lifethrough his triumphs and downfalls and into his heart and mind. The book is moving and honest and will endear you even more to one of sports greatest icons.

James Brown, CBS Sports

Pat Summeralls personal story captures the voice of American sports and tells of the grace that changed and sustained him in lifes wins and losses. Pat is a true legend in sports history, and this riveting account of his life experiences will inspire as well as entertain every reader. This book is a delightful and dynamic reminder that new beginnings really are possible!

Dr. Jack Graham, Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church

Copyright 2006 by Pat Summerall

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Summerall, Pat.
Summerall : on and off the air / by Pat Summerall.
p. cm.
ISBN 0-7852-1492-5 (hardcover)
1. Summerall, Pat. 2. Sportscasters--United States--Biography. I. Title.
GV742.42.S85A3 2006
070.4'49796092dc22
[B]

2006015617

Printed in the United States of America

06 07 08 09 10 QW 9 7 8 6 5 4 3 2 1

To my wife, Cheri, whose love, loyalty and care
kept me alive with the desire to tell this story.

And to my three children, Susan, Jay and Kyle,
who found a way in their hearts to
re-accept me as a father.

CONTENTS

ON THE DAY AFTER THE 2002 MASTERS TOURNAMENT IN AUGUSTA, I got an unusual telephone call from my former CBS Sports broadcasting partner and drinking buddy, Tom Brookshier. He offered none of his usual jokes or invitations to party. For a change, Brookie was all business.

A Philadelphia native and former Eagle, Brookie had success in real estate dealings in his hometown after our years in the booth together at CBS. He had just launched a new endeavor in which he and former 76ers superstar Julius IrvingDr. Jwere marketing corporate luxury boxes at Phillys new arena, the Wachovia Spectrum.

Ive got this big corporate client and hes a huge fan of yours, he told me. If you just come and meet this guy, I think I can ice this deal.

I told Brookie I didnt have the time to do a meet-and-greet. I was sick, tired, and way overbooked. But he persisted.

Patrick, I really need this sale. Ive never asked you for a favor like this before. Please come, even if you can only stay five minutes...

There was desperation in his voice. I sensed he was struggling, and because of our long friendship, I agreed to come. But why did Brookie call me Patrick? That was always a sign of trouble.

There was something very strange about the whole scenario for this meeting. Brookie asked me to come to a small hotel in Cherry Hills, New Jerseyan unusual place to wine and dine corporate bigwigs. But I went anywayanything for my pal.

When I arrived, he met me at the door. Brookie was usually all smiles when we got together, but not this day. His greeting seemed forced. He looked grim and on edge. He guided me to the elevator, and we rode up to the twelfth floor in near silence. He then directed me to a conference room.

When Brookie opened the door, I was surprised to see a roomful of people. And the familiar facesI knew all but one of themalso looked grim. I quickly sensed that this was an ambush: an intervention, as it is known in certain circles. And I was the guest of dishonor.

I had an urge to bolt for the emergency exit, but Brookie guided me into the room. All fourteen people seated in the circle either were related to me or were long-time friends, except a man I figured was the ringleaderthe interventionist.

Among those in the room were CBS president Peter Lund; PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman; Tampa Bay Buccaneers president Hugh Culverhouse; my long-suffering wife, Kathy; a friend and former neighbor from Jacksonville Beach who was a doctor at the Mayo Clinic; a golfing buddy, Ross Tucker; a Tampa friend, Bob Cromwell; and my golf-broadcasting boss, Frank Chirkinian.

The man I did not recognize was a representative of the Betty Ford Clinic in Palm Springs. He and others were standing by to escort me to their clinic as a candidate for treatment as an alcoholic, he explained. This is an intervention by the people who care about you, he said.

I swore at all of them and threatened to leave. I kept cursing under my breath as they told me that they had convened two days earlier out of concern for my health and welfare. Then, one by one, each person read aloud a letter he or she had written to me. In these letters, they expressed their love and affection for me, and their shared fear that I was in danger of destroying not only my reputation but my life.

In my anger, I tuned them out. You hypocrites, I thought. I knew some in that circle had their own addictions and dark secrets. Others, I decided, were there just to make themselves look good to their superiors. They didnt give a @%!& about me.

Yet some of what was in those letters got through the fury of my denial.

Brookshier was the last to speak. Before I could rip into my longtime drinking partner, he shut me up by saying he simply had been asked to read a letter written by my daughter, Susan,my oldest child. She couldnt be there because she couldnt leave her own children.

I hadnt been there much for my kids, but Susans letter made it clear that Id hurt them even in my absence. She recounted one incident after another. I was numb to most of it, sad to say. Yet her final words made my knees buckle: Dad, the few times weve been out in public together recently, Ive been ashamed we shared the same last name...

My defiant mask fell away, leaving me shamed, self-disgusted, and weeping the first tears of regret Id ever recalled shedding. To the surprise of all, I numbly gave myself over to the people from the Betty Ford Clinic.

They had a plane waiting. It was time to end my long-running boys night out. Game called on account of drunkenness.

CHAPTER ONE
LAKE CITY

I WAS BORN ON MAY 10, 1930, WITH A BUM LEG, INTO A FAMILY BROKEN beyond repair. My parents separated while I was still in my mothers womb, and from what I would gather later, it was just as well. They wanted no part of each other, or of me.