NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
By Richie Zyontz
FOX NFL Lead Producer
Editor’s Note:Richie Zyontz has been an NFL producer for FOX since 1994 and is in his 23rd season as the lead producer. He has more than 40 years of experience covering the league and has produced seven Super Bowls. Throughout the 2024 NFL season, he is providing an inside look as FOX’s new No. 1 NFL team, including NFL legend Tom Brady, makes its journey toward Super Bowl LIX. Read more behind-the-scenes stories from Richie Zyontz here.
Before knowing how to drive or needing to shave, I was sitting in a Green Bay steakhouse watching former Washington Redskins coach George Allen diagram plays on a tablecloth. Seated to his right was Lindsey Nelson, a legendary football and baseball broadcaster, whom I had grown up idolizing as a New York Mets fan.
The year was 1981, and that was the announcing team I was assigned to as a rookie at CBS Sports. Before season’s end, I had worked with Vin Scully, Jack Buck, Hank Stram and Roger Staubach — all larger-than-life figures to a starry-eyed sports fan like me.
That was a long time ago, yet those memories remain indelibly etched in my heart.
Fast-forward five years, and Rich Russo was earning his rookie stripes on CBS’ top NFL crew, of which I was also a part of.
Fresh out of Penn State, the young Long Islander and college lacrosse star now found himself playing poker on Friday nights with the intimidating presence of John Madden sitting across from him. Madden was a damned good poker player — Russo not so much.
Richie Zyontz (left) with John Madden at the NFC Championship Game in January of 1983. (Photo courtesy of Richie Zyontz)
However, what he lacked in poker prowess he more than made up for in other sports. In college, as I mentioned, he was a lacrosse standout, once scoring 10 goals in a game. In fact, it was a serendipitous phone call from his assistant coach to a friend at CBS Sports that opened the door to Russo’s future career.
Early memories, unforgettable learning…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/behind-scenes-foxs-nfl-crew-broadcasting-legends-from-madden-brady
Author :
Publish date : 2024-11-12 14:58:49
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
