"Brookie" mourned by Philly, Broadcasting Industry
 

In advance of a Super Bowl, and at a time when the spew from the broadcast booth has become mind-numbingly vapid, it's wholly appropriate that Tom Brookshier's passing be widely noted and mourned. Brookshier, along with long time on-air (and barstool) running mate Pat Summerall, set the standard for everything that followed in televised football commentating. And on the field of play, there were few more devastating cornerbacks.

There's no point in me writing anything given what they are writing in the Iladelph papers... Bob Brookover's complete and wonderful obit:



Tom Brookshier, broadcaster and Eagles great, dies
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer

http://www.philly.com/philly/obituar...eat__dies.html

Tom Brookshier, according to his friends, knew how to tackle.

Whether on the football field or as a television and radio personality, his impact was equally immense and intense.

He was an all-pro on the last Eagles team to win an NFL championship, in 1960, and was part of CBS's top NFL broadcast team during the 1970s along with his close friend Pat Summerall. In the late 1980s he hired Angelo Cataldi, launching the 610 WIP sports-talk format that remains in place today.

Mr. Brookshier, 78, died Friday of cancer at Lankenau Hospital.

"He was a very complex and wonderful person," said Dick Vermeil, the former Eagles coach who later became a broadcast partner with Brookshier at CBS. "He had great compassion for people, and he could be very intense. He was a tough football player, but he was also gentle as a teddy bear. He had just an unbelievable blend of positive qualities. He's a Philadelphia icon just like Chuck Bednarik."

Sad news. One of the greats of all time. RIP

Does anybody living in Philly make it past 78?

Tony Black

:tro: :tro:

What a great guy he was. A real straight shooter.

RIP Brookie..

Maybe its something to do with eating cheese steaks & the heart ?

Doesn't help that the most common weather forecast condition is "gray."

The thing is, we are not sissy's in Philly like the people are in California.

We live hard and die young...

Earliest football memories were horrid Giant teams and Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier every Sunday.

Thank god for Dave Jennings

Or just do it Turk Style (chain smoke n' die young.)

Terrific appreciation of Brookshier by NYP's Phil Mushnik...



Brookshier was good listen, good guy
By Phil Mushnick

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_...AxfJoM6MbZMepI

While it's neither in our DNA nor our souls to hurt for them, it has been a rough stretch for our brothers in Philadelphia. In April, they lost Harry Kalas, beloved voice of the Phillies. The next day, Les Keiter, radio character -- "ring-tailed howitzer!" -- who called Sixers and Big Five hoops, died. Last Friday, it was Tom Brookshier, 78. The Eagles' No. 40 -- retired -- became a voice of all things sports in Philly. And then he was shared with all beyond the Schuylkill, on CBS.

Brookshier was too historical and hysterical for his obit to be lifted from the AP and squeezed into a broadcast by a producer (likely named Dustin, Justin, Josh or Zach) who figures that the world and ESPN began the same day.

Nice story by Mushnick. Thanks for sharing.