Pat Summerall
Pat Summerall
George Allen "Pat" Summerallwas an American football player and television sportscaster, having worked at CBS, Fox, and ESPN. In addition to football, he also announced major golf and tennis events. In total, he announced 16 Super Bowls on network television, 26 Masters Tournaments, and 21 US Opens. He also contributed to 10 Super Bowl broadcasts on CBS Radio as a pregame host or analyst...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSportscaster
Date of Birth10 May 1930
CityLake City, FL
CountryUnited States of America
So, I didn't get moved up because of celebrity status or anything like that. I got in line, and I passed the test. And they realized that I was sick enough, and as soon as the liver became available, I got one.
I've been on the air and broadcasting, but I had no idea what to say. How to respond to this meeting-there's gratitude, there's sorrow, every emotion you could think of.
When someone saves your life and gives you life, there's gratitude, humility; there's a time you've been so blessed you realize you've been given another chance at life that maybe you did or didn't deserve.
I didn't have any idea what I was gonna say...couldn't come up with the correct words... enough gratitude... enough to tell the Shelbys how I felt.
somehow found out I'd got the liver. But they said they didn't care, didn't want to meet me.
Look at some of the names on this club: Ryan , O'Brien , McNeil , Leahy , Sweeney ... sounds like a law firm.
I had no idea what to say, and talking is my business. It was a meeting of love, warmth. It was tearful, like we'd known each other for a long time.
Well, I know how the system works. I know that there's something called the MELD system, which is nationwide. There are zones as far as evaluation of need for liver transplants.
If only faces could talk...
There were a couple of things in the intervention that made me know I needed help. One was a letter from my daughter saying that she was ashamed she had the same last name as I did, which will shock you a little bit.
When someone saves your life and gives you life, there is gratitude and humility; there is a time you've been so blessed you realize you've been given another chance in life that maybe, you did or did not deserve.
I know I had been successful in football. I had been successful in broadcasting. I didn't think that anything could touch me. I thought, I can beat anything.
Well, to take me from where I was, and the life I was leading, to the life I lead now with the church and with the Lord and with Jesus Christ, it's a total, total turn-around.
But like Mrs. Ford, I think that the more people realize what a difficult and what an insidious disease it is, the sooner people will start to correct that situation.