Derogatis came along too early to really benefit from playing pro football. He joined the New York Giants in 1949 after an all-America career at Duke, and was their regular offensive tackle as a rookie, and became a defensive tackle the next year, leading to a Pro Bowl appearance in 1951. Alas, after the 1952 season, a recurrence of a knee injury suffered in college recurred, forcing his retirement and he left football to go into the insurance business.
But Derogatis kept his contacts in football. He worked for the Giants as a scout and in 1963 was broadcasting their games on radio. Eventually his work was noted and he joined the NBC TV team in 1968, and was paired with the great Curt Gowdy in 1971 as their number 1 broadcast team, broadcasting three Super Bowls (most notably, Super Bowl III, when the Jets upset the Colts) and many other pro and college events. Derogatis was replaced as Gowdy's partner by Don Meredith in 1974, and eventually retired from the job, his last year in the booth being 1977.
This bare history tells you very little about what made Dero great. His strength was in explaining what was going on -- what made the play work or fail. His insight into the subject was unmatched, often pointing out things before the instant replay came up. If you were new to the game, he made it more understandable. If you were familiar with it, he'd routinely point out things you never noticed before.
And he always remembered the game came first. No anecdotes about his playing career. No tangential discussions (even when the game was a blowout). Just a calm, professional demeanor that was designed to enlighten, not entertain (the game was the entertainment; Dero just made it more entertaining).
Of course, few people pat attention to football commentators, and those that do remember the self-promoters, the ego-driven, and the terrible. Derogatis was none of these things. He also had a reedy voice, a bit high-pitched for a modern announcer.
Football broadcasting has changed so that the color commentator is supposed to be part of the show, so Derogatis was something of an anachronism by the time he retired. But those who remember him agree: he was one of the best. And it's sobering to think he probably wouldn't be given much of an opportunity today.
22 comments:
As a Giants fan since 1946, I will second your nomination.
Curt and Al got things done--bring back the AFL!
Great piece. I enjoyed what Al brought to a telecast and miss his style.
Auggie
where was he from
Google is your friend.
As a lifetime Miami Dolphin fan, it was Derogatis who picked up early - very early - just how good the Dolphins would turn out to be. As you point out, his ability to show you what was going on was unmatched. My dad was a starting lineman in the day of the leather helmet who played both ways, and he loved Derogatis. Partly because he was a lineman like Al, but partly because he also knew how good Al was at analysis.
The only guy that comes close today is JAWS, and they canned him this season for MNF.
I'll never forget Al boldly proclaiming to Curt as the Chiefs were getting ready to play the Raiders in the AFL championship game to see which would go on to play the NFL's Viking's in the 4th and final REAL superbowl:
"Curt---it doesn't which one of these teams wins today. Either one will go on to beat the Vikings in the superbowl" It was amazing the firestrom he set in motion with that comment.
After the Chiefs beat the Raiders, he broke in depth why the Chiefs would win. It was amazing how spot on his analysis was. It was clairvoyant.
De Ro was the best ever. Nobody, and I mean nobody today even comes close to his ability at breaking down games. It's a sign of our twisted culture that he probably wouldn't be given much of a chance today.
DeRo was undoubtedly the best football analyst of all time. He was also a great guy personally. I remember listening to him with my brother on WNEW in the '60's. I swear you didn't need a TV to see what was happening - or going to happen for that matter. Back in those days, the Giant home games were never on TV, so listening to DeRo was just as good if not better. I did know DeRo personally and professionally as well. He was a great and motivational leader who never asked for respect, because he didn't have to. He was one heck of a guy!
DeRo was undoubtedly the best football analyst. He was also a great guy personally. I remember listening to him with my brother on WNEW in the '60's. I swear you didn't need a TV to see what was happening - or going to happen for that matter. Back in those days, the Giant home games were never on TV, so listening to DeRo was just as good if not better. I did know DeRo personally and professionally as well. He was a great and motivational leader who never asked for respect, because he didn't have to. He was one heck of a guy!
Derogatis isn't forgotten with me... his pairing with Gowdy is an all-time classic. He's still the voice of TV color commentary I'll always remember most. Derogatis brought a rare class and dignity to the booth. I'll always remember him.
All true about Mr. Al Derogatis, wish he was still doing games.
I met Mr. Al Derogatis my first year with The Prudential Insurance Company. He gave a lecture on listening techniques. He was quite a gentleman and a great inspiration. I still remember and use what I learned from him. Have thought about him many times. Lived near friends and fellow Giants, Carl Banks and Billy Ard who coached my son in Pop Warner. Did not know he had passed.
Today's color commentators have very little insight. They all use similar cliches and manage to make the game seem mundane.
This is a good and funny article on football cliches: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/nfl-broadcasting-cliches-will-come-back-to-haunt-you/2012/10/28/4afcef68-1f7b-11e2-ba31-3083ca97c314_story.html?utm_term=.571c3a0d8e9d
Al made it sound as if he was explaining a WW2 battle plan to invade Stalingrad. Often I had no idea what he was talking about but I loved hearing him tell it.
Being a gentlemen, knowledgable, and interesting is not easy, but Al is one of the few that managed it.
Al was an excellent analyst who had a knack for predicting or diagnosing an upcoming offensive play...Before Super Bowl III, he simply stated that if the Jets could run for over 100 yards as a team they would win the game and they did...He beautifully diagnosed the Baltimore zone defence in the pre game, and naturally Don Maynard ran right through it and nearly caught a long touchdown pass. In the 1968 AFL Championship Game that he broadcast for NBC radio, he anticipated a Raider play into the endzone where Warren Wells would go to the post and not only did the play happen but Wells was wide open and would have scored an easy touchdown; instead, Lamonica threw to a double covered Hewritt Dixon. This play I think was the turning point of this Jet victory. In Super Bowl 7 DeRogatis put the spotlight on small receiver Howard Twilley of the Dolphins and how tough he was to cover minutes before Twilley beat Pat Fischer of the Redskins and scored a touchdown. The guy was incredible. RIP Al
Before he was ab analyst, he was a key player for the NYGiants on the great teams of the late 50s
Al DeRogatis was one of the best all-time. As a kid, I still recall DeRogatis teaming up with Curt Gowdy back when the AFL was a still a separate upstart league. Even before the leagues merged, the AFL coverage on NBC was more entertaining than the NFL. DeRogatis teamed with Gowdy as the near perfect team. Gowdy was excellent play-by-play while DeRogatis provided real analysis decades before that ability became mainstream. If DeRogatis were alive today, he would be the best. Listen to Tony Romo, and you get an idea of what DeRogatis brought to the game without the assistance of all the technology in the TV coverage today. DeRogatis did everything Romo does WITHOUT the AID of even instant replay, without becoming annoying as Romo can do. I have watched Pro football for all of my 60+ years, and DeRogatis WAS THE BEST COLOR MAN EVER. I will never forget phrases like "Curt, Dawson really split the seam on that pass" to Otis Taylor, followed by a precise explanation of what happened. R.I.P Al - I will never forget your ability to explain the game to a young kid who watched the old AFL in black and white and enjoyed it more than all the technical advantage they have today.
In New Jersey in the late 50's the ny Giamts games were blacked out and we had only radio,so we listened to Marty Glickman along with Al who would bring the inside of the games out by his excellent analysis predicting what might happen next...Marty would quickly say "Dero" and magically I could view what just happened or what was about to be the next play radio became better than TV and some times when the Giants game was on tv.my father would turn off the tv volume and bring in the radio...Al was the best and I think Mr.Romo is now the modern day Mr.D'Ragogatis.
Al was great at what he did. He actually bailed out his partner many times during the end of his career.
I remember him doing the 1969 Orange Bowl with Jim Simpson. Penn State won on a two-point conversion in the final seconds against Kansas.
I remember that game well. Penn State got to first and goal with a hail Mary pass as the clock was running down. They ran into the end zone and went for a two-point conversion. It failed, but Kansas was penalized for two many men on the field (tapes showed they also had too many when Penn State scored the touchdown). Given a second chance, Penn State scored to win it. One of the most exciting bowl games of all time. Derogatis was just a bonus.
Ditto to the above comment. Watched B&W AFL games myself (68y/o) and Al was great!
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