{"id":1205,"date":"2019-10-10T16:30:54","date_gmt":"2019-10-10T20:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/?post_type=inductees&p=1205"},"modified":"2020-02-13T09:22:20","modified_gmt":"2020-02-13T14:22:20","slug":"bob-fishman","status":"publish","type":"inductees","link":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/inductees\/bob-fishman\/","title":{"rendered":"Bob Fishman"},"content":{"rendered":"

37 NCAA Final Fours. 27 US Open tennis championships. 20 Daytona 500s. Three Olympic Winter Games. Two World Series. Plus the NFL and NBA playoffs, college football, Triple Crown horse races, and so much more during 45 years at CBS Sports. Bob Fishman\u2019s r\u00e9sum\u00e9 speaks for itself.<\/p>\n

However, what cements the longtime CBS Sports director as a true industry legend is not the raw numbers but the iconic moments he has etched into the memories of millions of sports fans: Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison duking it out on the track at Daytona, NC State coach Jim Valvano sprinting across the court looking for someone to hug, a weeping Tanya Harding showing Olympic judges her broken skate lace mid-routine, and Joe Carter\u2019s walk-off home run to win the World Series for Toronto.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have one goal as a director, and that\u2019s to capture emotional moments,\u201d says Fishman. \u201cDirecting for me \u2014 whether it\u2019s film or sports or anything else \u2014 is about capturing those moments that have true emotion.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the words of CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus: \u201cBob has distinguished himself as one of the great directors in the history of sports television. His ability to tell the story and set the scene through the camera\u2019s lens is simply remarkable. He is both innovative and creative but never loses sight of his main job, which is to cover the action on the field, in the arena, or on the track.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starting Out in Television: From a Moon Walk to The NFL Today<\/em> <\/strong>
\nBorn in New York City and reared in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Fishman grew up listening to Dodgers games on shortwave radio and dreaming of being a baseball announcer. He earned a degree in broadcasting at Boston University, where he fell in love with the art of directing and behind-the-scenes production.<\/p>\n

After graduating, Fishman landed a job at CBS News in 1972 as a production assistant and associate director. His first shot at directing came when the lead director for CBS News\u2019 coverage of the Apollo 17 launch fell ill, and Fishman \u2014 at the ripe age of 23 \u2014 found himself directing CBS Morning News<\/em> segments hosted by the legendary Walter Cronkite.<\/p>\n

In 1976, newly appointed CBS Sports President Robert Wussler tapped Fishman as director of CBS Sports\u2019 new pregame show, The NFL Today<\/em>, which blazed the trail for all NFL studio shows. He spent five years at the front bench for The NFL Today <\/em>alongside Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Mike Pearl, who served as producer. Fishman also began hitting the road to direct auto racing, college football, and a variety of events for the CBS Sports Spectacular<\/em> anthology series.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first met and worked with Bob Fishman at CBS Sports in 1976, he was already widely regarded as the best young sports director in the industry,\u201d says Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer and former CBS Sports President Neal Pilson. \u201cAlmost a half century later, Bob\u2019s innovative and imaginative work principally on NCAA basketball and the NFL has achieved Hall of Fame status, but he remains the same kind, humble, and gracious person we have always known and loved.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 1979 Daytona 500 and Redefining Auto-Racing Coverage<\/strong>
\nFishman got his first big break in 1979 when he was assigned to direct the Daytona 500 for CBS, marking the first time the entire race had been broadcast live from flag to flag. A major snowstorm across the U.S. that weekend brought millions more eyeballs to arguably the most dramatic finish in NASCAR history<\/a>. Fishman captured the epic last-lap crash between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison that allowed Richard Petty to sneak through for the win, as well as Yarborough and Allison\u2019s famously coming to blows on the track after the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a momentous finish that captured the imagination of NASCAR fans and non-racing fans alike across the country,\u201d says Fishman. \u201cUntil that point, NASCAR was just a regional sport, but the sensational ending vaulted that race to the front page of the New York Times<\/em>. In my mind, that\u2019s the moment that took the sport to the next step. And the fact that people were seeing it live for the first time contributed to the success of NASCAR going forward. And, personally, it set my career in motion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fishman would direct every Daytona 500 for the next two decades and served as CBS Sports\u2019 lead auto-racing director. He also became the first U.S. director to use Race Cam on-board cameras, when CBS Sports debuted them in 1983. He would go on to help craft the way these cameras are deployed in auto racing and drastically alter the way live races were presented to viewers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we set a new standard for how to cover auto racing during those years,\u201d says Fishman. \u201cWe tried to do a couple things that I found were lacking in racing [coverage]. First, we put out more low cameras to create that sense of speed and show the essence of how dangerous racing can be. Second, my goal was to get further back into the pack. [CBS Sports announcer] Ken Squier always preached, \u2018It\u2019s not just about the lead two or three cars. It\u2019s important to get back in the pack because that\u2019s where some of the best battles take place.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Lifetime of \u2018Shining Moments\u2019 at the NCAA Final Four<\/strong>
\nIn 1981, CBS Sports won the broadcast-TV rights to the NCAA Final Four, launching one of the longest partnerships between a network and a sports property. Fishman was selected to direct the 1982 Championship Game and was once again gifted one of the most memorable finishes in sports history, when freshman North Carolina guard Michael Jordan sank a jumper in the closing seconds to beat Georgetown.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe excitement of doing college basketball \u2014 with the kids on the court and in the stands that is so unlike professional sports \u2014 was very appealing to me,\u201d says Fishman. \u201cOf course, it was an iconic game, and we did it well, and I haven\u2019t stopped doing it since.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aside from Valvano\u2019s unforgettable postgame sprint across the court and Jordan\u2019s star-making shot, Fishman has captured a treasure trove of unforgettable moments during 37 years directing Final Four coverage (a record not likely to be broken), including Butler forward Gordon Hayward\u2019s last-second half-court shot just<\/em> rimming out against heavily favored Duke in 2010 and Villanova star Kris Jenkins\u2019s draining a shot as time expired to beat UNC in 2016, the only NCAA Men’s Championship game to be won on a buzzer beater,<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of those highlights, all of those, pardon me, \u2018shining moments\u2019 have come through his cameras,\u201d Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer and CBS Sports lead announcer Jim Nantz, said at the 2019 Final Four<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s just the Coach K, if you will, of directors.\u201d<\/p>\n

CBS Sports Lead Reporter Tracy Wolfson, who has worked with Fishman for 15 years at the NCAA Tournament, adds, \u201cI see firsthand the talent he is, the incredible attention to detail, the love he has for sports, the feel he has for the game, and what a tremendous teammate and friend he is. And, because of all those things, he has set a standard not only at CBS but for so many in this industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Picture of Versatility: From Football to Figure Skating and Beyond<\/strong>
\nIn addition to redefining the way auto racing and college hoops are covered, Fishman has proved to be one of the most versatile directors in the history of sports television, covering nearly every major sport during his 45 years at CBS.<\/p>\n

His career directing action on the gridiron began in 1981 with college football before he transitioned to directing The NFL on CBS<\/em>, which he continues to do each Sunday in the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cBob has directed of some of the biggest events over the past 40 years,\u201d says Mike Arnold, lead game director, The NFL on CBS<\/em>. \u201cHe has been one of the standard-bearers of our industry for almost half a century.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fishman is also a veteran of three Olympics, having directed figure skating at the 1992 Albertville, 1994 Lillehammer, and 1998 Nagano Winter Games, as well as the Opening Ceremony in Nagano. In 1994, he helped capture the climax of the Nancy Kerrigan\u2013Tanya Harding soap opera as it played out on the ice during the women\u2019s short-program competition in Lillehammer, powering CBS to the fourth-largest primetime audience in the history of television.<\/p>\n

The 16-time Emmy Award winner directed 27 US Open tennis tournaments (before CBS Sports lost the rights in 2014); dozens of NBA Playoff games throughout the 1980s; the 1992 and 1993 World Series (during CBS\u2019s 1990-93 run carrying MLB); countless horse races, including several Belmont Stakes (for which he won two Eclipse Awards); and various events at three Pan American Games. He is also the recipient of three Directors Guild of America Awards.<\/p>\n

\u201cBob is the man,\u201d says Mark Wolff, Fishman\u2019s longtime producer on college basketball and the NFL. \u201cThere is no better director in our industry. He possesses a keen eye and sharp editorial mind that he has brought to some of the world\u2019s biggest sporting events. Bob\u2019s biggest contribution to CBS might be his experience and knowledge. He is always open to share his experiences and work to solve problems that he has seen before. He is our \u2018go-to guy\u2019 and is always willing to help to make the show better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fishman has also directed various CBS primetime skating specials, including the \u201cIce Wars\u201d series Scott Hamilton, Back on the Ice<\/em>, and, in 1996, was nominated in the DGA\u2019s Music and Variety category for Sergei Grinkov, Celebration of a Life<\/em>. He also co-produced and directed Dolphins, Whales and Us<\/em>, a CBS entertainment documentary, which was awarded the international Cine Golden Eagle Award.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just Fishman\u2019s wide-ranging record of live telecasts that cement his legacy at CBS Sports, however. He also has helped mentor dozens if not hundreds of successful directors, producers, and other industry stalwarts during his years in the production truck.<\/p>\n

\u201cBob is not only a pioneer in the television-sports industry; he has been instrumental in almost every production person\u2019s career at CBS Sports,\u201d says Jim Rikhoff, lead game producer, The NFL on CBS<\/em>. \u201cHe has been a giving mentor and leader at our sports division for as long as I can remember. A consummate professional, as impressive as Bob\u2019s work r\u00e9sum\u00e9 is, it\u2019s his character and professionalism that truly make him a Hall of Famer in our industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

McManus seconds that sentiment: \u201cIn addition to his stellar work as a top director, Bob has been an amazing teammate to everyone at CBS Sports and a mentor to many of our aspiring directors who have followed in his footsteps.\u201d<\/p>\n

Life Outside the Truck: Family and Philanthropy<\/strong>
\nWhile the rigors of the 40-plus years on the road have not made it easy, Fishman has always made family a priority. He and his wife of 38 years, Margaret, have twin sons, Andy and Matt, who will be graduating from USC in May. \u201cMy family has been unbelievably supportive of me, and, for that, I could not be more grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Says McManus, \u201cAbove all else, Bob has his priorities in order as a man of integrity and class who understands that his most important role is as a devoted husband, father, and son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nearly three decades ago, Fishman\u2019s decorated career nearly came to an end far too early when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgins lymphoma, missing the Final Four in 1990. He underwent a bone-marrow transplant and made a complete recovery, but the memory of a young Puerto Rican girl dying alone in the clinic where he was treated \u2014 her family could not afford to make the trip \u2014has never left him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat experience crushed me emotionally and impacted my outlook on pretty much everything,\u201d says Fishman. \u201cNo one should have to go through that alone, and I made it one of my missions in life to try to help those that were in need.\u201d<\/p>\n

He helped found and is now president of the Bone Marrow and Cancer Foundation (BMCF), which aims to improve the quality of life for bone-marrow- and stem-cell\u2013transplant patients and their families by helping with expenses. Since Chairman\/CEO Christina Merrill and Fishman launched the organization in 1992, it has raised and distributed millions of dollars in patient aid, including $2 million in 2018 alone.<\/p>\n

At 71, Fishman says retirement isn\u2019t in the cards just yet, indicating that he\u2019d like to get to 50 years at CBS Sports (he\u2019s at 45) and 40 Final Fours (he\u2019s at 37) before calling it a day.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I think about being at CBS all these years, it is truly insane, but I don\u2019t feel like I\u2019m done yet,\u201d he says. \u201cThe business is changing, but I still love what I do. As difficult and complex as the job has become with the responsibilities we have in the truck, it\u2019s still very enjoyable to me, and I\u2019m still having fun.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1206,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"tags":[49],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/inductees\/1205"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/inductees"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/inductees"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}