{"id":1506,"date":"2021-11-24T11:49:25","date_gmt":"2021-11-24T16:49:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/?post_type=inductees&p=1506"},"modified":"2022-01-07T12:39:03","modified_gmt":"2022-01-07T17:39:03","slug":"don-cornelli","status":"publish","type":"inductees","link":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/inductees\/don-cornelli\/","title":{"rendered":"Don Cornelli"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anyone who has watched an NFL broadcast in the last 30 years has seen a\u00a0Don Cornelli<\/strong>\u00a0shot. And they\u2019ve also probably seen him\u00a0in<\/em>\u00a0the shot: he\u2019s the guy sprinting down the sidelines anticipating the next play, inches from the celebrating player who has just scored, or getting run over by a player tumbling out of bounds. Whether it\u2019s on the football field, the hardcourt, the fairway, or anywhere else a sports event is taking place, Cornelli and his handheld camera can somehow be found in the right place at the right time to capture the money shot.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the very beginning of Don\u2019s long, successful career in network television,\u201d says Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer and camera operator\u00a0Davey Finch<\/strong>, \u201che has always possessed the wonderful, natural gift of a \u2018great eye\u2019 for shot composition and framing. His camerawork excels because he knows what to shoot, when to shoot, and how to position himself to achieve the best possible shot on any sport he covers.\u201d<\/p>\n

As one of the top handheld-camera operators working today, Cornelli endeavors to get viewers as close as possible to the action and is a mainstay on the sidelines of some of the NFL\u2019s biggest games. Though most known for his work on NFL broadcasts on CBS Sports and Fox Sports for more than three decades, he has also covered NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, PGA, NASCAR, the Olympics, and the World Cup.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody sees the world more clearly through a viewfinder than Cornelli,\u201d says Fox Sports CEO\/Executive Producer\u00a0Eric Shanks<\/strong>. \u201cAnd the world is better for it.<\/p>\n

Catching the Fever: How Cornelli Fell in Love With Broadcasting<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A native of suburban Detroit, Cornelli grew up loving sports and, after graduating from Troy Athens High School, attended Central Michigan University, where he caught the sports-broadcasting bug.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not go to Central Michigan thinking I was ever going to be in broadcasting,\u201d he says, \u201cbut, when I got there and started doing the hands-on stuff in the studio, I got hooked. That\u2019s when I realized that this is what I wanted to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

He began working at the student-run cable station MHTV as well as at the public-broadcasting station WCMU Mount Pleasant, MI. In his sophomore year, he landed a gig freelancing for ESPN on USFL games in Detroit. It marked the beginning of what would become a lifelong love affair with pro football.<\/p>\n

A Life in Pictures: From CBS to Fox and Beyond<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After graduating from Central Michigan, he landed a job shooting instructional and promotional videos for General Motors and eventually got a full-time camera gig in news \u2014 first at CNN\u2019s office in Detroit and then at UPN affiliate WKBD Detroit. He continued freelancing on live sports shows on the weekends and, in 1986, worked his first NFL game for CBS Sports in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n

Cornelli worked his way up the ranks and, by 1988, was a fixture on the CBS A game with the fabled team of director\u00a0Sandy Grossman<\/strong>, producer\u00a0Bob Stenner<\/strong>, and\u00a0Pat Summerall<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0John Madden<\/strong>\u00a0in the booth.<\/p>\n

By this point, Cornelli had opted to leave the local news scene in Detroit and was freelancing full-time, working NFL, NBA, NASCAR, college basketball, and other broadcasts for CBS; Pistons, Red Wings, and Tigers shows for PASS Sports in Detroit; and college basketball for ESPN.<\/p>\n

By 1993, Cornelli had begun to make a name for himself as one of the best handheld-camera operators in the business. However, when CBS lost the rights to the NFL\u2019s NFC package to fledgling Fox Sports, he found himself unsure of what was next.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it happened after the \u201993 season, no one knew what was going to happen,\u201d he remembers. \u201cThankfully, Fox ended up taking Madden and Summerall, and they brought Sandy and Bob with them, and Sandy asked me to go with him as well. Those were really exciting times because we were starting something brand new at Fox.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cornelli has been working the NFL on Fox A games ever since. In all, he has worked 33 NFC Championship games for Fox and CBS and 23 Super Bowls for various broadcasters. He has also captured countless iconic NFL moments, including\u00a0the Giants\u2019 Plaxico Burress\u2019s game-winning TD catch<\/a>\u00a0to beat the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.<\/p>\n

As a freelancer, Cornelli retains the freedom to work events for different broadcasters. And work he does. After the NFL season winds down, he works on CBS Sports\u2019 golf coverage in the offseason, including The Masters and PGA Championship. Over the years, he has also run handheld camera at the NBA Finals, NCAA Final Four, NHL Stanley Cup Final, World Series, Olympics (1992 and 1994 Winter Games for CBS and 1996 Summer Games for NBC), FIFA World Cup (1994 in the U.S.), US Open tennis, and Daytona 500, among others.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019s body of work speaks for itself,\u201d says Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer and longtime director at CBS Sports\u00a0Bob Fishman<\/strong>. \u201cA consummate pro who makes every broadcast better with his creative eye for the perfect shot, as well as his unparalleled work ethic. He is a credit to every camera crew he has ever worked on.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a Gift: A Knack for Being in the Right Place at the Right Time<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although Cornelli attributes much of his intuitive \u201cright place, right time\u201d ability to luck, he does acknowledge that movement and positioning are key to his success. For example, if it\u2019s a must-win game for a team with a great passing offense, he will position himself farther down the field from the line of scrimmage than in an average game. By the same token, if a backup quarterback is in or it\u2019s an extremely cold day, he\u2019ll stay closer to the line of scrimmage. But, in the end, he says, it\u2019s all about going with your gut.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do I determine where that particular position is on the field? I honestly don\u2019t know,\u201d he says. \u201cBut what I do know is that so much of it is about positioning yourself and being ready to adjust. There are times I\u2019m out of position. I\u2019ll be way behind the line of scrimmage, and I\u2019ll think I screwed up. But then, suddenly, there is a pick-6 or the quarterback gets sacked and fumbles, and [the action] returns the other way for a touchdown. Why am I there? Well, sometimes I just get lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Cornelli is modest about his ability to magically appear at the exact spot where a big play is about to happen, the directors he has worked with think it\u2019s much more than just luck.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon is incredibly talented,\u201d says Fox Sports lead director\u00a0Rich Russo<\/strong>, who works with Cornelli on the broadcaster\u2019s NFL A-game crew. \u201cHe has a keen eye and is always in the right place at the right time, consistently delivering incredible pictures. He is, without a doubt, one of the top handheld operators in the history of sports television and has proven that time and time again from the sidelines of some of the biggest sporting events in history. It doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s a preseason game or a Super Bowl, Don is always going to get the best shots and the best pictures.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDonnie is the GOAT of handheld operators,\u201d says Fox Sports director\u00a0Artie Kempner<\/strong>. \u201cHis thought process, attention to detail, and shot-making are what has always made him special. Add that to his tenacity and hustle, and you have a combination that every director and producer marvel at. He puts himself in the right position with great preparation and anticipation. It has been a privilege, and the ultimate directorial pleasure, to have done so many NFL games with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Says Fox Sports\/NFL Network director\u00a0Steve Beim<\/strong>, \u201cDon is one of those people that makes everyone around him look better. It doesn\u2019t matter the field of play; he\u2019ll always have the shot. And it will always be good. But even more than a great cameraman, he\u2019s a great person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beloved by All: A Genuinely Nice Guy<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While Cornelli\u2019s sixth sense for getting the shot is the stuff of legend, he is just as highly regarded for being one the most beloved figures in the business.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of his best qualities is his demeanor,\u201d says Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer\u00a0Fred Aldous<\/strong>, who worked with Cornelli for years as the A1 on Fox\u2019s NFL coverage. \u201cHe\u2019s one of the nicest and most loyal people in the business. Along with his camerawork, his honesty and integrity are second to none.\u201d<\/p>\n

Russo adds, \u201cAs talented as Don is as a camera operator, he\u2019s an even better person. He takes such great pride in every aspect of his job, whether it\u2019s the actual game or all the details leading up to the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, lugging around a 20-plus\u2013lb. camera and traveling NFL sidelines for more than 30 years comes with plenty of collateral damage. He has had numerous injuries \u2014 and even hospital visits \u2014 after being trampled by players on the sideline.<\/p>\n

However, his passion for his craft keeps him keeps him returning to the sideline week in and week out.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon is a true professional,\u201d says Fox Sports SVP, Production,\u00a0Judy Boyd<\/strong>. \u201cThe on-air talent, the production team, and his peers all respect and love working with him. He is always a welcome addition to any show, and that\u2019s a testament to both his talent and his attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Cornelli says he still loves running sideline camera as much today as he did three decades ago, being on the road 200+ days per year isn\u2019t easy. He credits his wife of nearly 40 years, Karen, and their two children, Andrew and Sara, for being understanding and supportive despite his ultra-demanding schedule. \u201cIf it wasn\u2019t for them, I certainly wouldn\u2019t be here today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking back at his storied career, Cornelli says, \u201cI honestly just feel lucky to be here and have been able to do something I love for so long. And to have worked with so many great people over the years has been amazing. All the credit goes to them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1507,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"tags":[55],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/inductees\/1506"}],"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\/1507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}