To learn more about his achievements as a sports author and contributions, visit www.raymirra.net where everything is highlighted.

1. Ray Mirra Hillsboro — Was
IRV Cross A Fixture In NFL
For Decades?

2. As a sports author, I — Ray Mirra Hillsboro have seen Irv Cross
play for decades. As a player, pioneer broadcaster, and coach, he
was a fixture in playing football. However, in 1961, he almost did
not survive the Training Camp with the Eagles.
Irv Cross, who died on 28th February 2021, was from
Northwestern and a roster of the defending NFL Champions. The
Eagles’ coaches made him the protective back. In an interview
with Raymond Mirra, here is what he had to say:
“The first exercise I was once going in opposition to Tommy
McDonald,” Cross said, referring to the Eagles’ Hall of Fame
receiver. “Tommy got here at me, faked to the interior and,
whoosh, he used to be gone. I used to be 30 yards away from him
when he caught the ball. They put me on a different aspect and
Pete Retzlaff ran a brief pattern. I went for him and, whoosh, he
used to be off in some other route catching the ball. And then, I
said to myself that if this is what I have to go through, I would
possibly as properly quit.

3. The Eagles’ coaches stayed with Cross and he took over for Tom
Brookshier when Brookshier suffered career-ending leg harm
halfway thru the 1961 season. Losing Brookshier was a blow — he
used to be one of the league’s fine cornerbacks and crew chief —
however, given the opportunity, Cross grew to become a Pro Bowl
participant himself.
He had extremely good bodily tools. He had dimension and pace
and a high-quality work ethic. He studied the league’s receivers
and stored designated notes on their strengths and weaknesses
and what they appreciated doing in sure situations. Because he did
now not play protection substantially in university Cross had to

4. research tackling fundamentals at the NFL level, which is each
hard — and dangerous. Initially, he launched himself at his
opponent’s knees. As a result, he suffered countless extreme
concussions early in his career.
Throwback NFL — Irv Cross Picked Sixes
Cross was once recognized with cognitive dementia some years in
the past and agreed that after his death, his intelligence would be
donated to scientific researchers so it should be studied for CTE —
an intelligence disorder that affected many former players.
In 1970, Cross retired as a participant and grew to become a full-
time coach. Twelve months into it, he was once employed as a
sports analyst and in 1975, he moved to the studio when the
community launched THE NFL TODAY; the weekly pregame
exhibit that now dominates sports activities television.

5. THE NFL TODAY was hosted by Brent Musburger — a former
Chicago sports activities writer, with Phyllis George — a former
Miss America. Cross supplied the professional analysis, breaking
down the X’s and O’s, and previewing the large games. He was
once a pioneer, the first African-American community sports
activities exhibit anchor. In all words, Irv was a genuine gentleman
and a trailblazer in the sports world and will be remembered for
his accomplishments and the paths he paved for those who
followed.