| Date of birth: | October 6, 1956 |
| Place of birth: | Pittston, Pennsylvania |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s): | Wide Receiver |
| Jersey №: | 81 |
| College: | Penn State |
| NFL Draft: | 1978 / Round: 3/ Pick 81 |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1978-1984 | Miami Dolphins |
| Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
James Carmen Cefalo, (born October 6, 1956 in Pittston, Pennsylvania, U.S.), is an American sportscaster, game show host and former professional American football wide receiver.
Contents |
Biography
Radio and television
Cefalo became the play-by-play man on the Miami Dolphins radio broadcast team on Dolphins flagship station WQAM in 2005. He is partnered with former Dolphins Joe Rose and Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich. He currently is the host of 610 WIOD's South Florida First News.
He has been the Sports Director at WPLG television in Miami since 1993, and hosted the station's Sports Jam Live program. His on-air time at the station decreased when he assumed his radio play-by-play duties, and in April 2007, he announced he would leave WPLG entirely at the end of his contract. Cefalo has stated he will also concentrate on his wine business.
NBC
Cefalo was a color commentator for NFL on NBC, partnering with Charlie Jones from 1985-1987, and Fred Roggin in 1988.
He has been a correspondent for NBC News on The Today Show, sports anchor for NBC News at Sunrise and co-host of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Cefalo also co-hosted PM Magazine, and AM South Florida, and hosted the syndicated game show Trump Card, and three years later, hosted a not very widely-offered syndicated 1993 game show titled Sports Snapshot (according to The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows Volume 2). He is the only alumnus of Penn State ever to host a game show.
In 1988, Cefalo won an Emmy for his writing on the 24th Olympic Games. The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association named him Florida Sportscaster of the Year five times (1998, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004).
He now host a morning news program on NewsRadio610-WIOD (wiod.com)
National Football League
Cefalo was a 3rd round draft choice (#81 overall) of the Miami Dolphins in the 1978 NFL Draft. He would play 6 seasons for the Dolphins, including 2 Super Bowls (XVII and XIX), earning a reputation as sure-handed and dependable receiver. His performance in Super Bowl XVII illustrates this well: Cefalo showed up for the game sick—he had the flu with a 100°+ fever, but with receiver Nat Moore out with an ankle injury, he persevered, proving to be one of Miami's few bright spots in a 27-17 loss to the Washington Redskins. He caught the team's only offensive touchdown and averaged 21 yards per catch on the day. Cefalo's 76-yard touchdown reception from quarterback David Woodley still ranks as the fifth-longest in Super Bowl history.
In 1984, Cefalo caught the Dan Marino pass that broke the most touchdown passes in a season record.
He played in what many consider the greatest game in NFL history: the AFC divisional playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins on January 2, 1982 at the Orange Bowl.[1] The Pro Football Hall of Fame named it the "NFL's Game of the '80s."[2]
Penn State
Cefalo was a standout at Penn State University from 1974 to 1977. He led the Nittany Lions in all-purpose yards his senior season. He was instrumental in Penn State's 41-20 victory over Baylor in the 1975 Cotton Bowl Classic. He was named most valuable player of the 1976 Gator Bowl.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism in 1978.
High school
Cefalo attended Pittston Area High School in Pittston, Pennsylvania. It was his performance there that led to his inclusion on The Pennsylvania Football News All-Century Team.[3]
Personal
He currently resides in Miami Beach, Florida with his wife Janice and three daughters: Mia, and twins Ava and Katie.
Cefalo is a well-known oenophile, with over 1,200 bottles in his personal wine cellar. His family has been in the wine business for several generations,[4] and this love of wine has led to two Miami-area emporiums: Cefalo's Wine Cellar and Cefalo's Wine Corner. He also founded Cefalo's Cave Club, a $300-a-month private club with personal wine lockers, tastings, classes and meals.[5]
References
- ^ Weinberg, Dan. "One of the Greatest". ESPN Classic. http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Dolphins_Chargers_1981.html. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
- ^ "Pro Football History: 1981 AFC Divisional Playoff Game, January 2, 1982". Pro Football Hall of Fame. http://www.profootballhof.com/history/decades/1980s/shootout.jsp. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
- ^ "The Pennsylvania Football News All-Century Teams". Pennsylvania Football News. http://www.pafootballnews.com/AllCenturyTeams.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
- ^ "The Call of the Grape". South Florida CEO. 2002-11. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0OQD/is_10_5/ai_100541768. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
- ^ "Going Deep: Cefalo's Cellar showcases an ex-wide receiver's wine expertise". The Miami Herald. 2007-03-15. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/fred_tasker/14487470.htm.
External links
- Jimmy Cefalo at the Internet Movie Database
- WPLG bio
- The Scranton Times-Tribune Picks the Top 100 Athletes of All Time from the Scranton Area., December 2004
- Article from The Citizens Voice, December 2005
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