Jimmy Cefalo

NFL player


thumb|200px
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1956|10|6
Birthplace=Pittston, Pennsylvania
Position=Wide Receiver
number=81
College=Penn State
DraftedYear=1978
DraftedRound=3/ Pick 81
Stats=Y
DatabaseFootball=CEFALJIM01
PFR=CefaJi00
years=1978-1984
teams=Miami Dolphins
ProBowls=
HOF=

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.

Biography

Radio and television

Cefalo was announced as the play-by-play man of the Miami Dolphins radio broadcast team on Dolphins flagship station WQAM. Since 1993, he has been Sports Director at WPLG television in Miami. Cefalo reduced his WPLG duties in 2005, the first year he assumed duty as the radio play-by-play man. In April 2007, Cefalo announced that he would leave his television job at WPLG channel 10 when his contract expires. During many football seasons, Cefalo hosted the station's "Sports Jam Live" program. Cefalo will concentrate his efforts on his wine business, in addition to his radio play-by play with former Dolphins Joe Rose and Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich. After two years at 790 "the ticket" AM in Miami, the Dolphins radio contract has returned to WQAM Miami.

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").

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).

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: [http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Dolphins_Chargers_1981.html] The AFC divisional playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins on January 2, 1982 at the Orange Bowl. The Pro Football Hall of Fame named it the "NFL's Game of the '80s." [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/decades/1980s/shootout.jsp]

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. 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 [http://www.pafootballnews.com/AllCenturyTeams.htm]

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, [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0OQD/is_10_5/ai_100541768] 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. [http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/fred_tasker/14487470.htm]

External links

*imdb name|id=1687245|name=Jimmy Cefalo
* [http://www.local10.com/station/269189/detail.html WPLG bio]
* [http://thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12969089&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=416049&rfi=6 The Scranton Times-Tribune "Picks the Top 100 Athletes of All Time from the Scranton Area."] , December 2004
* [http://www.citizensvoice.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15778858&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=565177&rfi=6 Article from "The Citizens Voice"] , December 2005