RIP: Irv Cross, NFL veteran and CBS legend, dead at 81. “In 1971 Cross was hired by CBS Sports as a game analyst. Four years later, CBS took a gamble putting together Cross, Brent Musburger, Phyllis George and Jimmy ‘The Greek’ Snyder for what would become a legendary pregame show. Cross became the first Black network sports show anchor, on what became the first live pregame show. Previous pregame packages were taped.”