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by Jim Cross (Author), Jim Millman (Joint Author)
A TELEVISION CAREER LIKE NO OTHER
As a 22-year-old, Jim Cross rolled the dice and turned his gamble into a two-and-a-half decade career.
He is recognized as one of the most versatile and accomplished production professionals in television history. His success is marked by stand-out achievement in both sports television and as the producer and director of the highest rated syndicated television series in history, "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous".
In the sports realm, he has travelled almost a million miles - from Uzbekistan to Tokyo and beyond -- televising the most important and iconic events and athletes. His experience includes every major global sport, including Super Bowls, the Munich Olympics, Horse Racing's Triple Crown, and hundreds of others spanning major college sports, tennis, golf, and iconic international Championships. From Muhammad Ali to Arnold Palmer to Martina Navratilova to Brooks Robinson to Johnny Unitas to Bob Cousy, sports biggest stars were his standard fare.
And along the way he supervised and teamed with the greatest collection of on-camera sports announcers in the history of sports television. His collection of announce talent included Pat Summerall, Brent Musburger, Dick Enberg, Bob Costas, Jack Whitaker, John Madden, Curt Gowdy, Chris Schenkel, Jack Buck, Jim McKay, Bryant and Greg Gumbel, Chris Evert, Jayne Chastain, Al Michaels, Al and Frank McGuire, and Don Meredith, among numerous others.
His experience producing and directing "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" was equally remarkable, with the greatest movie stars, television personalities, and celebrities filling the screen each week under his careful and creative direction.
"Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams, The Television Journey of a Lifetime" is a story filled with nostalgia that takes readers behind-the-scenes of the dynamic and exciting television industry. It encompasses tips for success and a global panorama of sports greatest venues.
And it all was anchored by a mix of good fortune and great timing. "I snuck in the back door of a business I otherwise had no place being," Cross would say.
His professional journey is a roadmap for building and navigating a wholly unique television career and his story is one that everyone will enjoy reading.
