George Michael, Sportscaster, Is Dead (AP)
Matthew Kruk
George Michael, Sportscaster, Is Dead By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 11:49 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- George Michael, a mainstay on the Washington, D.C.,
sports television scene for decades who reached a national audience with
''The George Michael Sports Machine'' highlights show, has died. He was
70 years old.
Michael's daughter, Michelle Allen, said Michael died Thursday morning
from complications of chronic lymphocytic leukemia at Sibley Memorial
Hospital.
In a statement, WRC TV in Washington, where Michael had been a sports
director, called him a pioneer in sports broadcasting. His show, which
began as a late-night local feature, ran from 1980 to 2007. The
trendsetting program became the first nationally syndicated sports
highlights show in 1984 and was eventually broadcast in 194 markets
across the United States and in 10 foreign countries.
Michael's family says plans for a memorial service are not yet complete.
tr...@iwvisp.com
This sucks on Christmas Eve. I didn't care for Michael as a
sportscaster but then I'm not into sportscasting. But, King George
Michael the TOP 40 Disc Jockey, there was a cool guy. Up from the
ranks of smaller market radio to St. Louis and then in 1966 holding
the evening spot for many years at Famous 56...WFIL. George peaked as
Billboards Air Personality of the Year the same year WFIL won station
of the year. A few years later it was on to Musicradio 77...WABC to
replace Cousin Brucie. George was fast, tight and always ON! He now
joins Dr. Don Rose, Long John Wade, Cowboy Jim O'Brien (almost all the
WFIL jocks had monikers) the Rockin' Bird - Joe Niagara and Jay Cook.
So, if there IS a Rock n Roll Heaven...they have a helluva line up for
their radio station. Man I'm feelin' old.
Ray Arthur