George Michael, Sportscaster dies
George Michael
By Adam Bernstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 24, 2009; 11:07 AM
George Michael, a high-rated and hyperanimated Washington sportscaster whose use of game highlights on his syndicated sports program became the model for successful broadcasters like ESPN, died Thursday morning at Sibley Hospital, according to a statement issued by his former employer, WRC-TV (Channel 4).
Mr. Michael, who became the dean of Washington sportscasters during a 28-year career at the station, had cancer.
Mr. Michael was a popular deejay before making a successful transition to television. He worked at WRC from 1980 to 2008, leaving abruptly after the station sought to cut the budget of the interview programs and segments he hosted.
Mr. Michael had already stepped down a year earlier from the lead sportscaster position, to prevent further layoffs from the sports team at the NBC-owned-and-operated station.
He was one of the most immediately recognizable figures on local television, joining news anchors Doreen Gentzler and Jim Vance and weatherman Bob Ryan to form the area’s dominant local TV news team in 1989.
Over the years, Mr. Michael not only held his own at the anchor desk, but also created and produced such ratings winners as “Redskins Report” and “Full Court Press,” featuring guests such as former Redskins Hall of fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen and local print sports reporters including Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser of The Washington Post. The exposure helped launch the TV careers of Wilbon and Kornheiser.
From 1984 to 2007, he oversaw a trendsetting show that made liberal use of action highlights from games that was eventually called “The George Michael Sports Machine.” At its peak, the show was syndicated to more than 200 stations. The show was credited with inspiring ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”
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