NEW YORK—George Michael, a dynamic and innovative sportscaster who rose to popularity in Washington D.C., died Thursday due to complications from cancer.
George Michael was pronounced dead at Sibley Memorial Hospital from a type of cancer known as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). He was 70.
CLL is one of the four major types of leukemia and an estimated 85,000 Americans are battling CLL today.
George Michael received notoriety in the U.S. through his nationally broadcast show titled “The George Michael Sports Machine” which was known for frequently using sports highlights long before they became the standard for sports shows.
Michael was born in St. Louis, Missouri and started his career as a disc jockey in Philadelphia on WFIL Radio. He was admired for his enthusiastic personality on the radio and made his way to television in 1980. His first gig as a sportscaster was in D.C. covering sports news for WRC-TV locally until becoming nationally syndicated in 1984 on NBC.
Michael won a Sports Emmy in 1985 for his work on “The George Michael Sports Machine.” The show was on air for 23 years until it was canceled in 2007. He was one of the first reporters to cover NASCAR regularly before it grew to it’s current state of popularity. He also reported frequently on the rodeo.
George Michael was pronounced dead at Sibley Memorial Hospital from a type of cancer known as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). He was 70.
CLL is one of the four major types of leukemia and an estimated 85,000 Americans are battling CLL today.
George Michael received notoriety in the U.S. through his nationally broadcast show titled “The George Michael Sports Machine” which was known for frequently using sports highlights long before they became the standard for sports shows.
Michael was born in St. Louis, Missouri and started his career as a disc jockey in Philadelphia on WFIL Radio. He was admired for his enthusiastic personality on the radio and made his way to television in 1980. His first gig as a sportscaster was in D.C. covering sports news for WRC-TV locally until becoming nationally syndicated in 1984 on NBC.
Michael won a Sports Emmy in 1985 for his work on “The George Michael Sports Machine.” The show was on air for 23 years until it was canceled in 2007. He was one of the first reporters to cover NASCAR regularly before it grew to it’s current state of popularity. He also reported frequently on the rodeo.
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