Longtime sportscaster NICK CHARLES, CNN's first sports anchor, died Saturday at the age of 64 "after battling bladder cancer since 2009," according to Christopher Seward of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. Charles joined CNN at its inception in '80 and for two decades teamed with FRED HICKMAN on "Sports Tonight." Charles in '01 "began calling fights for Showtime as part of its ShoBox series" (AJC.com, 6/25). Charles and Hickman "competed against ESPN's high-profile 'SportsCenter' duo of KEITH OLBERMANN and DAN PATRICK, occasionally beating 'SportsCenter' in audience ratings" (DENVER POST, 6/27). ESPN's CHRIS BERMAN said in a statement, "Back in the 80s we were billed as competitors but we never felt that way. Instead, the feeling was nothing but admiration. I learned by watching him on TV back then, and I learned even more watching him handle an impossible situation with class and dignity” (THE DAILY). SI.com's Joe Posnanski wrote, "If you are of a certain age, you will certainly remember him and Fred Hickman reporting the sports day every night. Keith Olbermann would say that Charles basically invented the cable television sportscast" (SI.com, 6/25). In Chicago, Becky Schlikerman notes Charles "was known as a down-to-earth kind of guy, despite his celebrity." CNN Worldwide President JIM WALTON said in a statement, "As a journalist and sports personality, Nick Charles helped put CNN on the map in its early days. He brought intelligence, style and heart to his work" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/27). Charles "brought GQ-like style to CNN’s broadcasts," but he also "was known as a skilled interviewer who related easily to subjects while not being shy about asking tough questions" (AP, 6/25).
POUND-FOR-POUND CHAMPION: In Baltimore, Dave Zurawik noted while Charles "covered all major sporting events for CNN, his passion was boxing." From '01-10, he "worked as a fight announcer for Showtime and Top Rank," and in his "final months as he battled cancer, HBO made it possible for him to be involved with one more TV fight." After "reading in a Sports Illustrated interview with Charles that the former CNN sportscaster wished he could call one last match, executives at HBO invited him to Atlantic City" to call a bout (BALTIMORESUN.com, 6/26). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole wrote, "Nick loved boxing and took every opportunity to watch it, read about it, talk with someone about it. If you loved boxing too, he was your friend. After Showtime quit using him to call fights on its ShoBox series, after his hair fell out from the chemotherapy treatments and his eyes sunk, Top Rank’s Bob Arum phoned and offered him a spot to announce his cards" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/25). Charles won the Boxing Writer's Association's broadcaster award in '07, and the Int'l Boxing HOF's Sam Taub Award the following year (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 6/25).
