Fomer WRC-TV reporter George Michael, a legendary figure on the D.C. sports scene, has passed away after a battle with cancer, per the Washington Post.
Michael covered sports for 28 years at WRC. He served as lead sports anchor until March 2007, and he continued to work for the station through December 2008. He left the station in the face of budget reductions.
At the time, Michael offered these words of wisdom: “There is no logical explanation except that the man making the
decisions is saying ‘I don’t want to spend $5 to make $7.50.’ Instead,
it’s ‘I want to spend nothing and make a dollar.'”
Leonard Shapiro of the Post wrote that Michael “always put on the most complete local sportscast in the market
and rarely shied away from controversy, or asking some very tough
questions, particularly when they involved the Redskins and any other
local teams.”
His syndicated show — The George Michael Sports Machine — launched in the early 1980s and provided local broadcast stations throughout the country with an alternative to ESPN’s SportsCenter and CNN’s once-popular highlight show featuring Nick Charles and Fred Hickman.
Michael was 70. We extend our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
UPDATE: Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has issued a statement regarding Michael’s passing. “George was the consummate reporter and a valuable friend,” Snyder said. “I doubt we’ll ever again see a sports reporter who was so admired by the people he covered. He loved his family, he loved sports, and he loved his work. His wife Pat and the rest of his family are in my prayers, and in the thoughts of the entire Redskins organization.”