08-18-2019, 09:56 PM
Jack Whitaker, sportscaster
John Francis "Jack" Whitaker (May 18, 1924 – August 18, 2019)[1] was an American sportscaster who worked for both CBS and ABC. He was a decorated veteran of World War II, fighting in the Normandy Campaign and was wounded by an artillery strike.[2]
He entered network sports in 1961 at CBS, where he did play-by-play for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League and hosted the anthology series CBS Sports Spectacular among other duties. He worked for CBS for more than two decades. Whitaker is probably best remembered for his coverage of golf and horse racing. He covered thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown Events, golf's four major championships, the very first Super Bowl, championship boxing, the National Professional Soccer League in 1967,[3] the North American Soccer League a year later, and Major League Baseball. He was a studio host for The NFL Today at CBS, the network's pre-game show.
The Whitaker character, played by Gary McKillips, appears in the June 2007 ESPN Original Entertainment production Ruffian. The film is based upon the storied 1975 match race between unbeaten filly Ruffian and Kentucky Derby-winning colt Foolish Pleasure. Ruffian broke her leg during the race and was later euthanized. The Whitaker character is shown introducing the race in the paddock area of Belmont Park in New York.
While Whitaker is best known as a sportscaster, he was also a game show host. In the summer of 1966, he hosted The Face Is Familiar, a celebrity panel show for CBS.
In the latter part of his career, Whitaker moved away from play-by-play or color commentary, and became known for his pre-game and post-game essays at major sporting events.
Whitaker was banned from covering the Masters golf tournament for CBS for five years after referring to a patron gallery at Augusta National Golf Club as a "mob" at the end of the 18-hole playoff in 1966. He was allowed to return to the telecast in 1972.[4]
With the death of Dick Enberg on December 21, 2017, Whitaker was the only living play-by-play announcer from the first 21 Super Bowls. He had been the only living television broadcaster from the first seven Super Bowls since the death of Frank Gifford on August 9, 2015.
Moving to ABC in 1982, Whitaker served as a reporter for both news and sports divisions. He was a part of ABC's sports team at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and the 1984 Winter and Summer Olympic Games. He also reported sports for ABC's World News Tonight, Nightline, and 20/20. He left ABC around 2004, and retired from broadcasting soon after.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Whitaker
John Francis "Jack" Whitaker (May 18, 1924 – August 18, 2019)[1] was an American sportscaster who worked for both CBS and ABC. He was a decorated veteran of World War II, fighting in the Normandy Campaign and was wounded by an artillery strike.[2]
He entered network sports in 1961 at CBS, where he did play-by-play for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League and hosted the anthology series CBS Sports Spectacular among other duties. He worked for CBS for more than two decades. Whitaker is probably best remembered for his coverage of golf and horse racing. He covered thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown Events, golf's four major championships, the very first Super Bowl, championship boxing, the National Professional Soccer League in 1967,[3] the North American Soccer League a year later, and Major League Baseball. He was a studio host for The NFL Today at CBS, the network's pre-game show.
The Whitaker character, played by Gary McKillips, appears in the June 2007 ESPN Original Entertainment production Ruffian. The film is based upon the storied 1975 match race between unbeaten filly Ruffian and Kentucky Derby-winning colt Foolish Pleasure. Ruffian broke her leg during the race and was later euthanized. The Whitaker character is shown introducing the race in the paddock area of Belmont Park in New York.
While Whitaker is best known as a sportscaster, he was also a game show host. In the summer of 1966, he hosted The Face Is Familiar, a celebrity panel show for CBS.
In the latter part of his career, Whitaker moved away from play-by-play or color commentary, and became known for his pre-game and post-game essays at major sporting events.
Whitaker was banned from covering the Masters golf tournament for CBS for five years after referring to a patron gallery at Augusta National Golf Club as a "mob" at the end of the 18-hole playoff in 1966. He was allowed to return to the telecast in 1972.[4]
With the death of Dick Enberg on December 21, 2017, Whitaker was the only living play-by-play announcer from the first 21 Super Bowls. He had been the only living television broadcaster from the first seven Super Bowls since the death of Frank Gifford on August 9, 2015.
Moving to ABC in 1982, Whitaker served as a reporter for both news and sports divisions. He was a part of ABC's sports team at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and the 1984 Winter and Summer Olympic Games. He also reported sports for ABC's World News Tonight, Nightline, and 20/20. He left ABC around 2004, and retired from broadcasting soon after.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Whitaker
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