RIP Nick Charles

Point of Order · Jun 26, 2011

Lugnuts said:

I worked with Nick for 5 years at CNN and Turner. I feel like I know him well. I smile when I say that because anyone who's worked with him knows what a character he was. I have some great memories. He was a funny guy and a great conversationalist. He knew about music, wine, food, travel... it was so much fun to talk about things outside of sports.

Nick came to my wedding with his then-GF/now wife Cory. After the ceremony, he told me he loved the music, which was a big relief. I'd hired a string quartet but got only a string trio. One string had gotten into a fender bender on the way to the wedding. If it sounded ok to Nick, I knew it was good. He was a big fan of classical music and had great taste.

Some people aren't aware that besides boxing, Nick's other favorite sport was hockey. He LOVED it.

Nick knew I grew up in the South and didn't know shit about hockey. He used to get annoyed with me for editing his NHL highlights too tight. "You haven't shown how the play developed," he would tell me.

He was none too pleased when I was assigned to help him write a special the day Gretzky retired.

I'll never forget him walking across the newsroom after I took my first pass at a few lead-ins.... script and red pen in hand, saying, "____, this isn't half bad!" That was a major sense of accomplishment for me. In less than 24 hours, he and I crash-wrote a damn fine hour-long special on Wayne Gretzky's entire career.

This is so sad. I knew it was coming, but I still feel punched in the stomach.

I know Nick was deluged with support, e-mails, calls and visits in the last couple of months. I think the stories that were done on him gave people the opportunity to tell him how much they loved and appreciated him.
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Cool. I figured he must have been a good guy with the send up CNN gave him.

mpcincal · Jun 26, 2011

Admittedly, back in those days, I actually preferred SportsCenter (it hadn't yet become the overblown monolith it is now), but if for some reason a sporting event preempted SC, I had no problem switching over to see Nick and Fred. Considered them both consumate professionals. RIP, Nick.

jackfinarelli · Jun 26, 2011

Before CNN, Nick Charles did the nightly sports report for one of the Baltimore stations and one of the DC stations after that. That is when I first came to realize that his presence on a TV sports report was something special.

RIP...

murphyc · Jun 28, 2011

mpcincal said:

Admittedly, back in those days, I actually preferred SportsCenter (it hadn't yet become the overblown monolith it is now), but if for some reason a sporting event preempted SC, I had no problem switching over to see Nick and Fred. Considered them both consumate professionals. RIP, Nick.
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Same here. I would often go back and forth liked both shows. Nick seemed like a true pro. RIP

doubledown68 · Jun 28, 2011

CNN Sports Tonight was one of the hidden gems of my childhood. Since school was out in the summer, my dad would always let my brother and I stay up to watch that and "The Play.... of the Day."

Great stuff. Rest easy, Mr. Charles.

Tarheel316 · Jun 30, 2011

Very sad. Nick Charles is one of the all-time greats.

nietsroob17 · Jun 30, 2011

Not exactly Charles-related, but I like how all the CNN greats are working on Atlanta TV. Fred Hickman and Vince Cellini as studio guys for Braves and Hawks broadcasts, Jerome Jurenovich as a sideline reporter.

I can still hear Jerome's signoff on Headline News: "Jerome Jurenovich, CNN HEAD-line SPORTS

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RIP Nick Charles

Point of Order Active Member

mpcincal Well-Known Member

jackfinarelli Well-Known Member

murphyc Well-Known Member

doubledown68 Active Member

Tarheel316 Well-Known Member

nietsroob17 Well-Known Member

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RIP Nick Charles

Point of Order Active Member

mpcincal Well-Known Member

jackfinarelli Well-Known Member

murphyc Well-Known Member

doubledown68 Active Member

Tarheel316 Well-Known Member

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