LITTLE ROCK — Machine drew fans to Michael
Before SportsCenter made its mark on a national audience, there was The George Michael Sports Machine.
The syndicated program aired from 1984 to 2007 with former radio disc jockey-turned television sports anchor George Michael as its host. When the show premiered nationally in the mid-1980s, the only highlights available to sports fans on Sunday nights were those on late local newscasts and the ESPN and CNN cable networks, creating an audience niche for Sports Machine to fill. At its peak, more than 200 stations ran the show.
The show was sometimes derided by critics for the large quantity of fake machinery on its set. Although the set changed throughout the years, the theatrics basically remained the same: After introducing each of the highlights, Michael then pressed a button which “activated” the “sports machine” to play the clips. But while the show might not have been high tech or had a large budget, Michael definitely had his fans.
Michael, 70, who died Thursday morning after a two year battle with cancer, hada confident and boisterous style of broadcasting. He was remembered as a perfectionist and as someone who cared for the members of his staff.
“He definitely took care of his own,” said Jeff Martinez, who worked on Sports Machine first as an intern and later as an associate producer from 1991 to 1995. “He was very, very caring.”
In late 2006, significant layoffs and staff cuts at NBC prompted Michael to end his show.
“I told them, that if I have to lay anyone off, if I have to get rid of any of my staff, then I’m going to take the first bullet,” Michael said.
The last episode aired on March 25, 2007. After making his closing comments on air, Michael walked off camera, and was heard to say, “Last one out, turn out the lights!” ‘I own this town’
The Houston Texans have been a consistent .500 team the last couple of years and have a good chance to finish 8-8 this season. But if there is one team the Texans have dominated since they came into the NFL in 2002, it’s the Miami Dolphins, a team the Texans play on Sunday.
Houston is 4-0 against the Dolphins.
Wrote Cam Inman of the Contra Costa Times in Walnut Creek, Calif.: “No one has owned Miami like that since Tony Montana in Scarface.” The SWAC attack
When it comes to taking nonconference lumps, no league does it better than the Southwestern Athletic Conference. As of games played Wednesday, Dec. 23, the 10 men’s teams in the SWAC have a combined record of 19-82.
Three SWAC teams - Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Alcorn State - are winless with a combined 0-22 record. None of the teams has a winning record and Prairie View A&M’s 5-5 mark is the league’s best.
The SWAC is 0-8 against teams from the SEC and 0-13 vs. teams from the Big 12.
Santa Woods?
From leftcoastsportsbabe.com: “Santa is pretty amazing. Who else could be in and out of so many homes around the world in such a short time? Besides Tiger Woods that is.”Quote of the day
“We kind of went up that hill, like that choochoo train did.” Arkansas tight end D.J. Williams on the Razorbacks’ 2009 season
Sports, Pages 20 on 12/25/2009