Just before 4pmET, CBS Sports anchor Jim Nantz appeared on NBC Sports coverage of the Honda Classic, co-branded with Comcast sibling the Golf Channel. NBC’s Dan Hicks did a Q&A with Nantz on the passing of legendary CBS Sports golf producer Frank Chirkinian. After reflecting on Chirkinian’s contribution to the game of golf — he’d overseen CBS’ coverage of The Masters beginning in 1959 — Nantz said Chirkinian would have loved that NBC was devoting time to remember him.
“I can speak for him on this one occasion,” said Nantz. “There are two things I can say: one is,how much he would appreciate the fact that you guys at NBC would take the time out of your broadcast to praise and remember his career. It would mean a lot him, what you’re doing and what the whole team is doing.
And the second thing is, I can feel him right now barking in my ear, as he could with that rough voice, ‘Are you guys nuts? Get back to the golf.'”
Chirkinian died yesterday after a year-long battle with lung cancer. He was 84.
Nantz was live from Chapel Hill, NC where he’s calling tonight’s UNC-Duke game.