Fred Hickman, the original sports anchor for CNN in 1980 as well as an early version of TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” has passed away at the age of 66 from liver cancer.
His spouse Sheila Hickman made the announcement on Wednesday, informing CNN, “A brightness has vanished.”
As part of Ted Turner’s launch of CNN, the program “Tonight” on the network aired highlights and sports news 24/7. Charles Nick and Hickman were the first hosts of the show at 11 p.M.
Mike Glenn, a former NBA player who collaborated with Hickman at CNN in the 1990s, expressed, “He was a pleasure to work with and established the benchmark for sports broadcasting.” Hickman would conclude newscasts by stating, “May all your jump shots find nothing but net!” I admired the way Hickman would wrap up newscasts with the line, “May all your jump shots hit nothing but net!”
Cory Charles, the widow of Nick, expressed, “They were constantly chuckling,” she conveyed. “They were simply Nick and Hick.” She reminisced about the time they made their entrance at CNN’s 20th anniversary celebration in 2000, stating, “Nick and Fred received the most enthusiastic applause in the entire room.” Charles and Hickman possessed a unique bond on camera and were akin to brothers behind the scenes.
In 2011, he departed from Fox and joined ESPN in 2008, subsequently transitioning to Fox in 2004 and ultimately arriving at ESPN in 2002. He played a vital role in the establishment of the new regional sports network YES in New York after departing from CNN. Additionally, in 1989, Hickman was involved in the inaugural season of TNT’s renowned “Inside the NBA”.
Jerome Jurenovich, a former CNN coworker who collaborated with him at Fox Sports, expressed, “He possessed an innate fluidity in his presentation that put everyone at ease.” “I have never witnessed a more inherently talented broadcaster.”
Jurenovich stated that in the report, the guy was incredibly funny. However, according to Hickman, the stories he told on camera were even more amusing than any other story he delivered.
Jurenovich remarked, “Hickman had the ability to mimic others and possessed impeccable comedic timing.” “If Fred hadn’t pursued sportscasting, he could have excelled as a stand-up comedian,” he added.
Glenn mentioned that Hickman used to jest after they accomplished something exceptionally well, “That’s why we receive payment the average bucks!”.
Hickman said that Glenn was a great mentor who helped relax himself and the camera. Glenn started glitching or the teleprompter went down, even if Hickman said. Hickman said that viewers would never be told that Glenn was so smooth.
Florida, which closed earlier this year, in Tallahassee, became part of the short-lived Black News Channel before Hickman gained employment at TV stations in Hagerstown, Maryland, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans over the past ten years.
Sheila, who wedded him in 2007, stated that Hickman discovered he had liver cancer after choosing to step down.
“Fred was content,” she remarked. “We were pleased. Not a gloomy day in his existence.”
“I’ll wed you again,” he’ll declare. And he would inquire, “Would you be willing to wed me?” I would respond, “Why are you inquiring? Certainly, I will marry you.” She mentioned, “however, every few days, he would question me, ‘Will you marry me?’ And at that moment, I considered this to be cliché,” revealing that he assured her each year of his commitment to spend another 50 years with her, she included, he was a hopeless romantic.
Hickman is survived by Sheila and his two grown-up children from a prior marriage, Mack and Gabrielle.
Funeral services will be held at St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church in Tallahassee, though a date has not been finalized.