Sports broadcasters and writers share tributes to Fred Hickman, who died at age 66
Once upon a time, sports fans didn’t have the option of searching Twitter, YouTube or another social-media channel to find highlights of their favorite teams.
Those fans had to wait until their preferred highlight show aired. And they had a choice: ESPN’s “SportsCenter” or CNN’s “Sports Tonight.”
For many, the latter was their pick, even though it eventually lost the battle for supremacy.
One reason for the popularity of “Sports Tonight” was its hosts: Nick Charles and Fred Hickman.
Hickman died Wednesday at the age of 66 and news of his passing sparked remembrances of his career and work on “Sports Tonight.”
The New York Post, which was the first to report Hickman’s death, noted he and Charles anchored more than 3,000 episodes of “Sports Tonight,” starting in 1980.
“Sports Tonight” ended its run in 2002, the same year Hickman joined the YES Network. The Post said he was the first person heard on that network.
Hickman’s death led to a flood of tributes. Here is a look at what people were saying.
Fox 4 sports anchor Harold Kuntz shared this.
Fred Hickman is one of the pioneers of black TV sportscasters .. getting his start in the late 70s/early 80s and lasting 5 decades in the business. RIP to Mr. Hickman. https://t.co/BWdFPUIPJC
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) November 10, 2022
ESPN’s Hannah Storm wrote about Hickman’s kindness.
So very sad to hear about the passing of Fred Hickman. I was the only female anchor at CNN Sports, and Fred was such a welcoming presence…always with a laugh, a quip, a story…and supremely talented. Rest In Peace, my friend. pic.twitter.com/a6A1hAfX8D
— Hannah Storm (@HannahStormESPN) November 10, 2022
The YES Network in New York put together this video tribute.
Remembering Fred Hickman pic.twitter.com/ipAGdNRM3X
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) November 10, 2022
NBC Sports’ Dan Hicks wrote about working with Hickman and CNN.
I loved Fred Hickman ️ RIP Fred. Had the privilege of working w him & Nick @cnn sports. Huge talent with huge heart. pic.twitter.com/98f53JBt56
— Dan Hicks (@DanHicksNBC) November 10, 2022
CBS Sports’ Damon Amendolara, who used to work in Kansas City, shared this clip.
RIP Fred Hickman. The ‘90s were a golden era for sports television + Hickman was one of the best. Here he introduces the unknown Bill Cowher to the nation as new HC of the Steelers. #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/kXosdguEsi
— Damon Amendolara (@DAonCBS) November 10, 2022
New York Post columnist Andrew Marchand wrote this.
RIP to Fred Hickman.
Back in the day, he and Nick Charles made it a difficult choice as to which highlight show to watch each night, CNN's Sports Tonight or SportsCenter. Hickman was a trailblazer. https://t.co/N2Vi0u8y1g— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) November 10, 2022
ESPN’s Timothy Legler shared this message.
Heartbreaking to hear about the passing of Fred Hickman. He was one of the first anchors I worked with at ESPN and he was always so kind, upbeat and professional. My condolences go out to his family and close friends. He will be missed by so many. RIP my friend
— Timothy Legler (@LegsESPN) November 10, 2022
Here are some other tributes from people who knew Hickman or remember watching him on CNN, the YES Network or “Inside the NBA.”
This is Fred Hickman. As Lou would say, ebullient. He could make a dull, boring news day — so fun, happy and memorable. I miss you, Fred. Thankful for these memories️ pic.twitter.com/uRkasC1kD1
— Tasmin Mahfuz (@TasminMahfuz) November 10, 2022
Rest In Peace Fred Hickman. Love watched Nick Charles and Fred on CNN. https://t.co/6xThwBV6iG
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) November 10, 2022
You have to be of a certain age to remember Nick Charles and Fred Hickman doing the nightly sports program on CNN.
They were such pros.
Now both gone too soon. https://t.co/ky8YEILBzV— Michael DeCourcy (@tsnmike) November 10, 2022
In memory of Fred Hickman #FredHickman pic.twitter.com/V4ebFY7vI3
— John Bennett (@JohnBennettFOX8) November 10, 2022
Really sad to learn of the passing of Fred Hickman, a talented broadcaster who worked at CNN, ESPN, Black News Channel & other outlets. I worked with Fred at BNC. He was always kind & encouraging. RIP my friend. pic.twitter.com/QNJJMYKUfW
— Anita Bennett (@tvanita) November 10, 2022
Fred Hickman was one of the kindest guys I ever knew. You can see in our faces we always had fun together. I moved to BR in 2015 and he was my cohost of This Week in Louisiana Politics. We hit it off immediately, His passing was a gut punch. #RIPFredHickman pic.twitter.com/EpaSIN0rsf
— Fred Childers (@Fox44fred) November 10, 2022
When you're talking about best sports anchor duos, Dan and Keith automatically comes to mind, so does Stuart Scott and Rich Eisen, but Fred Hickman and Nick Charles were right there, and I'd hear an argument they might have been better, just on a different sports stage. RIP Fred. https://t.co/B2foeDtxX5
— Sean Greene (@SeanGreeneWDEL) November 10, 2022
So sad to hear the news about Fred Hickman. I learned so much about sports and was able to follow what was happening nationally by watching Hickman and Nick Charles back in the day. RIP Fred Hickman. https://t.co/fTugjIjuUa
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 10, 2022
RIP to legendary broadcaster Fred Hickman, who passed away at 66. A class act. I interviewed him in 2013 about casting lone NBA MVP vote in 2001 for Allen Iverson, denying Shaq a unanimous MVP (he got 120 of 121 votes) and he talked about all the threats he got from "crazy" fans.
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) November 10, 2022
