# Who the hell is George Michael and why have I seen his Sports Machine for so long? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 11, 2004, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-hell-is-george-michael-and-why-have-i-seen-his-sports-machine-for-so-long/268592 "2004-10-11T06:36:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-hell-is-george-michael-and-why-have-i-seen-his-sports-machine-for-so-long/268592/1 "2004-10-11T06:36:27Z")
Late Sunday night for some dozen or more years now I’ve bees seeing this guy… Who is he? Why does he have such a long running sprots hhglighst show for so long already now, hmm? Why is the rum gone? Stipud Astros. On preview, fuck spell check, I’m going to bed. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-hell-is-george-michael-and-why-have-i-seen-his-sports-machine-for-so-long/268592/2 "2004-10-11T06:48:05Z")
I think I know why the rum is gone. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-hell-is-george-michael-and-why-have-i-seen-his-sports-machine-for-so-long/268592/3 "2004-10-11T06:58:14Z")
He’s the sportscaster for Washington, DC’s NBC affiliate. I’m surprised his show is seen outside the DC area. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-hell-is-george-michael-and-why-have-i-seen-his-sports-machine-for-so-long/268592/4 "2004-10-11T14:02:20Z")
Interesting. I’ve seen him here in the OKC since about 1989. Our NBC station used to air _Star Trek: The Next Generation_ from syndication at 10:40pm Sundays, followed by two repeats of a mix of TOS and early TNG followed by George Michael. Since I would always set the VCR to record beyond the slated time for the TOS repeats, I would catch the Sports Machine almost every time. So that would make it air at about 1:40am Monday morning. It aired this morning at whatever time I OPed. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Sayid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jack\_Sayid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Sayid)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-hell-is-george-michael-and-why-have-i-seen-his-sports-machine-for-so-long/268592/5 "2004-10-11T14:30:32Z")
Here you go: > [@](#): > > George Michael is NEWS4’s Sports Director and the host and creator of the nationally syndicated show, “The George Michael Sports Machine,” which premiered in 1984. > > Michael joined NBC4 in April 1980. From the beginning, Michael’s dynamic style brought a new energy to sportscasting in Washington and set a new standard. His ability to produce visually stimulating highlights and in-depth features quickly gained viewers’ interest and loyalty. > > From dominance on the news, where Michael is known for his hard-hitting journalism, he moved to success as Washington’s overall best sportscaster when “George Michael’s Sports Final” premiered on WRC-TV in September 1980. Within weeks, “Sports Final” became the overwhelming leader in its time period. > > His national recognition goes well beyond the small screen. Michael has appeared in numerous major motion pictures, including Jonathan Demme’s “Silence of the Lambs” and Ron Shelton’s “Tin Cup.” His Emmy Award-winning feature on World Champion bull rider Lane Frost, killed in a tragic bull riding accident, spawned the major motion picture “8 Seconds,” starring Luke Perry and Stephen Baldwin. Michael not only starred in the movie as himself, but was a contributing consultant. > > A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Michael holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Philosophy, Political Theory and Speech from St. Louis University. I can’t decide what’s better: 1. The banter between George Michael and Jim Vance or 1. The banter between George Michael and Sonny Jorgenson 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-hell-is-george-michael-and-why-have-i-seen-his-sports-machine-for-so-long/268592/6 "2004-10-11T14:46:18Z")
I have two big problems with George Michael. On his regular news broadcast is a complete Homer. You know we might want to here about games other than the Redskins. The other thing I have a problem with is his obsession with rodeo (and NASCAR to a lesser extent. Hey George its the playoffs, we don’t need a 10 minute story on bull-riding. Oh yeah and that whole Wham! thing.