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The sports community is grieving the loss of veteran broadcaster Dan Hicks, who died on Thursday, November 12, at the age of 64. His passing was confirmed by NBC Sports and his wife, Hannah Storm, who cited an acute illness as the cause.
During the Prime Video broadcast of Thursday Night Football between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders, Al Michaels took a moment to honor his friend's legacy. Michaels expressed that he and his colleagues were "shocked" by the news and reflected on Hicks' remarkable career across multiple sports.
Michaels noted that after Hicks joined NBC Sports in 1992, he "provided captions to so many iconic moments in golf, tennis and Notre Dame football." He also highlighted Hicks' partnership with Rowdy Gaines, saying the two "turned the calling of swimming at multiple Olympics into an artform."
Turning to Hicks' character, Michaels remembered him as "genial," "compassionate," and possessing a "world class sense of humor." His voice wavered as he offered condolences to Storm and their children. "On this very rough day for so many of us, we send our love to Hannah and your three daughters," Michaels said, choking up. "Wishing you strength and comfort."
Tributes poured in from leagues and fellow broadcasters following the news of Hicks' death. Gaines' reflection was particularly poignant. The duo covered swimming for NBC at eight Olympics, starting with the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta. They called the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, where the U.S. men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay team, led by Michael Phelps, achieved one of the greatest comebacks in Olympic history to set a world record and win gold.
"My heart is broken," Gaines wrote on Instagram. "Danny wasn't just my partner in the booth for eight Olympics. He was one of my closest friends, someone I trusted with everything, both in and out of that arena. He was the glue that held us all together at all of those Games. He made me laugh like no other (person) ever has. We shared thousands of races and a friendship that went way beyond the pool deck. I'll miss his voice, his steadiness, and just having him next to me."
Hicks was scheduled to handle play-by-play duties for this weekend's Notre Dame game in South Bend, Indiana, between the Fighting Irish and Boston College.
Contributing: Scooby Axson
Originally reported by yahoo.