Al Michaels’ voice cracked as he paid tribute to Dan Hicks during Thursday Night Football on Prime Video, mourning the sudden death of his longtime NBC Sports colleague at the age of 64. The announcement came earlier that day, sending shockwaves through the sports broadcasting community.
“Dan joined NBC Sports in 1992, provided captions to so many iconic moments in golf, tennis, and Notre Dame football, and he and Rowdy Gaines turned the calling of swimming at multiple Olympics into an art form,” Michaels said. “He was genial. He was compassionate. He was great company, had a world-class sense of humor. On this very rough day for so many of us, we send our love to Hannah and your three daughters. Wishing you strength and comfort.” His voice faltered slightly when mentioning Hicks’ wife, fellow broadcaster Hannah Storm.
Hicks was best known as the lead voice of NBC’s PGA Tour coverage and as a commentator for Notre Dame football and various Olympic events, including swimming and skiing. His voice became synonymous with many memorable sports moments over more than three decades.
Among his most famous calls was the 2008 U.S. Open moment when Tiger Woods sank a 12-foot putt to force a playoff at Torrey Pines. Hicks’ line, “Expect anything different?!” captured the drama perfectly as Woods continued to win that third U.S. Open title the next day.
Hicks also narrated one of the Olympics’ most thrilling finishes: the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Games. As Michael Phelps pursued a record eight gold medals, it was Jason Lezak’s remarkable anchor leg that secured gold for the U.S. against France. Hicks’ call conveyed the tension and disbelief as Lezak closed a seemingly impossible gap in the final meters. This moment remains a highlight in Olympic broadcasting history.
Tributes poured in throughout Thursday as the news spread. Mark Harris, a sports journalist, shared that Hicks’ call of the Phelps-Lezak relay “will long live as one of the greatest ever,” capturing the excitement and importance of the event.
Hicks’ death leaves a void at NBC Sports and across the wider sports world. His ability to bring viewers into the heart of the action, whether on a golf course, a football field, or an Olympic pool, earned him a place among the most respected voices in sports.
Michaels and Hicks belonged to a small group of announcers whose most famous calls resonate far beyond the sports themselves. Michaels is known for his “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” exclamation at the 1980 Winter Olympics, while Hicks etched his own moments into the memories of fans worldwide.
NBC Sports confirmed Hicks’ passing but did not disclose the cause. He leaves behind his wife Hannah Storm and their three daughters.
The sports community continues to reflect on Hicks’ contributions and the moments he helped define as broadcasters and fans alike come to terms with the loss.
According to Yahoo Sports.
