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What if Channel 3 Hired Jim Nantz Instead of Ukee Washington in 1985?
By Matt Schultz
Published:
Jim Nantz is maybe the best sports broadcaster to ever do it. Ukee Washington is a Philly icon who’s been hosting Eyewitness News for decades. They’re two all-timers. It’s hard to picture either doing any other job. But according to them, their paths almost looked very different:
NANTZ: “It’s great to finally be on Channel 3. It’s been a long time in the making.”
WASHINGTON: “Let’s talk about that. Because the word I got was you were this close to being hired as the weekend sports anchor and reporter. Take me through it a little bit.”
NANTZ: “It’s true. In the summer of 1985, I had just turned 26 and I flew to Philadelphia – was so honored to be asked to audition for the number 2 role, and about two weeks later they called and said ‘Sorry we’re gonna go in a different direction…’ Within days of the phone call back from KYW, I got a phone call from CBS and they wanted me to come to New York to audition for the host of the college football studio show. It was all within a matter of days.”
WASHINGTON: “I’m honored to tell you, your loss was my gain. Because they found me in Fort Myers, Florida, and I’ve been here ever since… Continued success, and thank you, friend.”
NANTZ: “Thank you, friend.”
What a cool story. It’s such an interesting sliding doors moment. You can’t help but wonder what Jim Nantz’s career might’ve looked like if he got that CBS 3* job way back when. Would he have essentially mirrored Ukee’s career, becoming a welcome staple of Philadelphians’ living rooms for forty-plus years? Maybe. But these couple lines from a 2007 Inquirer article by Marc Narducci on the topic have me wondering if things could’ve been drastically different:
“At the time, KYW needed a second anchor to join Howard Eskin.”
“Eskin picked Nantz up from the airport and took him to his interview.”
“‘I remember when I came for the interview, Howard Eskin was extremely supportive and wanted me to be the No. 2 anchor at Channel 3.'”
Nantz was Howard’s boy! What a reveal! With that context, it’s not crazy to think that – had Nantz gotten the job – he could’ve been swept up in the glorious, rock and roll lifestyle of Philly sports radio like Howard was. Who could resist? Watching Howard become a big shot for WIP, basking in the glory of being the King might have had Nantz itching for the spotlight, too. “Why should he be King? Perhaps I should be a ruler as well…” Nantz could have thought. Maybe the two would’ve combined forces, realizing they were more powerful together. Maybe the soothing voice of the Masters we all know and love today would’ve spent decades calling everyone he saw morons, losers and dopes. Maybe Nantz would’ve allegedly bought himself a Super Bowl ring. Maybe Nantz would also get banned from Citizens Bank Park for an unwelcome, non-consensual kiss with a female Aramark employee.
Howard and Nantz; Nantz and Howard. The Two Kings. Gods among men. The Non-consensual Smooth Brothers… Could this have happened?
Thankfully, we will never know. Nantz and Ukee ended up right where they were supposed to be, and we should all be grateful.
*Kinkead: I should point out that KYW / Channel 3 was still an NBC station back in the 1980s. The flip to CBS happened in 1995, and WCAU became an NBC station at the same time. I tweaked the headline to say “Channel 3” instead of CBS 3.
Matt Schultz is a comedy and sports writer from Philadelphia. He’s written extensively for ClickHole, The Onion, and Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco. His work has been featured in Vulture, Deadspin, The A.V. Club, Paste Magazine, and other publications. Much of his sports journalism can be found on college basketball websites that don’t exist anymore (PhilaHoops Heads rise up…)