In this 1977 Women’s World Cup Gymnastics video seen herewith….. NBC Sportsworld host Charlie Jones….along with his sidekick, Cathy Rigby, behind the mike….provide coverage of the women’s all around floor exercise routine by USSR Maria Filatova.
Charlie Jones (November 9, 1930 – June 12, 2008) was an American sportscaster for NBC and ABC….who began his sportscasting career at local television and radio stations in Fort Smith, Arkansas….before signing on as a broadcaster for the fledgling Dallas Texans of the American Football League in 1960…..as he also began calling AFL games for ABC that year.
In 1965, he moved to NBC….while continuing to broadcast the AFL and later the National Football League ….where he would work NFL games until 1997….when NBC lost their NFL (AFC) broadcasting rights to CBS. Among Jones’ notable broadcasts was in January 1993….when he covered the Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Oilers Wild Card game….in which the Bills rallied from a 35–3 second half deficit to defeat the Oilers in overtime 41–38. In 1997, Jones was awarded the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award. He also received an Emmy Award in 1973 for his part as writer, producer and host of the documentary Is Winning the Name of the Game?
During his time at NBC, Jones also broadcast the 1988 Summer Olympics….while calling the infamous Ben Johnson-Carl Lewis 100 meter dash….1986 FIFA World Cup…..1991 Ryder Cup…..1992 Summer Olympics….and 1996 Summer Olympics….as well as Major League Baseball….PGA Tour golf….and Wimbledon tennis…..plus, he was the announcer for auto races….including the 1988 Meadowlands Grand Prix. He was the play-by-play announcer for the 1986 college football national championship….where Penn State defeated Miami 14–10 in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl.
In 1999, he returned to ABC Sports to call college football until the 2001 season. He was also a play-by-play announcer for the Cincinnati Reds in 1973….California Angels in 1990….and Colorado Rockies from 1993 to 1995.
