John Francis “Jack” Whitaker (born May 18, 1924) is an American sportscaster who worked for both CBS and ABC….who won three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Host or Commentator in 1979….for writing in 1990….and being awarded the Lifetime Achievement award in 2012. Jack Whitaker also received the Maryland Jockey Club’s Hilltop Award for outstanding coverage of thoroughbred racing. He was named “Best Announcer” by Sports Illustrated in 1976. He was inducted into the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame in 1997….the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 2001….and the Saint Joseph’s University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005….while receiving a Sports Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
A little tidbit of information from a lil ole chiweenie Sportsphile….Jack Whitaker has a bowling center named for him and fellow broadcaster and narrator John Facenda…..as the Facenda-Whitaker Lanes is located in East Norriton, Pennsylvania….which was named for Facenda and Whitaker in 1959….when the two were broadcasting news and sports, respectively, at WCAU.
Charlsie Cantey (born in 1946) is one of broadcasting’s veteran thoroughbred horse racing analysts….who is an American sportscaster who worked for ESPN from 1985 – 2002….ABC Sports from 1986 – 2000, as seen in this video herewith….WOR-TV from 1975 – 1977….CBS Sports (1977–1986….USA Network from 2002 – 2005….and NBC Sports from 2000 – 2005.
Cantey joined ABC Sports in April 1986….when she covered all of their Triple Crown productions….which included serving as an expert analyst and reporter for ABC’s Wide World of Sports’ live coverage of major Kentucky Derby prep races from 1986 through 2001. In November 2000, Cantey joined NBC Sports as its expert analyst during the network’s coverage of the 2000 Breeders’ Cup. She worked for NBC for 5 years from 2000 – 2005. Cantey became a reporter for USA Network coverage of the Westminster Kennel Club. In her career, Charlsie Cantey had covered Triple Crown races for 17 consecutive years….while moving from CBS to ABC Sports and then NBC Sports.
