Sometimes, home run hitters blast the baseball out of the park even when they’re past their prime, and Al Michaels did exactly that on the Thursday Night Football telecast on Prime.
Michaels, calling the Washington Commanders victory over the New York Giants, was his usual adept and seasoned self, delivering the play-by-play of the game that actually kept our attention because it was entertaining.
Then in the fourth quarter, he delivered a eulogy on behalf of Prime for NBC broadcaster Dan Hicks, who died unexpectedly Thursday of an undetermined acute illness.
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And it was Michaels at his finest.
“The sports broadcasting business was shocked to learn this morning of the passing of Dan Hicks,” Michaels began. “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 in multiple Olympics into an art form. He was genial, he was compassionate, great company, had a world-class sense of humor.
“On this very rough day for so many of us we send …”
That is the point where Michaels began to choke up on air.
It wasn’t him bursting out in tears. It was him pausing for a beat, his voice cracking just slightly, as his compassion and sympathy for what he was about to say next obviously was on his mind.
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“… our love to Hannah and her three daughters. Wishing you strength and comfort.”
Dan Hicks left behind his wife Hannah Storm and three daughters.
The last part, where Michaels realized the tragedy of the death leaves behind a family broken by the loss was moving. And sad.
It was Michaels at his best in years.
The fact Michaels somehow recovered and finished the tribute was professionalism at its height. The audience felt his pain and the pain of the family left behind and saw the recovery in real time.
It was humanity and emotion pouring from Michaels and anyone who watched felt it.
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Moments later, Michaels continued his football play-by-play duties. He was again composed and in the moment.
And this: Michaels celebrated his 82nd birthday on Thursday.
It is possible, perhaps even likely, that as he was delivering those sad words about Dan Hicks and his family, Al Michaels had a moment where he realized his own mortality.