- Chet Forte
-
Fulvio Chester "Chet" Forte, Jr. (August 7, 1935 in Hackensack, New Jersey – May 18, 1996 in San Diego, California) was an American television director and sports radio talk show host.
Contents
Biography
Early life
Forte's life in the sports world began as an All-State basketball star at Hackensack High School in Hackensack, New Jersey. He was named to the Star-Ledger's Team of the Century in 1999. From there he starred at Columbia University. In the 1956-57 season, he was named first-team All-American as a point guard, and beat out the legendary Wilt Chamberlain for player of the year.[1] He was short for a basketball player, but shot with deadly accuracy from the outside -- the approximate location of today's three-point circle.
ABC Sports
After a brief career in the National Basketball Association, Forte began working in TV, joining ABC Sports in the mid-1960s.
In 1970, Forte was named the first director of Monday Night Football. His ability to present the game as entertainment spectacle as well as sporting event, under the mandate of executive producer Roone Arledge, made the show a huge success in both sports and pop culture.
Departure from ABC Sports
However, Forte hid a major problem behind the scenes: he had a gambling addiction. ABC feared that this was affecting his job. That, as well as larger changes that included the departure of Howard Cosell and the retirement of Arledge, led to his departure from ABC in the mid-1980s. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on 3 counts of mail fraud and tax evasion. He cooperated with the government and was spared prison time receiving a 5 yr. probation sentence.
Post-ABC activities
In 1989, he directed the roller derby program RollerGames, which was highly rated and beat American Gladiators in the ratings.
The next year, he became a talk show host at San Diego's XETRA, also known as "XTRA Sports 690." He co-hosted the Loose Cannons show with Steve Hartman. On the show, he openly discussed his addiction and offered to help others in a similar situation.
Death
Forte was still on the air days before his death on May 18, 1996. In fact, a caller even complimented him and mentioned that somebody should recognize his career accomplishments. He was known to enjoy unhealthy foods, so it probably should come as no surprise that he died of a heart attack at the age of 60. In the aftermath, there was a controversy about his medical treatment which led to his survivors filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Steven Gross. The family received a $1.7 million settlement.
References
- ^ "Chet Forte, 60, an Innovator in Television Sports", The New York Times, May 19, 1996. Accessed February 12, 2008.
UPI College Basketball Player of the Year Award winners 1955: Gola | 1956: B. Russell | 1957: Forte | 1958: Robertson | 1959: Robertson | 1960: Robertson | 1961: Lucas | 1962: Lucas | 1963: Heyman | 1964: Bradds | 1965: Bradley | 1966: C. Russell | 1967: Alcindor | 1968: Hayes | 1969: Alcindor | 1970: Maravich | 1971: Carr | 1972: Walton | 1973: Walton | 1974: Walton | 1975: Thompson | 1976: May | 1977: Johnson | 1978: Lee | 1979: Bird | 1980: Aguirre | 1981: Sampson | 1982: Sampson | 1983: Sampson | 1984: Jordan | 1985: Mullin | 1986: Berry | 1987: D. Robinson | 1988: Hawkins | 1989: Ferry | 1990: Simmons | 1991: O'Neal | 1992: Jackson | 1993: Cheaney | 1994: G. Robinson | 1995: Smith | 1996: Allen
Haggerty Award winners 1936: Bender | 1937: Be. Kramer | 1938: Fliegel | 1939: Torgoff | 1940: Auerbach | 1941: Garfinkel | 1942: J. White | 1943: Levane | 1944: McGuire | 1945: Kotsores | 1946: Tannenbaum | 1947: Tannenbaum | 1948: Schayes | 1949: McGuire | 1950: S. White | 1951: Azary | 1952: MacGilvray | 1953: Dukes | 1954: Conlin | 1955: Conlin | 1956: Thieben | 1957: Forte | 1958: Cunningham | 1959: Seiden | 1960: Sanders | 1961: T. Jackson | 1962: Ellis | 1963: Ba. Kramer | 1964: Werkman | 1965: Isaac | 1966: Grant | 1967: Dove | 1968: McMillian | 1969: McMillian | 1970: McMillian | 1971: Yelverton | 1972: Garner & Sullivan | 1973: Schaeffer | 1974: Campion | 1975: Sellers | 1976: Sellers | 1977: Laurel | 1978: Johnson | 1979: Galis | 1980: Ruland | 1981: Springer | 1982: Callandrillo | 1983: Mullin | 1984: Burtt & Mullin | 1985: Mullin | 1986: Berry | 1987: Houston & M. Jackson | 1988: Bryant | 1989: Morton | 1990: Harvey | 1991: Sealy | 1992: Sealy | 1993: Dehere | 1994: Buchanan & Karnišovas | 1995: J. Griffin | 1996: A. Griffin | 1997: Jones | 1998: López | 1999: Artest | 2000: Claxton | 2001: Richardson | 2002: Hatten | 2003: Flores | 2004: Flores | 2005: Clark | 2006: Douby | 2007: Jordan | 2008: Thompson | 2009: Jenkins | 2010: Jenkins | 2011: Jenkins
1957 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans First Team
Wilt Chamberlain • Chet Forte • Rod Hundley • Jim Krebs • Lennie Rosenbluth • Charlie TyraSecond Team
Elgin Baylor • Frank Howard • Guy Rodgers • Gary Thompson • Grady WallaceLamar Hunt Award 2007— Members of "The Foolish Club"
2008— Tony Dungy
Lamar Hunt • Bud Adams • Harry Wismer • Bob Howsam • Barron Hilton • Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. • Billy Sullivan • Chet Soda
2009— Monday Night Football
Roone Arledge • Chet Forte • Keith Jackson • Howard Cosell • Don Meredith.Italian American Sports Hall of Fame Ed Abbaticchio • Ben Abruzzo • Joey Amalfitano • Joe Amato • Lou Ambers • Alan Ameche • Marco Andretti • Mario Andretti • Michael Andretti • Sammy Angott • Eddie Arcaro • Charles Atlas • Sal Bando • Tom Barrasso • Ray Barbuti • Carmen Basilio • Mark Bavaro •Gary Beban • Joe Bellino • John Beradino • Yogi Berra • Angelo Bertelli • Dan Biasone •Matt Biondi •Ping Bodie • Brian Boitano • Nick Bollettieri • Zeke Bonura • Ralph Branca • Lawrence Brignolia •Gene Brito •Doug Buffone • Nick Buoniconti • Phil Baroni • John Calipari • Dolph Camilli • Roy Campanella • Lou Campi • Tony Canadeo • Tony Canzoneri • Donna Caponi • Gino Cappelletti • Harry Caray • Frank Carideo • Primo Carnera • Lou Carnesecca • Santo Catanzaro Phil Cavarretta • Al Cervi • Giorgio Chinaglia • Dino Ciccarelli • Jerry Colangelo • Rocky Colavito • Frank Coltiletti • Franco Columbu • Tony Conigliaro • John Conti • Young Corbett III • Jim Covert • Frank Crosetti • Tony Cuccinello • Pete Cutino • Bobby Czyz • Denise DeBartolo York • Michael DeCicco • Alex Delvecchio • Tony DeMarco • Frank Demaree • Joe DeNucci • Ralph DePalma • Peter DePaolo • Andy DePaul • Red DiBernardi • Buttercup Dickerson • Vin DiDonna • Ernie DiGregorio • Dom DiMaggio • Joe DiMaggio • Vince DiMaggio • Angelo Dundee • Johnny Dundee • Lou Duva • Mike Eruzione •Phil Esposito • Tony Esposito • Buzz Fazio • Vince Ferragamo • Lou Ferrigno • Doug Ford c Chet Forte • Joe Fortunato • Mike Fratello • Linda Fratianne • Jim Fregosi • Carl Furillo • Chip Ganassi • Joe Garagiola • Eleanor Garatti-Seville • Frankie Genaro • A. Bartlett Giamatti • Joey Giardello • Margaret Gisolo • Andy Granatelli • Rocky Graziano • Junio Gianan • Franco Harris • Ted Hendricks • Pete Herman • Agnes Iori-Robertson • Harry Jeffra • Fidel La Barba • Daryle Lamonica • Jake LaMotta • Tony La Russa • Tom Lasorda • Dante Lavelli • Tony Lazzeri • Marty Liquori • Lou Little • Ernie Lombardi • Vince Lombardi • Dr. Donna Lopiano • Mike Lucci • Hank Luisetti • Sal Maglie • Carlo MacDonald • Ray Mancini • Gus Mancuso • Sammy Mandell • Greg Mannino • Gino Marchetti • Rocky Marciano • Ed Marinaro • Dan Marino • Hank Marino • John Mariucci • Billy Martin • Rollie Massimino • Joey Maxim • Joe Montana • Willie Mosconi • George Musso • Vince Naimoli • Maude Nelson • Leo Nomellini • Susan Notorangelo • John Panelli • Joe Paterno • Vinny Pazienza • Vincent Pazzetti • Willie Pep • Cavino Michelli Petillo • Johnny Petraglia • Rico Petrocelli • Harry Pezzullo • Brian Piccolo • Ralph "Babe" Pinelli • Rick Pitino • Angelo Poffo • Vic Raschi • Lindy Remigino • Mary Lou Retton • Phil Rizzuto • Andy Robustelli •Richard Ruffalo • Tony Sacco • Carmen Salvino • Bruno Sammartino • Ron Santo • Gene Sarazen • Randy Savage • Jimmy Smith • Paul Tagliabue • Mario "Motts" Tonelli • Joe Torre • Gino Torretta • Charley Trippi •Sonny Vaccaro • Bobby Valentine • Jim Valvano • Andy Varipapa • Ken Venturi • Phil Villapiano • Frank Viola • Dick Vitale •Johnny Wilson • Lewa "Rocco" Yacilla • Louis ZamperiniCategories:- American basketball players
- American sports radio personalities
- American television directors
- Columbia Lions men's basketball players
- Columbia University alumni
- Cincinnati Royals draft picks
- Deaths from myocardial infarction
- National Basketball Association broadcasters
- People from Hackensack, New Jersey
- 1935 births
- 1996 deaths
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