How the careers of Jim Nantz and Philadelphia newscaster Ukee Washington are intertwined

Credit: CBS Philadelphia

Jim Nantz is an American institution. Since joining CBS Sports in the 1980s, he’s become the voice of The Masters, its lead NFL announcer, and was the lead broadcaster of the NCAA Tournament for over 30 years.

Ukee Washington is a Philadelphia institution, having joined CBS Philadelphia in the mid-1980s and been one of the faces of the station and local news ever since. He’s been the co-anchor of Eyewitness Newsweeknight broadcasts for over a decade.

In a real sliding doors moment, it appears their paths once crossed, setting both of them on a collision course with destiny.

Nantz is in town for the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, and Washington was on hand to speak with him. For Nantz, his chance to finally appear on CBS Philadelphia was decades in the making.

More than 40 years ago, a young Jim Nantz interviewed for a sports anchor job at CBS Philadelphia. He didn’t get it.

Our station would go on to hire a local reporter out in Florida named Ukee Washington instead.

While Nantz went on to become a beloved staple in sports… pic.twitter.com/nhrKAE81xL

— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) May 14, 2026

“It’s great to finally be on Channel 3,” Nantz told Washington. “It’s been a long time in the making.”

“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,” replied Washington. “Take me through it a little bit.”

“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,” said Nantz. “It was all within a matter of days.”

“I’m honored to tell you, your loss was my gain,” Washington told him. “Because they found me in Fort Myers, Florida, and I’ve been here ever since… Continued success, and thank you, friend.”