An impactful and innovative voice on Miami sports radio, and a familiar face for sports betters and ESPN viewers everywhere, is no longer with us.
“The Hammer” was a Miami sports radio icon and held down the afternoon show on WQAM for decades. He helped make sports radio in Miami a viable format. All who work in and listen to Miami sports radio owe Hank Goldberg a huge thank you for putting sports talk on the map in South Florida.
Goldberg, a sports handicapper and NFL reporter at ESPN for 17 years, died on Monday, his 82nd birthday, his family told ESPN. He had been battling chronic kidney disease in recent years.
Goldberg, known as Hammerin’ Hank, was a regular contributor on NFL Countdown and ESPN Radio, often handicapping horse racing events and Triple Crown races. He was also a prominent figure in Miami, where he worked as a local radio and TV host for more than 25 years and a Miami Dolphins radio analyst.
His last TV appearance on ESPN was in May, where he did a phone interview from the Kentucky Derby.
Many who knew Goldberg shared their thoughts on him on social media: