Chuck Marlowe was the target ofBob Knight's frustration for nearly three decades. Some might even call him Knight's punching bag.And Marlowe would wholeheartedly agree.
He happily played the roleof the underdog pandering to the big, bad Indiana University basketball coach because it helped him get the man to talk.
"He can come to me and release his emotions and frustrations. I just draw him out," Marlowe said in a 1996 IndyStar interview."He puts me down on the show. I accept that, because my role is to make him say something."
Marlowe, a longtime Indianapolis sportscaster best known as thehost of "The Bob Knight Show," which ran weekly for 29 years, died early Thursday at age 86, his son John Marlowe confirmed. The elderMarlowe had been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, which severely damaged his lungs.
The memory of late nights at Assembly Hall with his father sticks with John Marlowe, his dad waiting after a game forKnight to emerge from the locker room for the show.
"They never knew when they were going togo on because Knight had other responsibilities," John Marlowe said. "And hemight be mad they didn't play well and he would be in reviewingfilm. Everythingstopped until Knight was ready."
Chuck Marlowe's career, however, reached far beyond Bloomington, where he alsoperformed TV play-by-play duties for IU basketball starting in 1958. He wasa longtime WTTV-4media personality and Indiana Broadcast Pioneer Hall of Fame member.
"It’s kind of the age-old thing where he was just dad to us, but we knew other people were fascinated by the rolehe played in the local sports culture of the day," John Marlowe said. "You have to remember, when he did this, there was no ESPN. There wereonly fourTV stations, so it was pretty heady stuff to be a part of."
IU athletic director Fred Glasssaid in a statement Thursday that he grew up watching Marloweon WTTV-4 as a sportscaster, calling championship wrestlingandhosting the "Bob Knight Show."
"He did it all with professionalism and class," Glass said. "The IU basketball family has lost a true icon."
At the forefront of a new industry, Marlowe knew variety was the key to success. Early television meant being a jack of all trades and Marlowe played the role well. Besides sports, he hosteda teen dance program,playedpitch man for local products and services, hosted acooking show and waseven apuppeteer on "Randy and Friends," a program for children.
He was so popular in Indianapolis that many wished he would run for political office. In a 1992 IndyStarcolumn listing non-political people voters wanted as candidates for governor, Marlowe won the popular vote, along withgolfer Fuzzy Zoeller, TV anchor Howard Caldwell, Hal Fryar (TV's Harlow Hickenlooper) andTV anchor Diane Willis.
Indiana fans react to Chuck Marlowe's passing
Marlowe's popularity blossomed, in part, because of his versatility. On the local sports scene, ifthere was an event, it seemedMarlowe was part of it. Hespent 41 years asa pit reporter for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network’s broadcast of the Indianapolis 500.
"You didn't grow up following Indiana sports without him," said Jake Query, who grew up in Indianapolis and now is an IMS turnreporter and co-host ofthe "Query & Schultz" afternoonsports radio show on WNDE-AM (1260) and -FM (97.5). "A true icon."
Marlowe was alsothe serious announcer for the otherwise campy "Big Time/Championship Wrestling"from 1957 to 1970,which featured wrestling favorites such as "Dick the Bruiser,” “The Sheik” and Wilbur Snyder.
WhenRichard F. Afflis (known as "Dick The Bruiser") died in 1991 at the age of 62,collapsingwhile lifting weights in his vacation home near Tampa, Fla., Marlowe said:"He just wouldn't quit."
"Dick probably weighed as much when he died as he did when he worked," said Marlowe, whose friendship with Bruiser dated backto their years as students at the former Shortridge High School in Indianapolis. "At 62 years old and carrying 250 to 260 pounds, it's too much."
Marlowe's name is connected to other Indianapolis media favorites, icons of TV before the days of social media and cable television.Janie (Hodges), Cowboy Bob (Glaze) and Sammy Terry (Bob Carter) were all part of theiconic independent television station WTTV, whereMarlowe was sports director on its nightly news broadcasts.
“I’ve been the luckiest person on the planet,” Marlowe once said about his career in local TV. “I’m in that rare group of individuals who can say they loved their jobs every single day. Because I loved it, it was never work to me.”
Marlowe’s career began in 1952 at radio station WXLW. He also had stints at WGRT (Danville) and WHMB (Indianapolis). However, his 37 years at WTTV-4 defined his career.He was recognized by his peers with the Indiana Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
A graduate of ShortridgeHigh School, Marloweentered the school’s Hall of Fame in 2014.The Sullivan native graduated from Butler University.
He is survived by his wife, Marian, a sister, four sons and their families. Additional survivors include a nephew, cousins, four stepchildren, grandchildrenand great-grandchildren.
Private services are planned. A celebration of life service will be announced later.
Follow Star reporter Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow.
