Sports TV News
Sports Media World Pays Homage To Marv Albert
The broadcaster has spent the better part of six decades calling games.

Published
11 months agoon
By
Russ Heltman
“Yes!”
One word and one exclamation point is all basketball fans need to see to be reminded of legendary broadcaster Marv Albert, who signed off of his final NBA call when the Bucks eliminated the Hawks on Saturday.
The 80-year-old broadcaster retired after 55 years calling all sports but most famously the NBA.
“You gifted the game of basketball with your voice.” ✊
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) July 4, 2021
Hall of Fame broadcaster Marv Albert wraps up a legendary career. pic.twitter.com/4ONADiRqOo
“I wish I was starting all over again. It has been such a joy. So for the last time, thanks so much for watching. I’m Marv Albert saying thank you, and goodnight,” Albert said during his last TNT signoff.
Albert has had a wide range of color commentary partners over the years from Mike Fratello to Chris Webber. Reggie Miller was his running mate on the final ride, a player who had many of his great moments described by Albert.
“I’ve been at Turner now 15 plus years,” Miller said to close the broadcast. “You’ve called a lot of some of my best games when I played for the Pacers. There’s a lot of men and women who have sat next to you, and you have treated everyone with the utmost respect. You gifted the game of basketball with your voice. Thank you, Marv.”
The broadcasting stalwart sat down with the New York Post for a wide-ranging interview before his final call and described what he’d feel as the clock hit triple zeroes.
“I know it’s gonna be strange. It’s gonna be surreal,” Albert said to The Post. “Even when I feel the game is like counting down, it’ll be like counting down (chuckle) on my conclusion, you know? It will be a very weird feeling knowing that it’s ending. It wasn’t until recent years I even thought … I just never pictured that because I’ve been enjoying so much what I do. It’ll be a little strange, I think.”
Marv Albert was a seminal figure for basketball fans and media members alike. All the best in retirement, Marv.
After nearly 60 years, Hall of Fame broadcaster Marv Albert has worked his final game. From his remarkable run as announcer for the Knicks to his role calling marquee national NBA games, Albert has been the soundtrack for fans for generations. pic.twitter.com/CVmBnfct8w
— NBA (@NBA) July 4, 2021
.@ReggieMillerTNT and fans show love to Marv Albert in his final broadcast ❤️
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 4, 2021
What a career for the Hall of Fame broadcaster pic.twitter.com/gtinAG9VBH
May want to tune in to TNT tonight for Game 6. If the Bucks beat the Hawks, and therefore end the Eastern Conference finals, this will be Marv Albert's last game as a broadcaster. Like tuning in for Vin Scully's last game with the Dodgers.
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) July 4, 2021
If you are sports fan, the calls of Jack Buck, Vin Scully and Marv Albert never leave your head. Thanks for being our soundtrack, Marv pic.twitter.com/gz2r1JKCId
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) July 4, 2021
When I first discovered sports and sportscasting in 1967, I was 8. I thought I might succeed one of my first role models, Marv Albert, when he retired.
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) July 4, 2021
I’m 62. He just retired.
Congrats, Marv, and eternal thanks. https://t.co/CvBVHIN8cX pic.twitter.com/6Q73fQL0Bi
Can't believe that's the last time we'll hear Marv Albert call an NBA game. I'll also miss seeing him at NBA arenas. Marv was always super nice to me even though he ranked waaaaaaayyyyyyyy above me in the NBA media world and had no need to even acknowledge my existence.
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) July 4, 2021
Thank you Marv Albert for being the soundtrack to the NBA for so many decades.
— Jorge Sedano (@Sedano) July 4, 2021
Marv Albert called his first NBA game on Jan. 27, 1963. He’s retiring after the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals.
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) June 28, 2021
Marv-isms (ranked):
1. YESSS
2. FROM DOWNTOWN
3. AND IT COUNTS
4. GOES GLASS
5. FEELING IT
6. SHOWING SIGNS
7. RE-JEC-TED
8. WITH THE STEP
9. GARBAGE TIME
10. _______
Hard to believe Marv Albert will never call another NBA game. What a legend. Grew up emulating him and he (and Bob Costas) were the reason I wanted to go to Syracuse and wanted to be a broadcaster. Yes!
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 4, 2021
Russ Heltman
Russ Heltman is a daily news writer for BSM. He is the morning host and producer for 89.3 WMKV in Cincinnati, OH. He also works in gameday communications for FC Cincinnati and additionally contributes to the AllBengals blog for Sports Illustrated. Russ can be found on Twitter @RussHeltman11 or you can reach him by email at Heltmandm@yahoo.com.
Sports TV News
Poll Data Shows Tepid Response To Tom Brady Joining FOX
“A recent Harris Poll conducted on behalf of Front Office Sports showed that 1 in 3 Americans are more likely to watch a game with Brady on the microphone.”

Published
23 hours agoon
May 19, 2022
FOX Sports reportedly signed Tom Brady to a 10-year deal worth $375 million to make the seven-time Super Bowl champion the new lead analyst for its top NFL broadcast once his playing career is over.
A recent Harris Poll conducted on behalf of Front Office Sports showed that 1 in 3 Americans are more likely to watch a game with Brady on the microphone.
The poll said 2 in 5 NFL fans have a better opinion of FOX Sports following the deal, with 41% of NFL fans being at least somewhat more likely to watch a game with Brady as an analyst.
Data shows one-third of NFL fans think the deal Brady reportedly agreed to is worth about the same as its reported value.
That reaction could probably be described as “tepid”. That may be exactly what FOX expects and maybe all it wants.
Last week, Domonique Foxworth of ESPN suggested that the paycheck is less about what the network thinks Tom Brady means to viewers and more about showing the NFL that the network values its product.
Jordan Bondurant
Jordan Bondurant is a features reporter for Barrett News Media. He also works for ABC8 News and Newsradio WRVA and 910 The Fan in Richmond, Virginia. His prior experiences include working for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Danville Register & Bee, Virginia Lawyers Weekly and iHeartradio Richmond. He can be reached by email at Jordan.E.Bondurant@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @J__Bondurant.
Sports TV News
FOX Not Interested In Joining Streaming Sports Wars
“All this fight that’s going on, sort of gladiatorial kind of bloodshed, is really for that last position, right, in the three to four services that people will take?”

Published
23 hours agoon
May 19, 2022
The CEO of FOX doesn’t plan on forking over billions of dollars to be people’s last choice for paid streaming services.
Lachlan Murdoch said at a time when more than 80% of American homes already have some kind of paid streaming service, it’s not worthwhile to jump on that train.
Amazon, Netflix and Disney+ typically account for the average streaming presence in a household.
“All this fight that’s going on, sort of gladiatorial kind of bloodshed, is really for that last position, right, in the three to four services that people will take,” Murdoch said at a tech conference earlier this year. “And so the billions of dollars that’s being spent by multiple aspirants is all for that last position. And so we are extraordinarily — I want to say that — we’re happy to be sort of sitting on the sidelines.”
Murdoch told Benjamin Swinburne that when it comes to the NFL, FOX’s media rights are the same as CBS, NBC and ESPN. The main focus for the company remains on keeping games on TV.
“We don’t believe it helps us to put those rights under a streaming service or free on over-the-air. We think it’s very important that those rights remain exclusive to the broadcast environment,” Murdoch said.
FOX does stream games through its app, but it is only the games it is also carrying on its broadcast network or FS1.
Jordan Bondurant
Jordan Bondurant is a features reporter for Barrett News Media. He also works for ABC8 News and Newsradio WRVA and 910 The Fan in Richmond, Virginia. His prior experiences include working for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Danville Register & Bee, Virginia Lawyers Weekly and iHeartradio Richmond. He can be reached by email at Jordan.E.Bondurant@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @J__Bondurant.
Sports TV News
NBA Draft To Get Simulcast From ESPN & ABC
“This follows the simulcast model ESPN and ABC have employed for several years with the NFL Draft.”

Published
24 hours agoon
May 19, 2022
ESPN is set for the 2022 NBA Draft coming up on June 23 at 8 p.m. from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The network announced Wednesday the crews that will handle coverage on both ESPN and ABC.
ABC will broadcast the first round in primetime. Kevin Negandhi will host and will be joined by Stephen A. Smith, Chiney Ogwumike and Jalen Rose. Monica McNutt will be reporting and interviewing draftees.
This follows the simulcast model ESPN and ABC have employed for several years with the NFL Draft.
Malika Andrews will host both rounds for ESPN. Jay Bilas, Kendrick Perkins and Adrian Wojnarowski will share the set. Analysts Bobby Marks and Mike Schmitz will contribute.
“We’re thrilled that Malika Andrews will host this year’s ESPN presentation as she brings her well-documented, widespread skillset to our main set,” said David Roberts, head of NBA and Studio Production for ESPN. “The event will showcase the scope and depth of our NBA and college basketball talent roster with accomplished journalists and high-profile personalities across ESPN, ABC and ESPN Radio.”
ESPN will air a pre-draft red carpet show hosted by Cassidy Hubbarth from 5-6 p.m. Perkins and Richard Jefferson will also make appearances.
Jordan Bondurant
Jordan Bondurant is a features reporter for Barrett News Media. He also works for ABC8 News and Newsradio WRVA and 910 The Fan in Richmond, Virginia. His prior experiences include working for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Danville Register & Bee, Virginia Lawyers Weekly and iHeartradio Richmond. He can be reached by email at Jordan.E.Bondurant@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @J__Bondurant.