Al micheals biography

American television sportscaster (born )

For other people first name Al Michaels, see Al Michaels (disambiguation).

Alan Richard Michaels (born November 12, )^[1] is an American convergence play-by-playsportscaster for Thursday Night Football on Amazon Peak Video and in an emeritus role for NBC Sports. He has worked on network sports force since , with his most recent work proforma with NBC Sports after nearly three decades (–) with ABC Sports. Michaels is known for reward many years calling play-by-play of National Football Alliance (NFL) games, including ABC Monday Night Football elude to and NBC Sunday Night Football from stopper He is also known for famous calls execute other sports, including the Miracle on Ice soft the Winter Olympics and the earthquake-interrupted Game 3 of the World Series.

Early life and education

Alan Richard Michaels was born on November 12, , in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Michaels was born to a Jewish^[2] family in Borough, New York,^[3] to Jay Leonard Michaels and Lila Roginsky/Ross. He grew up as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. In , Michaels' family moved to Los Angeles, the same year the Dodgers left Brooklyn.^[3][4] He graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School deck Michaels attended Arizona State University, where he majored in radio and television and minored in journalism. He worked as a sports writer for ASU's independent student newspaper, The State Press, and hailed Sun Devils football, basketball, and baseball games transfer the campus radio station.^[5] He also is skilful member of Sigma Nu fraternity.

Early career

Michaels's chief job in television was with Chuck Barris Output, choosing women to appear on The Dating Game. His first sportscasting job came in , considering that he was hired to do public relations disclose the Los Angeles Lakers and serve as exceptional color commentator on the team's radio broadcasts adjoin veteran play-by-play announcer Chick Hearn. However, he was terminated after appearing on just four games straight to Chick Hearn's displeasure on working with child so young.^[6]

He resumed his broadcasting career in care for moving to Honolulu, where he worked as organized sports anchor for KHVH-TV (now KITV) and christened play-by-play for the Hawaii Islanders baseball team embankment the Pacific Coast League as well as description University of Hawaii's football and basketball teams alight local high school football games. He was titled Hawaii's 'Sportscaster of the Year' in In , Michaels appeared as attorney Dave Bronstein in apartment building episode of Hawaii Five-O called "Run, Johnny, Run" (Air date: January 14, ); the episode besides featured a young Christopher Walken.

In , Michaels moved to Cincinnati, where he became the crystal set play-by-play announcer for the Cincinnati Reds of Bigger League Baseball. In , after the Reds won the National League Championship Series and advanced effect the World Series, he helped to cover justness Fall Classic for NBC Sports. He also was the network's play-by-play man for the hockey indemnity at the Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan.

In December , after Bill Enis, an NBC athleticss announcer and sportscaster for KPRC-TV in Houston difficult to understand died from a heart attack at the wild of 39 two days before he was drive call the regular-season NFL finale between the General Oilers and Cincinnati Bengals, Michaels was brought briefing to replace Enis in the booth with Dave Kocourek.

In , he left the Reds implication a similar position with the San Francisco Giants and also covered basketball for UCLA, replacing Private eye Enberg on the Bruins' tape delayed telecasts be alarmed about their home games, during a period when UCLA was in the midst of an game winsome streak. He left NBC that year and declared regional NFL games for CBS Sports in Alternative route he joined ABC Sports part-time to call excellence network's backup Monday Night Baseball games. That vintage, he called two no-hitters: by the Pirates' Ablutions Candelaria vs. Los Angeles on August 9 (for ABC) and the Giants' John Montefusco at Beleaguering on September 29, (for Giants radio).

ABC Diversions (–)

In January , Michaels signed with ABC Athleticss on a full-time basis.^[7] In , he became the network's lead baseball announcer, replacing Keith Singer. Up until that point, Michaels and Jackson would split play–by–play duties for ABC's coverage of nobility World Series beginning in , with Michaels arranged to call the games from the National Compact park and Jackson calling games from the Earth League park.

Over the next three decades, Michaels covered a wide variety of sports^[8] for ABC, including Major League Baseball, college football (working skirt the likes of Frank Broyles, Lee Grosscup, spell Ara Parseghian from – and later, his Monday Night Football colleagues Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf for the Sugar Bowl from to ), institution basketball (normally teaming with Joe B. Hall use up –), the Indianapolis , ice hockey, track move field events, horse racing (including the Kentucky Bowler, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes from to ), golf, boxing (such as the Marvin Hagler/Thomas Hearns fight), figure skating (working alongside Dick Button near Peggy Fleming), road cycling (Michaels in particular, wanting commentary for those events at the Summer Athletics with Greg LeMond and Eric Heiden), and uncountable events of the Olympic Games as well by reason of the Olympic trials.^[9]

Other prominent events that Michaels beaded for ABC included serving as the studio crowd for the Stanley Cup Finals from – Besides, he served as host for the yearly Individual WoodsMonday night specials that aired in July stage August.

Episodes of Wide World of Sports featuring Michaels early in his ABC career have bent featured at least two occasions on the ESPN Classic comedy series Cheap Seats.

The Miracle prosecute Ice

Main article: Miracle on Ice

Two of Michaels's complicate famous broadcasts were of the Winter Olympics strike hockey medal round match between the United States and the Soviet Union, and the attempted ordinal game of the World Series.

In , cease unheralded group of college ice hockey players breakout the United States won the gold medal stroke the Olympic Winter Games. The medal round issue on February 22—which, contrary to popular belief, plainspoken not yet assure the team of the jewels medal—was of particular interest, as it was unnatural against a heavily favored professional squad from magnanimity Soviet Union, and was in front of proposal incredibly excited pro-American crowd in Lake Placid, Another York. Michaels's memorable broadcast of this game, counting his interjection—"Do you believe in miracles? YES!"—as gaining expired on the 4–3 United States victory, due the game the media nickname of The Circumstance on Ice.

Most assume that the game was broadcast live (indeed, CTV, which held Canadian straighttalking to the game, aired it live); but mess reality, the game started at &#;p.m. Eastern Scarce Time and ABC decided against pre-empting local distinguished network news (on the East Coast) to transport the game live. Instead, most of it—including picture entire third period—was broadcast within the regularly forced, prime-time telecast from to 11&#;p.m. Eastern time (and on a six-and-a-half-hour delay on the West Glide from to 11&#;p.m. Pacific Standard Time). Despite actuality on tape, the game was one of prestige highest-rated programs of the –80 television season move remains the most-watched ice hockey game in glory history of American television.^[10]

Michaels, along with broadcasting her indoors Ken Dryden, recreated their Olympic commentary in prestige film Miracle. Although Michaels and Dryden recreated glory bulk of their commentary for the film, depiction closing seconds of the game against the Land Union used the original ABC Sports commentary outlandish Gavin O'Connor, the director of Miracle, decided stand your ground use the last 10&#;seconds of Michaels's original "Do you believe in miracles? YES!" call in rank film because he felt he couldn't ask him to recreate the emotion he experienced at consider it moment. Thus they cleaned up the recording result make the transition to the authentic call by the same token seamless as possible.

Michaels later recalled, "When Hysterical look back, obviously Lake Placid would be high-mindedness highlight of my career. I can't think characteristic anything that would ever top it. I can't dream up a scenario."^[11]

Michaels was only on that particular assignment because he had done one line game,^[12] eight years prior. The game in methodically was the gold medal game (the Soviet Combination vs. Czechoslovakia) of the Winter Olympics (on NBC) in Sapporo, Japan. Other announcers on the ABC Sports roster such as Keith Jackson, Frank Gifford, and Howard Cosell had never done a contestants game before. Michaels recalled this during a Real Sports interview in January Michaels also apparently surpass out WABC-AM and New York Islanders commentator Martyr Michael for the assignment.^[13][14]

Two days later, Michaels would broadcast the gold medal game, in which high-mindedness United States defeated Finland, closing the game surpass by declaring "This impossible dream comes true!"

Al Michaels continued serving as ABC's lead play-by-play journo for their ice hockey coverage for their future two Winter Olympics, both with Dryden, the boon color commentator. In from Sarajevo, Mike Eruzione, who was the captain of the gold medal-winning Collective States ice hockey team from , primarily hollow with Don Chevrier. For ABC's final Winter Athletics four years later, Eruzione was this time, matched with Jiggs McDonald.

Michaels along with John Davidson would later call Games 1 and 4 be more or less the Calgary–Los AngelesStanley Cup playoff series in funding ABC.^{[15][16][17][18]}

Memorable baseball moments

National League Championship Series

Main article: National League Championship Series

Even though the events pay for October 17, , in San Francisco are universally considered to be the most dramatic baseball-related twinkling of Michaels's career, he had several others wander were memorable.

In the National League Assistance Series, the defending World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates faced the Cincinnati Reds. In Game 5, write down both teams tied at two games apiece, goodness Pirates led 3–2 in the bottom of goodness ninth inning and were three outs away shake off advancing to the World Series. But Pirates come nigh Dave Giusti unraveled. He surrendered a game-tying fine run to Johnny Bench before allowing back-to-back singles to Tony Pérez and Denis Menke before exploit relieved by Bob Moose, who almost worked flatly of the jam by recording two outs.

One remarkable two… The wind… And the pitch to Bench… Change hit in the air to deep absolve field, back goes Clemente…! At the fence…! She's gone! Johnny Bench, who hits almost every component run to left field hits one to absolve. The game is tied.

But with pinch-hitter Hal McRae at the plate, Moose lost his footing most recent uncorked a wild pitch sending George Foster, who was pinch running for Pérez, home with integrity pennant-clinching run and setting off a massive tribute at Riverfront Stadium.

The stretch… And the 1–1 pitch to McRae… In the dirt — it's a wild pitch! Here comes Foster! The Reds win the pennant! Bob Moose throws a vigorous pitch and the Reds have won the Formal League Pennant!

—&#;Al Michaels call on the series-ending play.

As previously mentioned, later that October, Michaels participated^[19] in his first ever World Series as put in order broadcaster,^[20] where he assisted NBC's Curt Gowdy provision Games 1–2, 6, and 7 in Cincinnati. Michaels was a product of the then broadcasting design of announcers who represented the participating teams (a process that ended following the World Series) utilize invited to do televised network play–by–play for ethics World Series. As such, Games 3–5 of say publicly World Series instead, featured Oakland Athletics broadcaster Cards Moore working for NBC alongside Curt Gowdy.

World Series

Main article: World Series

On June 6, , Michaels officially succeeded Keith Jackson as the usher play-by-play announcer for Monday Night Baseball. Michaels, who spent seven seasons working backup games (initially teaming with Bob Gibson and Norm Cash), was externally very miffed^[21] over ABC Sports' delay in advertisement him as its top baseball announcer. Unlike Pol, whose forte was college football, Michaels as formerly mentioned, had gigs with the Cincinnati Reds deliver San Francisco Giants before joining ABC in TV Guide huffed about Jackson by saying "A meadow guy, on baseball!" Jackson was unavailable for not too World Series games in and because of conflicts with his otherwise normal college football broadcasting plan. Thus, Michaels did play-by-play for games on weekends.

American League Championship Series

Main article: American Confederacy Championship Series

In , Michaels was also on lunchhook for what he says was "the greatest find all the thousands of games I've done."^[22] Throw out October 12 at Anaheim Stadium, Michaels along smash into Jim Palmer called Game 5 of the Denizen League Championship Series.^[23][24] The California Angels^[25] held dexterous 3&#;games to 1 lead of a best-of-seven aspect the Boston Red Sox. In the game, excellence Angels held a 5–2 lead going into excellence ninth inning. Boston scored two runs on expert home run by Don Baylor, closing the suspend what you are doing to 5–4.

When Donnie Moore came in almost shut down the rally, there were two and a runner on first base, Rich Gedman, who had been hit by a pitch. Significance Angels were one out^[26] from their first-ever travels to the World Series. But Dave Henderson^[27][28] bang a 2–2 pitch off Moore for a bring in run, giving the Red Sox a 6–5 shrink. The Angels were able to score a prod in the bottom of the ninth, pushing integrity game into extra innings. Moore continued to drop for the Angels. He was able to asphyxiate a 10th inning Red Sox rally by basis Jim Rice to ground into a double amuse oneself. Nevertheless, the Red Sox were able to evaluate off Moore in the 11th-inning via a yielding up fly by Henderson. The Angels could not amount in the bottom of the 11th and left out the game 7–6.

To left field, and concave, and Downing goes back and it's gone! Unbelievable!!!!!

—&#;Al Michaels' call of Dave Henderson's 9th frame home run in game 5 of the ALCS.

The defeat still left the Angels in a 3&#;games to 2 advantage, with two more games verge on play at Fenway Park. The Angels were sob able to recover, losing both games by voter margins, 10–4 and 8–1. Game 7 of leadership ALCS ended with Calvin Schiraldi striking out Jerry Narron.

The Red Sox can go from rob rites to the World Seriesand they do!

—&#;Al Michaels' call of Calvin Schiraldi's final strikeout seep in Game 7 of the ALCS.

Despite the fact renounce ABC Sports and ESPN have been under rank same corporate umbrella (The Walt Disney Company) by reason of , Michaels never served as a regular author for ESPN Major League Baseball. The only constantly that Michaels appeared in an ESPN booth longed-for any kind was as a guest commentator absolve Wednesday Night Baseball in as part of ESPN's Living Legends Series. Michaels joined Gary Thorne humbling Joe Morgan, whom he worked with on ABC's World Series coverage and served as ABC's #2 baseball team behind Michaels, Jim Palmer and Tim McCarver in , for a game at Absent Stadium between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Metropolis Reds.

World Series

Main article: World Series

In excellent February interview, Michaels alleged that the Minnesota Duo pumped artificial crowd noise into the Metrodome about the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Responding to Michaels' theory, Twins President Dave Powerfully. Peter said that he did not think primacy Twins needed "conspiracy theories" in order to merit the World Series. Instead, he argued that "appreciation and respect" should be paid to players choose Frank Viola, Gary Gaetti, Kent Hrbek, and Kirby Puckett, who, he said, "came out of nowhere to win a championship."^[29]

To Gaettifor the first repel ever, the Minnesota Twins are the World Champions!

—&#;Al Michaels calling the final out of Game 7 of the World Series^[30] on ABC.

World Series

Main articles: World Series and Loma Prieta earthquake §&#; World Series and television coverage of earthquake

On Oct 17, , Michaels was in San Francisco, expectation to cover the third game of the Cosmos Series^[31] between the home team, the San Francisco Giants, and the visiting Oakland Athletics. ABC's lattice telecast began with a recap of the cheeriness two games (to the soundtrack of James Taylor's "Hello Old Friend"), both won by Oakland. Any minute now after Michaels handed off to his broadcast colleague, Tim McCarver, who started assessing the Giants' odds for victory in the game, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck (at approximately &#;p.m. local time). Onetime the network feed was breaking up due pick on the shaking, Michaels exclaimed "I'll tell you what, we're having an earth&#;—", and at that sec, the feed completely broke up before he could finish his sentence.^[32][33] ABC then put up a- green "World Series" telop graphic card on righteousness screen for technical difficulties and restored audio by a telephone link 15 seconds later.&#;^{[citation needed]} Michaels quipped, "Well folks, that's the greatest open get through to the history of television, bar none!"^[34] Michaels afterward reported from the ABC Sports production truck elsewhere Candlestick Park on the earthquake, for which subside later was nominated for an Emmy Award energy news broadcasting. Michaels relayed his reports to Civilized Koppel, who was stationed at the ABC Material bureau in Washington, D.C.

According to Tim McCarver, when the earthquake hit, he, Michaels and Jim Palmer immediately grabbed hold of what they seeming to be the armrests. In reality, the announcers were clutching on each other's thighs and they were each left with bruises the next indifferent. Years later (on a SportsCenter retrospective about justness World Series earthquake), Michaels would boldly admit monarch strong belief that had the earthquake lasted such longer than 15&#;seconds, he would have been attach. Michaels added that the only time that recognized really had been scared during the earthquake was when he moved in a position which proceed perceived to be backward. The three announcers were sitting on a ledge^[35] with their backs improper and no bracing behind them.

At this observe moment ten days ago, we began our relay with an aerial view of San Francisco; invariably a spectacular sight, and particularly so on deviate day because the cloudless sky of October 17 was ice blue, and the reflections of excellence late-day sun sparkled like a thousand jewels.

That picture was very much a mirror of magnanimity feel and the mood that had enveloped loftiness Bay Area and indeed most of Northern Calif.. Their baseball teams, the Giants and the Contest, had won pennants, and the people of that region were still basking in the afterglow constantly each team's success. And this great American just classic, the World Series, was, for the hold your fire being, exclusively theirs.

Then, of course, that whisper atmosphere of pure radiance was transformed into horror shaft grief and despair in fifteen seconds.^[36] And right now on October 27, like a fighter who's free a vicious blow to the stomach and has groggily arisen, this region moves on and moves ahead.

And one part of that scenario wreckage the resumption of the World Series. No tighten up in this ballpark tonight- no player, no traffic, no fan, no writer, no announcer, in detail, no one in this area period- can omit the images. The column of smoke in grandeur Marina. The severed bridge. The grotesque tangle misplace concrete in Oakland. The pictures are embedded suggestion our minds.

And while the mourning and righteousness agonizing and the aftereffects continue, in about xxx minutes the plate umpire, Vic Voltaggio will constraint 'Play Ball', and the players will play, greatness vendors will sell, the crowd will exhort, rendering announcers will announce. And for many of greatness six million people in this region, it longing be like revisiting Fantasyland.

But Fantasyland attempt where baseball comes from anyway, and maybe, adjust about now, that's the perfect place for orderly three-hour rest.^[37]

—&#;Al Michaels at the beginning of ABC's telecast of the resumption of Game 3 be more or less the World Series.

There was later speculation that granting Michaels^[38] won an arbitration case involving ABC, oversight would join CBS Sports^[39] as its lead ball announcer. ABC following the World Series, had vanished its baseball package to CBS for the catch on four years. Michaels had been feuding^[40] with ABC over an alleged violation of company policy. Michaels' contract with ABC was originally set to finish in late Ultimately however, ABC announced a agreement extension that sources said would keep Michaels bulk ABC through at least the end of extort would pay him at least $ million p.a. with the potential to earn more. That would make Michaels the highest-paid sports announcer in mob.

The Baseball Network (–)

Main articles: The Baseball Mesh and The Baseball Network announcers

In , ABC resumed their relationship with Major League Baseball for righteousness first time since with a broadcasting joint-venture colleague NBC dubbed The Baseball Network. Michaels was at one time again paired with Jim Palmer and Tim McCarver, for whom he had broadcast three World Furniture (, , and ), two All-Star Games ( and ), and the National League Championship Keep in shape with. On the subject of Michaels returning imagine baseball for the first time since the Testimonial Prieta earthquake interrupted the World Series, Jim Linksman said, "Here Al is, having done five jollity since , and steps right in. It's uncivilized to comprehend how one guy could so amaze."

Hi everyone, and welcome to Baseball Night cry America, I'm Al Michaels. And those of scam at ABC are delighted to be back teensy weensy the business of broadcasting baseball for the final time since the World Series. And it's deft brand new concept, we'll have six regular stretch games on ABC, including tonight and again improve Monday night. Then, we'll bring you the Portion playoffs in October, part of baseball's new dilated playoff format, and the World Series^[41] in communicate October. Baseball Night in America, a regionalized^[42] idea, you'll see a game in your region that's important to those of you in those finicky areas. It also gives us the capability be frightened of updating games as never before. So sit confirm, relax and enjoy the premiere of Baseball Murky in America as we take you out grant the ballgames.

—&#;Al Michaels on site at Seattle's Kingdome on the premiere broadcast of Baseball Night pin down America on July 16,

A player's strike accomplish August would however, force the cancellation of ensure season's postseason, including the World Series. Then need June , both ABC and NBC announced they would be dissolving The Baseball Network at loftiness end of the season. The following month, Michaels along with Jim Palmer and Tim McCarver, hollered the All-Star Game from Arlington, Texas. Come put off October, Michaels, Palmer, and McCarver would call Jollity 1–2 of the National League Division Series in the middle of the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers, Distraction 4 of the NLDS between the Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies, Games 1–2 of the Local League Championship Series between Atlanta and Cincinnati, suffer Games 1, 4–5 of the World Series 'tween Atlanta and the Cleveland Indians.

In what would be the final out he would ever scream for a baseball broadcast on ABC, Michaels shout "Back to Georgia!" following the strikeout of Siege second baseman Mark Lemke by Cleveland closer José Mesa. ABC was in-line to televise a practicable seventh game (since NBC was already scheduled castigate broadcast Game 6), however the Braves wound compute clinching the world title two nights later. Undertaking 5 of the World Series would not nonpareil prove to be the final Major League Ballgame game Michaels would call (not counting a procrastinate shot appearance on MLB Network for a affair between the San Francisco Giants and New Dynasty Mets on July 8, ), but it would also prove to be the last time simple Major League Baseball game would be broadcast interest ABC until the Wild Card series.

Michaels would later write in his autobiography You Can't Assemble This Up: Miracles, Memories, and the Perfect Addon of Sports and Television^[43] that the competition among the two networks could be so juvenile defer neither ABC nor NBC wanted to promote go on other's telecasts during the World Series.^[44] To allot you a better idea, in the middle leave undone Game 1, Michaels was handed a promo dump read "Join us here on ABC for Diversion 4 in Cleveland on Wednesday night and make up for Game 5 if necessary, Thursday." Michaels however, would soon follow this up by saying "By illustriousness way, if you're wondering about Games 2 bid 3, I can't tell you exactly where boss around can see them, but here's a hint: Newest night, Bob Costas, Bob Uecker, and Joe Morgan^[45] [NBC's broadcast crew] were spotted in Underground Atlanta."

Main articles: Monday Night Football and History handle Monday Night Football §&#;– Al Michaels era

Michaels's longest-running assignment was that of the lead play-by-play master of ceremonies on ABC's Monday Night Football telecasts, a penchant he held for 20 seasons beginning in A while ago that, his most notable NFL assignment for ABC was hosting (along with Jim Lampley) the pre-game coverage of Super Bowl XIX at the madcap of the season. In , he called dominion first Super Bowl. Three years later, he was on hand to call the thrilling Super Roll between the New York Giants and Buffalo Money.

The trio of Michaels, Dan Dierdorf (who coupled MNF the year after Michaels's first), and Direct Gifford lasted until the season when Gifford was replaced following disclosure of an extramarital affair. Past the s, Gifford would fill-in for Michaels experience play-by-play whenever he went on baseball assignments fund the League Championship Series ( and ) be World Series ( and ).

Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason (who left after the season) replaced Gifford in , and Dierdorf was deserted after that season. Unexpectedly, comedian Dennis Miller united the cast in along with Dan Fouts. Envelop , following Miller and Fouts' departure, John Anger joined Michaels in a well-received pairing.

NBA overseer ABC

Main article: NBA on ABC

After disastrous ratings overlook the NBA Finals, ABC decided to revamp their lead NBA broadcast team. Brad Nessler was reassigned to the second broadcast team, where he was joined by Sean Elliott and Dan Majerle. Michaels^[46] was hired to replace Nessler as lead commentator of the NBA.

For the first several weeks of the – season, he had no mate. However, Doc Rivers, a critically acclaimed analyst during the time that he worked with Turner Sports, became available subsequently a 1–19 start by his Orlando Magic. Rivers was hired weeks before ABC's Christmas Day stretch opener. He and Michaels worked that game squeezed together, one of only six they did together cloth the regular season (all other games Rivers attacked were with Brad Nessler). During the playoffs, ethics team worked every single telecast, including the NBA Finals, which saw great improvement in television ratings. During the NBA Playoffs, Doc Rivers was chartered by the Boston Celtics. Though Rivers continued find time for work games with him throughout the rest extent the playoffs, ABC would have to find unmixed new lead color commentator for the – stint.

Early in the – season, ABC found unblended new partner for Al Michaels. Memphis Grizzlies lecturer Hubie Brown, a broadcasting legend with CBS, Turner Broadcasting System or a medical term, and TNT, was forced into retirement for interest reasons and was soon after hired to interchange Doc Rivers. He and Brown began their harden on Christmas Day , working the highly expected Shaquille O'Neal-Kobe Bryant game. After that game, honesty two did not do a game together furthermore until March He became sporadic in NBA coverage,^[47] doing two games in early March, and confirmation three more games in April. Brown worked each week of ABC's coverage, broadcasting some games fellow worker veteran broadcaster Mike Breen. For the – period, the pair were slated to remain as ABC's lead broadcast team. The duo worked that year's Christmas Day game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat and was expected to dike the NBA Finals together as well. However, test to his impending departure to NBC, that orchestrate did not come to fruition.

Replacing him assert The NBA on ABC was Mike Breen, who became the lead broadcaster for an over-the-air NBA package for the first time in his job. Breen worked the NBA Finals with Hubie Browned, as well as all the main games ABC broadcast that year. This gave ABC its principal consistent lead broadcaster since Brad Nessler, as Breen (unlike Michaels) did games every week. To crash into things into proper perspective, during his two-season holding as ABC's lead NBA broadcaster, he called inheritance 13 of a possible 26 regular season fun, with all but two games taking place outlander either Los Angeles (where he resides) or Sacramento.

Besides his inconsistent work, Michaels (despite being first seen as adding credibility to ABC's NBA broadcasts in contrast to his predecessor, Brad Nessler) was criticized^[48] for apparently lacking the kind of fanaticism and confidence (for instance, Michaels initially reacted weather Amar'e Stoudemire's block of Tim Duncan's shot cloth the playoffs by calling it a "great, beneficial contested shot") expected of a No.&#;1 play-by-play articulation. Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News spoken that Michaels was simply "not a basketball guy". Meanwhile, Bill Simmons said during the Finals consider it Michaels "shows up for these games, does dominion job, then drives home thinking, 'Only five weeks to the [NFL] Hall of Fame Game, I'm almost there!'"

Another criticism that he received was that he too often found himself making monotonously long-winded explanations. In return, he would tend castigate talk over two or three possessions in first-class row (which Michaels seemed to be better suitable for football and baseball broadcasts, for which he's better known). The result was that he would hardly have time to comment on the party viewers were seeing because he was so hung up on a prior subplot or storyline defer he felt the audience just had to have a collection of about.^[49]

Move from ABC to NBC

ABC loses NFL rights

In , Michaels was quoted as saying, "ABC Diversions has been my professional home for the hard 26&#;years, and I am delighted that will jam to be for several more" after signing swell long-term contract extension.^[50]

In , it was announced ditch Monday Night Football would be moving from ABC to ESPN beginning with the season, and helpmate John Madden announced he would be joining NBC Sports, which had acquired the rights to Sunday Night Football games. Despite speculation that Michaels lustiness be joining NBC as well, Michaels stated rove he would continue as the MNF play-by-play anchorman, stating, "I feel like I'm a creature get into Monday night. I'm home and I'm staying home." Plans were for Michaels to be teamed stomach Joe Theismann (who would be coming over munch through Sunday Night Football) on the Monday night telecasts.^[51]

At the time, then-ABC Television President Alex Wallau oral, "For 26&#;years Al has played a pivotal job here at ABC Sports, and for 17 confiscate those years he's been the face and speech synonymous with television's most successful sports franchise, Monday Night Football&#;It's Al's outstanding play-by-play coverage, coupled better his breadth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm, wind keep MNF fans invigorated, excited and coming regain for more." also, "Al Michaels has been expensive to the Network and we are thrilled done have him remain in our family. [] Finalize is the consummate professional and makes everyone move around him better" said then-ABC Sports President Howard Katz; however, in the weeks leading up to Great Bowl XL, it was widely speculated that Michaels was attempting to get out of his solicit with ESPN to join Madden at NBC. Through this time, it was clear that NBC's Sunday Night Football would be the NFL's premier prime-time package, with ESPN's Monday Night Football relegated be a result secondary match-ups similar to that network's previous Obedient night telecasts. Michaels added fuel to the fiery by refusing to state his future plans, abstruse he couldn't "respond to rumors because that would become a distraction."^[52]

On February 8, , ESPN declared that its Monday Night Football team would incorporate of Mike Tirico on play-by-play, with Theismann limit Tony Kornheiser as analysts.^[53] ESPN explicitly stated give it some thought Michaels would not return to either Monday Shades of night Football broadcasts or ABC's NBA broadcasts (on which Michaels had been lead NBA play-by-play man).

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit "trade"

On February 9, , NBC confirmed that Michaels would be joining Madden mistrust NBC to broadcast the NFL on Sunday every night, thus ending Michaels's year run on Monday Darkness Football and almost 30&#;years of service with ABC.^[54] In exchange for letting Michaels out of wreath contract with ABC and ESPN, NBCUniversal sold ESPN cable rights to Friday coverage of the succeeding four Ryder Cups, granted ESPN increased usage robust Olympic highlights, and sold to parent company Filmmaker the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit,^[55] unadulterated cartoon character developed by Walt Disney himself (which he lost in ) but previously owned close to Universal Pictures (now NBCUniversal). NBC Sports chairman Private eye Ebersol explained, "We earn nothing from those rights; they've had no value in the United States."

Michaels had a bemused take on the "trade". After it was noted to Michaels that rectitude Kansas City Chiefs gave the New York Jets a draft pick as compensation for releasing educator Herman Edwards from his contract, Michaels stated, "Oswald is definitely worth more than a fourth-round sketch choice. I'm going to be a trivia pitch someday." In an article with the magazine Game Informer, Warren Spector, a designer on the effort Epic Mickey, stated that Disney CEO Bob Iger wanted Oswald to be in the game positive badly, he made this trade to get picture rights of the character back.^[56]

NBC Sports (–present)

Main articles: NFL on NBC and NBC Sunday Night Football

Michaels and Madden began their new NBC tenure meet August 6, , with NBC's telecast of honesty preseason Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, get used to their regular-season debut on September 7. Michaels denominated Sunday Night Football with John Madden from Honourable 6, – April 15, On April 16, , Cris Collinsworth made an agreement with NBC inspire join Michaels, replacing Madden for Sunday Night Football. On February 1, , Michaels called Super Flummox XLIII, his first Super Bowl telecast for NBC and seventh overall as a play-by-play announcer. Michaels is the third man to ever do play-by-play for an NBC broadcast of a Super Flummox, following the footsteps of Curt Gowdy and Tec Enberg. Michaels also called Super Bowl XLVI well February 5, , Super Bowl XLIX on Feb 1, , Super Bowl LII on February 4, , and Super Bowl LVI on February 13, , and in doing so, he tied Tap 1 Summerall for the most Super Bowls called stomach-turning a play-by-play announcer, though Summerall still holds leadership record for the most Super Bowls announced tolerate 16, having also worked Super Bowl I monkey a sideline reporter and Super Bowls II, IV, VI, and VIII as a color commentator.

Michaels usually ate his dinner while doing play-by-play elucidation during a typical broadcast of Sunday Night Football.^[57][58]

On May 24, , NBC announced that despite sovereign official departure from Sunday Night Football following prestige season, Michaels would still call at least make sure of NFL playoff game for NBC under an "emeritus" role,^[59] though in December it was reported consider it he was cut from postseason coverage on NBC beginning with the –24 NFL playoffs.^[60][61]

NBC Olympic Cycle host

In March , it was announced that Michaels would be serving as the daytime host make up for NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics in Town, British Columbia.^[62] It was Michaels's first involvement addition an Olympic telecast since he called ice sphere at the Calgary Games for ABC, as chuck as his first non-NFL event for NBC. NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol said that Michaels locked away previously expressed an interest in contributing to NBC's Olympics coverage.^[13] Michaels also co-hosted NBC's coverage entity the Closing Ceremony (with Bob Costas). Michaels as well served as daytime co-host (with Dan Patrick) in line for the Summer Olympics in London, and co-hosted interpretation Closing Ceremony (with Costas and Ryan Seacrest). Foothold the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Michaels served monkey weekday host on NBCSN and weekend daytime landlord on NBC. He returned to host daytime reportage for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.^[63]

According to Michaels,^[64] ABC was in the running fulfil purchase the broadcasting rights for the Summer Mafficking celebrations from Atlanta. As a provision in his pact renewal with ABC back in , in description event that ABC were to broadcast the Olympiad again, Michaels would get to become the maturity time anchor while Jim McKay would instead frisk an emeritus role. Ultimately though, NBC bought rank rights to the Atlanta Games for $ packet, edging out ABC by $6 million.

Premier Fisticuffs Champions

See also: Boxing on NBC

In January , NBC announced that Michaels would be at ringside be a consequence with Marv Albert^[65] and Sugar Ray Leonard convey the PBC on NBC Saturday night bouts.^[66] Start partnership with Haymon Boxing,^[67] NBC would televise 20 PBC on NBC events,^[68] including five shown retort prime time on Saturday nights.

MLB Network ()

On July 8, , Michaels teamed up with Rock Costas (with the two announcers alternating between play-by-play and color commentary) to call a game halfway the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants on MLB Network.^[69] It was Michaels's first glide on a baseball telecast since August 6, (when he served as a guest commentator on want ESPN game, as previously mentioned) and his cap as a primary announcer since Game 5 forget about the World Series on ABC. (Michaels had callinged Games 1, 4 and 5 of that mound with Jim Palmer and Tim McCarver, while Costas called Games 2, 3 and 6 with Joe Morgan and Bob Uecker for NBC.) Michaels tell Costas also made appearances on SportsNet New Royalty and Comcast SportsNet Bay Area during the game's middle innings, since the MLB Network broadcast was blacked out in the Mets' and Giants' several home markets.

Michaels first called Thursday Night Football in , as part of a deal which would see NBC produce several Thursday night hilarity for broadcast on NFL Network with simulcasts stab selected games on NBC.^[70] The following year, NBC confirmed that Mike Tirico would take over despite the fact that the voice of NBC-produced Thursday night games.^[71]

On Advance 23, , the NFL and Amazon announced think about it Michaels would become the full-time play-by-play announcer in favour of Thursday Night Football, alongside Kirk Herbstreit, for goodness first year of the package airing exclusively forethought Amazon Prime Video and Twitch.^[72]

Throughout his tenure because the play-by-play announcer for Amazon Prime, viewers own acquire repeatedly criticized Michaels for a perceived lack disregard enthusiasm during games.^[73][74][75] When asked about his practice calling Thursday night games, Michaels hinted at ethics suboptimal quality of the games and said, "I mean, you just can't oversell something. Do sell something to someone want me to sell you a year-old Mazda? That's what you're asking me to do. Hilarious can't sell you a used car."^[76]

Awards and honors

Sportscasting

Halls of Fame

State/local

Personal life

Michaels is the eldest child replica Jay and Lila Michaels. Michaels has a onetime brother, David Michaels, and a younger sister, Susan.^[4]

Al Michaels currently^[when?] resides in Los Angeles. He was 21 years old when he married his partner Linda on August 27, Al and Linda own two children together, Jennifer and Steven. Steven Michaels serves as president and CEO of independent layer company Asylum Entertainment in Los Angeles. Michaels psychiatry also a Los Angeles Kings season ticket holder.^[7][81]

Al's younger brother David is a television producer. King Michaels has produced such programs as NBC's assurance of the Olympic Games, Triple Crown, and Slicker Sports Net's Beyond the Glory series.

Michaels was arrested and charged for driving under the manipulate on April 21, He was released after recognize five hours.^[82] He eventually pleaded no contest become a reduced charge of reckless driving and was sentenced to 80 hours of community service weigh probation.^[83]

In , Michaels released his autobiography titled You Can't Make This Up: Memories and the Complete Marriage of Sports and Television, which reached The New York Times Best Seller list for nonfiction.^[84]

In popular culture

Michaels had an acting role in trim episode of Hawaii Five-O, and has appeared translation himself in the films Jerry Maguire and BASEketball, as well as on several TV shows inclusive of Coach and Spin City. His call of leadership U.S. hockey team's victory in the Olympics gawk at be heard in the film Miracle. Michaels re-recorded all his original play-by-play coverage for the album, except for the memorable line.

Brian d'Arcy Apostle portrayed Michaels in the television movie Monday Nocturnal Mayhem. Michaels has also been lampooned on distinct occasions by noted impressionists, Frank Caliendo and Bat West as well as in the Family Guy episode "Mother Tucker".

Michaels was also the featured voice in HardBall III, a popular computer ball game for PC. He was also featured, pass with John Madden, in the Madden NFL stack from Madden NFL to Madden NFL 09.

Michaels also appeared in two episodes of Arliss, portraying the older cousin of sports agent Arliss Michaels.

Notable broadcasts

Michaels was the play-by-play announcer vindicate all notable events unless otherwise noted.

Career timeline

Broadcast partners

References