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Sam Nover | |
|---|---|
| Born | Samuel A. Nover (1941-03-05)March 5, 1941 |
| Died | December 4, 2018(2018-12-04) (aged 77) West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan, Ferris State University, Eastern Michigan University |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Years active | 1964–2001 |
Samuel A. Nover (March 5, 1941 – December 4, 2018) was anAmericansportscaster.[1][2] His run of 30 years of sportscasting at the same station is one of the longest in Pittsburgh broadcasting history.
From 1964-1968 Nover worked at radio stations in Charlotte, and Jackson, Michigan. In 1968, he was hired as sportscaster atWKBD-TV in Detroit, Michigan. He worked at WIIC-TV, (later known asWPXI-TV) inPittsburgh from 1970 until his retirement in 2001. He was the Sports Director and principal sports anchor, with the exception of two years he spent full-time at NBC Sports in New York.
Nover was also the voice of thePittsburgh Maulers of theUnited States Football League in their one year of existence, and was the voice of theDon King Radio Network for its short period of existence. Nover had the distinction and privilege to do the blow-by-blow of the Heavyweight title fight betweenLarry Holmes andMichael Spinks with Hall of Fame announcerDon Dunphy as his color commentator. Nover is best remembered for having the last sitdown interview withRoberto Clemente shortly before Clemente's death in 1972. The interview has been excerpted by almost every major television network.[3]
Nover also did television play-by-play for thePittsburgh Penguins in the 1970s.
Nover left WIIC in 1980 and signed a contract withNBC Sports, who hired him to be the boxing commentator at theMoscow Olympics. However, the United States boycotted the games and Nover eventually returned to his old job at WPXI-TV in 1982.
He also worked many venues forNBC Sportsworld, including boxing and was partnered for many years with former Lightweight Champion,Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini andAlexis Arguello.
Nover also didNational Football League play-by-play forNBC Sports from the late 1970s until the late 1980s. His color commentator partners includedBob Trumpy,Len Dawson, andPaul Maguire. He also did play-by-play on television for thePittsburgh Steelers during the preseason from the late 1980s until the late 1990s.
Prior to his death, Nover lived inWest Palm Beach, Florida and maintained a residence in Pittsburgh. He has two daughters, Dana and Molly.