Al Albert | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alan Aufrichtig Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Ohio University |
| Relatives |
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| Sports commentary career | |
| Genre | Play-by-play |
| Sports | |
Alan Albert (bornAlan Aufrichtig inBrooklyn, New York)[1][2] is an Americansportscaster, who formerly called basketball games for theNew York Nets andDenver Nuggets, as well as nationalNBA andNHL coverage for theUSA Network. He was also a play-by-play sportscaster for theIndiana Pacers. He has also worked in boxing, as the blow-by-blow announcer forTuesday Night Fights.
Albert obtained his degree fromOhio University, where he played hockey and lacrosse. He played goalie for both sports. Albert was invited to training camp by theNew York Rangers and ended up playing a single season for theToledo Blades.[1]
Albert started his broadcasting career in Denver, working for a local broadcasting company called KOA and alsoKHOW radio andKWGN-TV. He also served as a sports anchor onWNBC in New York City and was the voice of theNew York Nets andNew York Islanders.[1] He was the voice for the Nuggets for 21 years until he decided to leave Denver in 1996. In 1999, he joined theIndiana Pacers as a play-by-play man. He worked there until 2007.[2]
On January 24, 1984, Albert, working for USA network, called whatSyracuse fans call the greatest game in theCarrier Dome ever.[3][4] Syracuse facedBoston College, and the teams were tied 73–73 after a missed free throw by Boston College's Martin Clark. Sean Kerins passed the rebound toPearl Washington who took three steps and made a half court shot to win the game. Albert's call lives on as The Greatest Play-by-Play Call in the Carrier Dome ever: "Washington, two seconds, OHHHH! 'The Pearl' hits it ..at midcourt." Syracuse University basketball fans call that the greatest nine words in Syracuse history.[5][6]
In 1995, he won theSam Taub Award for excellence in boxing broadcasting journalism.[7]
Albert hails from a family of broadcasters. His brothers,Marv andSteve Albert, and a nephew,Kenny, are also play-by-play sports commentators.
| Preceded by | Stanley Cup FinalsAmerican network television play-by-play announcer 1985 (Albert called Games 3-5) | Succeeded by |