Marv Albert

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Marv Albert (born Marvin Philip Aufrichtig on June 12, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York) is a television and radio sportscaster, honored for his work as a member in the Basketball Hall of Fame. His catchphrase is an emphatic, "Yes!"

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Broadcasting career

For over thirty years, Albert was the voice of the New York Knicks on radio and television (getting his start by being a ball boy for the Knicks before getting his first break on New York radio by sportscaster Marty Glickman) before being let go by the chairman of the MSG Network and Cablevision after Albert allegedly criticized the Knicks' poor play on-air in 2004. Albert continues to be a play-by-play announcer for NBA games on TNT. Indeed, TNT had become his primary commitment ever since his longtime employer NBC lost the NBA broadcasting rights in 2002, and may have played a role in his departure from the Knicks' broadcast booth. The Knicks reportedly wanted Albert to accept a salary commensurate with his reduced Knicks schedule.

In addition to the Knicks, Albert had a lengthy tenure calling the games of another Madison Square Garden tenant, the New York Rangers. He handled the radio call of the Rangers' Stanley Cup-clinching victory in 1994. He also famously coined the phrase "Red Light" for radio analyst Sal Messina, a former Rangers and Long Island Ducks goaltender. Nobody else used the phrase on air very much if at all, perhaps in deference to Albert.

He is also the lead play-by-play voice of the Westwood One radio network's National Football League coverage, calling Monday Night Football as well as numerous playoff games and every Super Bowl since 2002. In 1992 he appeared as himself on Roger Waters' rock album Amused to Death, giving a mock commentary on the destruction of an oil rig on the song Perfect Sense, part II.

In 2005, Albert officially became the lead play-by-play man for the New Jersey Nets franchise and started calling their games in the 2005-2006 basketball season on the YES Network. He will reportedly call about 50 games a season, with his focus remaining on duties for Westwood One and TNT. He also hosts a basketball-focused interview show on both YES and NBA TV.

Marv has gained credibility and popularity among younger television viewers during his many guest appearances on David Letterman's late night talk shows. Each time Albert appears, he brings with him a group of clips featuring sports bloopers and outstanding plays, which he narrates and dubs the "Albert Achievement Awards".

Albert's son, Kenny, is also a sports commentator, as he calls baseball and American football for Fox, New York Rangers games on the radio, and has been one of NBC's commentators for ice hockey at the Winter Olympics.

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Sex scandal

Albert became the focus of a media frenzy in 1997 when he went on trial on felony charges of forcible sodomy which involved biting a female sex partner repeatedly. At one time a 42 year-old woman (who had known Albert for 10 years) accused Albert of throwing her on a bed in a Virginia hotel, biting her on the back 15 times, sodomizing her, and then forcing her to perform oral sex. After DNA tests proved that the bite marks were his, he pled guilty to misdemeanor assault charges. [1] Consequently, NBC, whom Albert worked for over 20 years fired him shortly after doing play-by-play for the 1997 NBA Finals on The NBA on NBC. Other NBC Sports duties that Albert held were play-by-play announcing for the NFL, college basketball, boxing, NHL All-Star Games, and hosting Major League Baseball studio and pre-game shows. He also spent 13 years as the sports director of the network's flagship station, WNBC-TV.

Fortunately for Albert, NBC brought him back less than two years later and by 2001, he was back as the main play-by-play man for NBA telecasts. Bob Costas took over for Albert on the basketball side in the 1997-1998 season before stepping down after the 2000 NBA Finals.

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Famous Quotes

  • YES!
  • From downtown (for a 3-point basket)
  • A rainbow!
  • Not what <name of player> had in mind!
  • It COUNTS, and the FOUL!
  • Rejected by.....
  • Serves up a facial
  • He scores!
  • That's some tenacious D!
  • Let's see that again!
  • Kick save and a beauty!
  • With the Facial!
  • OH! A SPEC-TACULAR Move By Michael Jordan! (Reacting to the classic Michael Jordan "changing hands in mid-air" layup, done during the 1991 NBA Finals)
  • (Coach/Team) wants to talk it over! (after a time out is called)
  • (Team) hearing it from the crowd! (can be said positively or negatively)
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External links

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