Ian Eagle(/ˈaɪ.ən/EYE-ən;born February 9, 1969) is an Americansports announcer.He callsNBA,NFL,andcollege basketballgames onCBS,TNT,andTBS,as well asBrooklyn Netsgames on theYES NetworkandFrench Opentennis forTennis Channel.[2]Other announcing experiences includeArmy–Navy football games,bo xing,and NCAAtrack and fieldfor CBS.[3]
Ian Eagle | |
|---|---|
 Eagle in 2021 | |
| Born | February 9, 1969 |
| Other names | "Bird" |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University |
| Occupation | Sports announcer/commentator |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse | Alisa Eagle |
| Children | 2 includingNoah |
| Parents |
|
Early life and education
editEagle was born in Miami to entertainersJack Eagleand Monica Maris. Jack, a Jewish former "Catskills comedian"and commercial actor, was best known for portraying" Brother Dominic "and" Mr. Cholesterol "inXeroxandFleischmann's margarine television commercials respectively in the 1970s. Maris was a singer.[4][5][6]
Eagle graduated fromSyracuse University'sS. I. Newhouse School of Public Communicationsin 1990.[7]He was in theAlpha Epsilon Pi,a traditionally Jewish fraternity.
Career
editEarly career
editWhile at Syracuse, Eagle joinedWJPZhis freshman year and announced women's basketball games at theCarrier Dome.[7]In his sophomore year, he was given more opportunities to call high-profileSyracuse Orangegames onWAER,a student run radio station.[8][6]He also joinedUUTV(nowCitrusTV), to gain on-camera experience.[7]Outside the campus, Eagle interned with then-recent graduateMike TiricoatWTVHin Syracuse for three years. He hosted 10 shows during his senior year.[9]
Following his graduation in 1990, Eagle began working forWFANRadio in New York City as a producer. In 1992, WFAN gave him his own show (Bagels and Baseball). In1993,Eagle was given pregame and postgame duties for the Jets.1994saw Eagle's first year as a Netsplay-by-playradio announcer. A year later, he was made a TV announcer forSportsChannel,which later becameFox Sports Net New York(nowMSG Plus). In1997,WFAN made Eagle play-by-play announcer for Jets games.
Later television and radio career
editEagle joined CBS in 1998 doing announcing work for NFL and NCAA basketball. He continues to serve these roles today. In 2010, he joinedDan Foutsto make up the number three broadcast team for CBS' NFL coverage. The pair was elevated to the number two team behindJim NantzandPhil Simmsin the 2014 season.[10]After Fouts parted ways with CBS, and with the NFL's playoff expansion, which included CBS gaining rights to an extra playoff game, during the 2020 offseason, the network paired him with former Fox analystCharles Davis,and the duo now call one of CBS's Wild Card games in years the network has the second game. Other CBS work includesbo xing,The Pilot Pen Tennis tournament,theU.S. Open(both the late night show and daytime studio host for2008 U.S. Opencoverage), and the NCAA Track and Field Championships.
Prior to joining the YES Network as Nets announcer in2002,Ian Eagle served the same role for the Nets on theMSG NetworkandFox Sports Net New York.WhenMarv Albertjoined the YES Network prior to the2005-06 NBA season,the games were split between the two broadcasters, before Eagle again became the primary announcer for the Nets in the2011-12 NBA seasonupon Albert's departure.
During the2010 NBA Playoffs,Eagle called two games onTNT,a likely move to promote him to calling national television broadcasts, similar to what Albert, formerMinnesota Timberwolvesplay-by-play manKevin HarlanandKnicksplay-by-play manMike Breenexperienced. He was again called up by TNT for the2011 NBA Playoffs,pairing with his YES colleague Mike Fratello. He has since continued to cover the NBA Playoffs for TNT through the first two rounds, though the number of games fluctuates on whether the Nets make the playoffs (in 2019 and 2020, with the Nets making the playoffs, he instead covered the team locally on YES and missed the entire 1st round of TNT coverage, withSpero Dedesfilling-in. He returned to cover part of the Toronto-76ers 2nd round series for TNT). He also does play-by-play forThursday Night FootballonWestwood One.On Sirius, in addition to his daily talk show, Eagle did a weekly talk show,The Phil Jackson Show,withLos Angeles LakerscoachPhil Jackson.And Eagle retains his roots to WFAN, occasionally serving as a fill-in talk show host on his old station.
Eagle also serves as the voice-over host ofNBA ActionreplacedSpero Dedesin 2005 and previously,NBA Jam.In 2013, he called the international telecasts of the2013 NBA FinalsalongsideJim Spanarkel,his partner on Nets broadcasts on YES.[11]
Prior to the 2019-20 NBA season, it was announced that as a replacement to the recently eliminated "Players Only" broadcasts which occurred on Tuesday nights beginning during the second half of the season, TNT would instate a more traditional broadcast format to their Tuesday Night slate of games. Eagle was announced to be one of the play-by-play announcers to the weekly scheduled doubleheader, along with Brewers announcerBrian Anderson.Eagle will be partnered with eitherStan Van GundyorJim Jackson.
In October 2022, it was announced that Eagle would succeedJim Nantzas the lead play-by-play announcer forCBSandTNT Sports'coverageof theNCAA Tournamentstarting in 2024.[12]
Since Eagle pronounces his first name "EYE-un" (instead of the more common "EE-an" ), he has often admitted that life was easier prior to the 1986 release of the movieIron Eagle.In fact, many callers (including prominent sports figures) continue to call him "Iron Eagle" —much to his chagrin.[13]
Other announcing
edit- French OpenforTennis Channel[14]
- Masters Online commentary of Amen corner09
- Voice of the announcer forNBA 07,08and09forPSP
- NBA playoff announcing forNBA TV
- Westwood One radio play by play 1996 Atlanta Olympics
- HostsNBA Action,a weekly highlights and features show for NBA TV
- Announces preseasonNew York Jetstelecasts onWCBS-TVin New York
- Host ofNets Magazine,a look inside the New Jersey Nets for the YES Network
- Voiceover forModell'sradio commercials and in-store voiceovers
- Voice ofNBA Actionfrom 2004 to present
- Co-hostsPower Performances presented by Courtyard by Marriotton CBS.Sportsline
- NFL Thursday Night games onWestwood One,withTrent Greenas his color man
- Lee Myles Commercials
- On the songGamesbyDog Eat Dog
- Voice of announcer onNBA Shootoutvideo game series by 989 Sports.
- Commentator and playable character onNBA PlaygroundsbySaber Interactive.
Personal life
editEagle lives inEssex Fells, New Jersey,with his wife Alisa (née Terry). They have two children,Noahand Erin.[15]Noah, also a Syracuse alum,[6]is a play-by-play announcer for college football and college basketball on NBC, theBrooklyn NetsonYES Network,[16]and has held the same role forNFL coverageonNickelodeon.[9][17]
Awards
edit- Bob CostasAward for Outstanding Sportscasting (while at Syracuse)
- (2002, 2013, 2016, 2017)New YorkSports EmmyAward: On Camera Talent: Sports Play by Play
- 2013:WAERWall of Fame[6]
- 2020:The Big LeadPlay-by-Play Announcer of the Year[18][19]
- 2022:National Sports Media AssociationSportscaster of the Year
References
edit- ^"One Shining Podcast with Tate Frazier: Super Sweet 16 Preview With Ian Eagle, Cousin Sal, and Princeton HC Mitch Henderson".
- ^"Biographies".
- ^"CBS Sports TV Team - CBSSports".
- ^"Eagle, Ian." Broadcaster of the Week: Ian Eagle, New Jersey Nets, "NBA, Thursday, March 1, 2007".NBA.Archived fromthe originalon January 8, 2018.RetrievedMarch 3,2007.
- ^"Passings: Jack Eagle; Comedian acted in TV commercials".Los Angeles Times.January 18, 2008.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
- ^abcdDeitsch, Richard (February 16, 2018)."Broadcasting in the blood for Ian Eagle, son Noah".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
- ^abcCrockett, Corey (March 4, 2012)."Ian Eagle explains past experiences, path to successful broadcasting".The Daily Orange.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
- ^Masur, Andy."Anatomy of a Broadcaster: Ian Eagle".Barrett Sports Media.RetrievedFebruary 24,2022.
- ^abAxe, Brent (October 30, 2019)."Episode 58: SU football's worst fear, 1-on-1 with Ian Eagle".Syracuse Sports Podcast(Podcast).RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
- ^Breech, John (June 10, 2014)."CBS Sports 2014 booth pairings: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts named No. 2 team".CBSSports.RetrievedSeptember 28,2024.
- ^Wolfley, Bob (March 20, 2013)."CBS Sports' Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel run enduring two-man NCAA Tournament weave".Journal Sentinel.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
- ^Marchand, Andrew (October 24, 2022)."Jim Nantz to call his final NCAA Tournament with Ian Eagle as successor".New York Post.RetrievedOctober 25,2022.
- ^Lawrence, Andrew (October 28, 2013)."The Case for... Ian Eagle".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
- ^"Ian Eagle::Tennis Channel".September 17, 2021.
- ^"Paramount Press Express".paramountpressexpress.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
- ^Ditota, Donna (October 2, 2019)."How Syracuse grad Noah Eagle, at 22, landed the Clippers radio play-by-play gig".syracuse.RetrievedOctober 3,2019.
- ^"Bears-Saints Broadcast on Nickelodeon Draws Rave Reviews From Fans".NBC Chicago.January 10, 2021.
- ^"2020 Sports Media Awards".The Big Lead.December 7, 2020.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.
- ^Giuffra, Brian (December 8, 2020)."Ian Eagle Discusses Overcoming Obstacles During Standout 2020 Performance".The Big Lead.RetrievedOctober 27,2022.