Chris Berman

Chris Berman
Berman in March 2007
Born	Christopher James Berman (1955-05-10)May 10, 1955 Greenwich, Connecticut,U.S.
Education	Brown University(B.A.)
Occupation(s)	TV, radiosportscaster,television personality
Years active	1977–present
Known for	Work as co-host ofSunday NFL Countdownprogram onESPN(1985–2016)
Title	NFL studio host,ESPN/ ESPNSportsCenteranchor, sports commentator
Spouse	Katherine Alexinski ​ ​ (m.1983; died 2017)​
Children	2

Christopher James Berman(born May 10, 1955),nicknamed "Boomer",is an American sportscaster. He has been an anchor forSportsCenteronESPNsince 1979, joining a month after its initial launch, and hosted the network'sSunday NFL Countdownprogram from 1985 to 2016 andNFL Primetimefrom 1987 to 2005 and since 2019. He has also anchoredMonday Night Countdown,U.S. Opengolf, theStanley Cup Finals,and other programming on ESPN andABC Sports.Berman callsplay-by-playof selectMajor League Baseballgames for ESPN, which included theHome Run Derbyuntil 2016.

A six-time honoree of theNational Sports Media Association's National Sportscaster of the Year award, Berman was instrumental in establishing ESPN's lasting popularity during the network's formative years.He is well known for his variouscatchphrasesand quirky demeanor.

In January 2017, ESPN announced that Berman would be stepping down from several NFL-related roles at the network, but would remain at the company.In May 2021, Berman signed a multiyear contract with ESPN to continue to hostNFL Primetime.

Early life

Berman was born inGreenwich, Connecticut,and grew up inIrvington,New York,the son of Peggy Shevell (née Tenenbaum), who worked as a reporter-researcher forTimemagazine, and James Keliner Berman, a corporate executive vice president.He was raisedJewish.During his childhood, he went to Camp Winnebago inFayette, Maine.He enrolled at theHackley Schoolin 1970, and graduatedBrown Universityin 1977 with a degree in history,where he was the sports director of the school's radio station,WBRU.

Career (1977–present)

Berman sings "Walking on a Thin Line" withHuey Lewis and the Newson stage

Berman's sportscasting career began atHartford'sWVIT-TV as a weekend sports anchor. He joinedESPNin 1979, a month after its founding, and has been with the network ever since. He is one of ESPN's longest-tenured employees, and the only remainingSportsCenteranchor from 1979. He spent 31 years as the host of bothSunday NFL Countdown,and ten years hostingMonday Night Countdown.In addition, during the NFL season, he hosts the eveningSportsCenter(airing generally at either 7:30 PM Eastern Time or 11 PM Eastern Time) along withHerm Edwards,who replacedTom Jacksonfor the 2016 season. Berman often appears onSportsCenterat night (midnight to 1 a.m.) hosting brief segments called "Chris Berman's two-minute drill". From 1988-1989, he hosted ESPN's first game show,Boardwalk and Baseball's Super Bowl of Sports Trivia.

By 1993, Berman was described as the leader of the ESPN team and one of the most recognizable sportscasters in the business. "The true test is when Chris is on, turn down your TV and open your window. You will hear him. The microphone is nothing but a prop," said fellow ESPN anchorKeith Olbermann.In December 2008, theAssociated Pressran a long retrospective on Berman's 30-year career with ESPN."He is our most important person," said Norby Williamson, ESPN's vice president of production. "He is the face of ESPN," he added. At the time, Berman noted that his contract with ESPN would expire on his 55th birthday, and that he did not see himself broadcasting into his 60s. In April 2010, however, ESPN extended Berman's contract for an undisclosed period of time, only noting that it was a multi-year deal.The contract was eventually revealed to expire at the end of 2016.

Between 1995-2006, Berman hostedMonday Night Footballas well as live coverage of three Super Bowls forABC Sports.He continued to hostMNFwhen ESPN got the rights in 2006.

Berman was a season ticket holder for theHartford Whalersand was a strong supporter of the team's staying in Connecticut. He occasionally makes reference to the team, sometimes even by humming the team's theme song, "Brass Bonanza".Berman has also become a strong backer of theBuffalo Billsin recent years. In an interview with Buffalo Bills reporter and play-by-play voiceJohn Murphyon July 26, 2012, Berman acknowledged that you could call him a "Bills Booster".This sentiment is also echoed in Berman's on-air phrase, "No one circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills!"In addition, he has been involved with several events relating to the Bills, such as team founderRalph Wilson's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, andBruce Smith's Bills Hall of Fame induction in September 2016. Berman signed a new contract in January 2017 for a reduced schedule, but remains at ESPN.

On October 29, 2018, Berman served as the on-field emcee forThurman Thomas's number retirement ceremony. In May 2019, Berman called a three-game series for theBoston Red Sox Radio Networkalongside longtime Red Sox broadcasterJoe Castiglione.

In 2019, Berman and Tom Jackson re-united for a revival ofNFL Primetime,streamed exclusively on ESPN+.In addition, they have also hosted the "fastest three minutes" segments on the Monday Night Football halftime show.

Berman signed a multiyear contract with ESPN in May 2021 to continue to host NFL PrimeTime.In the ESPN contract announcement, Berman said "ESPN has been almost two-thirds of my life. I'm honored that what I do still works."

Style

Berman is well known for his variouscatchphrasesand player nicknames.

• His mid-play prediction of a touchdown run as "He could...go...all...the...way!" is perhaps his most famous phrase, and one of the first he adopted.It was featured on theJock Rock, Volume 2compilation album.
• His home run calls of "Back, back, back, back...Gone!", which he implements most commonly during the MLBHome Run Derby.
• A "Whoop!" is uttered during highlights when a player makes a quick move or causes someone to miss or make a mistake.
• "Tick, tick, tick, tick tick tick tick..." during a post-game recap, for a play or moment in which the clock is a factor.
• When a large player such as alinemanruns with the football, Berman describes him as "rumblin', bumblin', stumblin'".
• Berman is known for integratingpunsinto player nicknames. For example, he dubbed former Minnesota Twins pitcherBert Blyleven"BertBe HomeBlyleven ".He referred to San Diego Chargers running backEric Bieniemyas "EricSleeping WithBieniemy ". On occasion, the puns were clever, such as" Young Again "forOddibe McDowell.Other examples include “ABCDEFG” forDallas Cowboyswide receiverCeeDee Lamband an imitation of asneezeforIndianapolis ColtsquarterbackGardner Minshew,where Berman goes, “min-min-min, MIN-SHEW!”
• When speaking about theLas Vegas Raiders,he will often pronounce them as "the RRRAY-DAHS" in an homage to late owner Al Davis' accent.
• When a ball carrier breaks a tackle, he will mimic a collision sound after every broken tackle.
• TheDetroit Lionshave never won anNFC Championship Gameand, as such, have never made it to theSuper Bowl,earning them a long history of denigration. Thus, when the Lions do something good, Berman will sometimes utter the word, "LIONS???" in a surprised tone.

Berman adopts the persona of hisalter ego,"TheSwami,"to make predictions onSunday NFL Countdown.For seven consecutive years "The Swami" predicted a Super Bowl between theSan Francisco 49ersand theBuffalo Bills,one or the other – but never both – making it during that span.

Reception

Many have enjoyed Berman's approach over the years, and he has won various awards. A 1990Sports Illustratedfeature article cited traits that struck a chord with his TV audience: playfulness, humor, and aFred Flintstone-like persona. The nicknames were called a key to his success. His genuine love of sports was also noted.

However, he has also drawn a good deal of criticism. Over time, his style came to rub quite a few viewers the wrong way.His detractors find him overly bombastic - and worse, unfunny. A "blowhard...tossing out corny clichés" was one description.ColumnistPhil Mushnickviewed his "clown act" as forced, self-serving, and stale."Schtick" is another label that has been applied.APastearticle from 2017 noted that the reasons for his appeal were also what made him eventually grow tiresome.

In other media

Berman appeared inAdam Sandler's 1998 comedyThe Waterboyas well as Sandler's The Longest Yardin 2005, playing himself as the play-by-play announcer of the prison football game. Berman also appeared as himself inNecessary Roughnessin 1991,The Programin 1993 (though was a little out of place doingcollege football),Little Big Leaguein 1994, as well asEddieandKingpinin 1996. He made a cameo appearance in the 1995Hootie and the Blowfishvideo for the single "Only Wanna Be With You."Berman made a cameo in the 2013 comedyGrown Ups 2.Berman appears inNutrisystemcommercials withDon Shula,Dan Marino,Terry Bradshaw,andMike Golic,using some of his trademark phrases and nicknames to show how much weight they lost. He also appears in commercials for repair insurer Carshield.

He appears as the host ofSportsCenterinESPN NFL 2K5;he is also an unlockable free agent.

Personal life

Berman married Katherine "Kathy" Alexinski in 1983. She died in a traffic collision inWoodbury, Connecticuton May 10, 2017.Katherine Berman was driving drunk when she crashed into the back of another vehicle, killing herself and the other driver.The couple had two children.

Honors

Berman speaks at Brown University before receiving his honorary degree in 2007

• National Sportscasters and Sportswriters AssociationNational Sportscaster of the Year (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001)
• American Sportscasters AssociationSportscaster of the Year – Studio Host (1995, 1997, 1998)
• CableACE AwardBest Cable Sportscaster 1987, 1988, 1990
• 1997 "TV's Most Fascinating Stars" fromPeople
• 2001Maxwell Football Club's Reds Bagnell Award
• 2007 honorary degree fromBrown University.
• 2009 PresentedRalph C. Wilson Jr.into thePro Football Hall of Fame
• Received star on theHollywood Walk of Fameon May 24, 2010
• Received thePete Rozelle Radio-Television Awardon July 12, 2010
• 2017 inductee - Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame

Career timeline

• 1979–present:SportsCenteranchor (occasionally since 1990)
• 1985–2016:Sunday NFL Countdownhost
• 1985–2016:NFL drafthost
• 1986–2014:U.S. Opennightly show host
• 1987–2005:NFL Primetimehost (Postgame host during playoffs, 2017–present)
• 1987–2005:ESPN Sunday Night Footballhalftime host
• 1990–2016:Baseball Tonighthost (occasional)
• 1990–2016:MLB on ESPNplay-by-play (selected games)
• 1986–2016:Home Run Derbyplay-by-play
• 1996–1999, 2006–2016, and during NFL playoff between 1998 and 2005:Monday Night Footballhalftime host
• 1999–present: Master of Ceremonies for thePro Football Hall of Fameinduction
• 2003–2014:U.S. Openhost
• 2003:NHL on ESPNandNHL on ABCstudio co-host (Stanley Cup Finals)
• 2006–2016:Monday Night Countdownhost
• 2012–2016:ESPN Monday Night FootballNo. 2 play-by-play
• 2017–present:Monday Night Countdownpanelist

See also

• You're with me, leather

External links

• Chris BermanatIMDb
• Deadspin Videos
• Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame