Tom Hammond
Tom Hammond | |
|---|---|
| Born | Thomas Hammond May 10, 1944 Lexington, Kentucky,U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Kentucky |
| Occupation | Sports commentator |
| Employers |
|
| Television | NBC Sports(1984-present) |
| Spouse | Sheleigh Hammond |
| Children | 3 |
Thomas Taylor Hammond(born May 10, 1944[1]) is an Americansports commentator.Hammond began working withNBC Sportsin 1984. Hammond coveredThoroughbred Racing on NBCandNotre Dame Football on NBC.
Hammond also served as the play-by-play announcer for NBC's coverage oftrack and fieldat theSummer Olympic Gamesand speed skating events during the2018 Winter Olympics.
NBC Sports
[edit]Hammond's tenure at NBC began in 1984, when he was named as a co-host of the inauguralBreeders' CupalongsideDick Enberg.It was supposed to be a one-shot deal for Hammond, but network execs were so impressed, he ended up getting a long-term contract. He was the main host of the network'sthoroughbred racingcoverage[2]untilMike Tiricotook over in 2017.[3]
Hammond's duties at NBC expanded to covering many other sports. He was the network's play-by-play voice for its coverage of Notre Dame football alongside analystMike Mayock.He was also the lead play-by-play man forThe AFL on NBC.Hammond also has been very much involved in NBC'sOlympic Gamescoverage. At theSummer Olympics,Hammond served as the chief commentator fortrack and field,a position for which he debuted at the1992 Summer OlympicsinBarcelona,where his broadcast partner that year wasO. J. Simpson.Hammond has since said that, prior to theO. J. Simpson murder case,he and Simpson were great friends and got along well. Hammond also commentates on other track and field events shown on NBC. At theWinter Olympics,Hammond is the main commentator forfigure skatingandice dancing.[4]
Hammond was considered the leading play-by-play candidate when NBC won the bidding forSunday night NFL coveragebeginning with the 2006 season, but ended up losing out to formerABCannouncerAl Michaelsafter the latter signed with NBC. Hammond teamed withCris Collinsworthto call the secondary Saturday Wild Card playoff game for NBC each year, includingChiefs-Coltsin January 2007,Redskins-Seahawksin 2008, andFalcons-Cardinalsin 2009, but teamed withJoe GibbsandJoe Theismannfor theJets-BengalsWild Card playoff game in January 2010.[5]
Hammond and Collinsworth also serve as the announcing team on theMadden NFL 09video game in 2008 and 2009,[6]Madden NFL 10.[7]
Honors and awards
[edit]He was the first recipient of the annual Outstanding Kentuckian Award given by the A.B. Chandler Foundation, is a charter member of the Lafayette High School Hall of Fame and has been inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame, University of Kentucky Hall of Distinguished Alumni and Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. Inducted into the KY Pro Football HOF in 2006.[8]
References
[edit]- ^"Thomas T. Hammond".ukalumni.net.University of Kentucky Alumni Association.RetrievedJune 1,2024.
- ^"TOM HAMMOND".Archived fromthe originalon August 23, 2013.
Tom Hammond hosts NBC's horse racing coverage, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, as well as Summer at Saratoga and Autumn at Keeneland.
- ^"2017 Kentucky Derby: Mike Tirico succeeds Tom Hammond".NBC Sports.April 25, 2017.RetrievedMay 9,2017.
- ^"NBC commentators surprised, shocked by judges".ESPN.February 11, 2002. Archived fromthe originalon March 6, 2003.RetrievedAugust 19,2012.
- ^Raissman, Bob (January 12, 2010)."For NBC, Joe Gibbs, Joe Theismann and Tom Hammond are first & wrong during Jets-Bengals telecast".Articles.nydailynews.com.RetrievedAugust 19,2012.
- ^"Madden NFL 09: Madden 2009 - EA Games".Ea.com. November 12, 2009.RetrievedAugust 19,2012.
- ^Alan, Scott (October 3, 2010)."Madden NFL 10 - Overview".allgame.RetrievedAugust 19,2012.
- ^"Alumni Choose Three Nominees to Board".News.uky.edu. Archived fromthe originalon July 11, 2012.RetrievedAugust 19,2012.
