Al Michaels

Alan Richard Michaels (born November 12, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American television sportscaster. Since 1977, he has been employed by ABC Sports and has been one of the most prominent and respected members of his profession.

Early life and career

Michaels attended Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, California, where he was a football and baseball player. Michaels graduated from high school in 1962. He later attended Arizona State University, where he majored in radio and television and minored in journalism. He was also a brother of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He began his broadcasting career in Hawaii in 1968, calling the games of the Hawaii Islanders baseball team in the Pacific Coast League. He also called play-by-play for the University of Hawaii's football and basketball teams, and was named Hawaii's "Sportscaster of the Year" in 1969.

Related Topics:
Alexander Hamilton High School - Los Angeles, California - Football - Baseball - 1962 - Arizona State University - Radio - Journalism - Sigma Nu - Hawaii - Hawaii Islanders - Pacific Coast League - Play-by-play - University of Hawaii - Basketball - 1969

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In 1971 Michaels moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became the lead announcer for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball. That year, he made his first historic call ever. In Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, with the Reds trailing the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 in the 9th inning, Johnny Bench was at the plate with one ball and two strikes and on the next pitch Al said "1-2 the wind and the pitch to Bench, change hit in the air to deep right field, back goes Clemente at the fence...it's gone!!!" The Reds would win that game 4-3 and advanced to the World Series. He covered the World Series in 1972 for NBC Sports.

Related Topics:
1971 - Cincinnati, Ohio - Cincinnati Reds - Major League Baseball - National League Championship Series - Pittsburgh Pirates - Johnny Bench - Clemente - World Series - NBC Sports

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In 1974 he moved on to a similar position with the San Francisco Giants, and also covered basketball for UCLA and regional NFL games for CBS Sports before signing with ABC in 1977. Since then, he has covered a wide variety of sports for the network, including Major League Baseball, college football, ice hockey, track and field events, figure skating, and many events of the Olympic Games.

Related Topics:
1974 - San Francisco Giants - UCLA - CBS Sports - 1977 - College football - Ice hockey - Track and field - Figure skating - Olympic Games

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