Tom Hammond

Tom Hammond (born May 10, 1944 in Lexington, Kentucky) is an American sportscaster for NBC television. In fact, Hammond is one of the network's staple on-air presenters, along with Bob Costas and Dan Hicks. Hammond is also the chief play-by-play commentator for Jefferson Pilot Sports' coverage of Southeastern Conference men's college basketball. He has known his color commentator on the Jefferson Pilot broadcasts, Larry Conley, since junior high school.

Related Topics:
May 10 - 1944 - Lexington, Kentucky - American - Sportscaster - NBC - Bob Costas - Dan Hicks - Jefferson Pilot Sports - Southeastern Conference - College basketball - Color commentator - Larry Conley

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Hammond's duties at NBC involve covering many sports. He is the main host of the network's thoroughbred racing coverage, in addition to serving as the main play-by-play announcer for NBC's Arena Football League coverage, and Notre Dame football. Hammond is also very much involved in NBC's Olympic Games coverage. At the Summer Olympics, Hammond is the chief commentator for track and field, a position he has held since the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, where his broadcast partner that year was O.J. Simpson, who ran track at the University of Southern California. Hammond also commentates on other track and field events shown on NBC. At the Winter Olympics, Hammond is the main commentator for figure skating and ice dancing.

Related Topics:
Thoroughbred racing - Play-by-play - Arena Football League - Notre Dame - Football - Olympic Games - Summer Olympics - Track and field - 1992 Summer Olympics - Barcelona - O.J. Simpson - University of Southern California - Winter Olympics - Figure skating - Ice dancing

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Hammond's past work at NBC includes doing play-by-play commentary for The NBA on NBC and The NFL on NBC. Al Michaels has decided to stay at ABC after Monday Night Football moves to ESPN in 2006, which means Hammond may be hired for the latter. He also called gymnastics, the WNBA, and the Orange Bowl. Hammond never did call the XFL, though, as NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol said to someone who asked if Hammond would be an XFL commentator, "Anyone that needs credibility will not be doing XFL." (As per Hammond's current status as the NFL play-by-play announcer, Ebersol says Hammond is "at the top" of his list.)

Related Topics:
The NBA on NBC - The NFL on NBC - Al Michaels - ABC - Monday Night Football - ESPN - 2006 - Gymnastics - WNBA - Orange Bowl - XFL - NBC Sports - Dick Ebersol

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Tom's tenure at NBC began in 1984, when he was named as a co-host of the inaugural Breeders' Cup alongside Dick Enberg. It was supposed to be a one-shot deal for Hammond, but NBC execs were so impressed, he ended up getting a long-term contract.

Related Topics:
1984 - Breeders' Cup - Dick Enberg

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Over the past few years, Hammond's health has somewhat deteriorated. On March 24, 2001, under two months before NBC was supposed to broadcast the Kentucky Derby for the very first time, he underwent an operation for diverticulitis, a disease that affects the colon. During the surgery, a portion of Hammond's colon was removed. However, even with the short amount of time between the Derby and his operation, Hammond managed to get healthy enough to make his dream of broadcasting his homestate's most famous sporting event become a reality on May 5, 2001.

Related Topics:
March 24 - 2001 - Kentucky Derby - Diverticulitis - Colon - May 5

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Hammond wasn't so lucky in October of 2002, when he underwent open-heart surgery. He ended up missing the Breeders' Cup that year. Bob Costas took Hammond's place at the hosting desk. It is the only Breeders' Cup Hammond has not yet been a part of. Costas is, by the way, already a part of NBC's Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing and Breeders' Cup coverage, working as mainly the "story set-up man".

Related Topics:
October - 2002 - Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing

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Tom is a 1967 graduate of the University of Kentucky, earning a bachelor's degree in animal science. He and his wife, Sheilagh, have three grown children, sons David and Christopher, and daughter Ashley. David has followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a radio commentator for Syracuse University's basketball and football teams. Hammond has criticized ESPN's SportsCenter, calling it a "comedy show."

Related Topics:
1967 - University of Kentucky - Animal science - Syracuse University - SportsCenter

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