Chris Berman Honoured by Pro Football Hall of Fame
Long-time sports broadcaster Chris Berman has been awarded the 2010 Pete Rozelle Radio-Television award by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Berman has spent his broadcasting career at ESPN.
"I embraced pro football a long time ago," Berman said in a statement. "I'm honored and humbled beyond belief, that pro football in turn, has embraced me."
Berman has built a great reputation and is without a doubt one of the most entertaining broadcasters to listen to. He is full of energy, he’s bombastic, and his voice could be recognized anywhere.
The award is given to Berman for his “exceptional contributions” to radio and television in pro football.
Many know him as “Boomer” due to his booming, dominating voice that makes you all the more excited to watch highlights called by Berman.
Berman, known for such phrases such as: “he could… go… all… the… way… Touchdown!” And, “rumbling, bumbling, stumbling,” has entertained football fans over the last generation and leaves us wanting more after every season.
The 55 year-old Berman has covered 28 Super Bowls. His first was in Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers won their first title.
His track record speaks for itself as Berman has won the National Sportscaster of the Year award six times. He has been a part of “the worldwide leader in sports” ESPN since one month after the network launched in 1979.
Berman also anchors other sports programs for both ESPN and ABC.
“Boomer” will be entering his 25th straight season as the host of “NFL Countdown” each Sunday and as the host for the Sunday preview show.
The NFL kicks off Hall of Fame weekend on August 6th, where Berman will be presented the award at the Enshrinees Dinner.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2010 includes Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Russ Grimm, John Randle, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little and d**k LeBeau.
Berman started his sports casting career in Hartford at the WVIT-TV station in 1977 before joining ESPN in 1979.
Many may not be able to imagine football without Chris Berman, not even ESPN themselves: “He is our most important person,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN’s vice president of production. “He is the face of ESPN,” he added.
Berman has also stated that he doesn’t know how much longer he can broadcast and doesn’t see himself broadcasting into his sixties.
Berman has also had his fun in other forms of media. He has appeared in sports films such as “The Waterboy," “The Longest Yard,” and “Little Big League.”
Berman has also lent his voice to several video games, most notably in ESPN NFL 2k5.
Berman is truly an icon when talking about sportscasters and he is truly irreplaceable. No one else can say “Whoop” like him and when he steps down, he’ll leave some very big shoes to fill for the one who takes his place.
His sense of humour and his creative ways of telling us a story whenever he’s on the microphone is something that has entertained sports fans for years.
Berman has also been rewarded for his contribution to sports with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and now he’ll get a spot where it counts most, in Canton Ohio.
By winning the Pete Rozelle award, Berman joins the likes of Curt Gowdy, Pat Summerall, Frank Gifford, Jack Buck, d**k Enberg, John Madden and Lesley Visser.
However much longer Berman decides to broadcast, he has left his fingerprints on sports and on the biggest network in sports, ESPN. Chris Berman will without a doubt be missed once he retires.
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