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Famous Like Me > Actor > T > Gary Thorne

Profile of Gary Thorne on Famous Like Me

 
Name: Gary Thorne  
   
Also Know As:
   
Date of Birth: 9th June 1948
   
Place of Birth: Bangor, Maine, USA
   
Profession: Actor
 
 
From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia

Gary Thorne (born June 9, 1948 in Maine) is a play-by-play announcer for ESPN, commentating both Major League Baseball and National Hockey League contests.

Background

Thorne has called some of the most memorable games in Stanley Cup Playoff history, and his voice is probably the most recognizable voice to hockey fans in the United States. He is almost always paired along with announcer Bill Clement during hockey telecasts. NBC enlisted Thorne to call the hockey tournament with John Davidson during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. However, despite his longevity, Thorne has been named hockey's "Worst Play-by-Play Announcer" by the magazine, Hockey Digest, many times, with fellow ABC/ESPN commentator Mike Emrick being named the best.

After graduating from the University of Maine and Georgetown Law School in 1976 (while paying tuition as a sportscaster/disc jockey), Thorne became Bangor district attorney and joined the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court. But eventually, Thorne found courtrooms dull when compared to broadcasting. In 1977, Thorne called hockey games for Augusta radio and television. By 1984, Thorne had enough leverage with baseball's Triple-A Maine Guides to name himself a co-owner.

Career

In 1985, Thorne began a four year stint as a radio announcer for the New York Mets. Thorne was present in the booth at Shea Stadium along with the late Bob Murphy for the now famous sixth game of the 1986 World Series between the Mets and Boston Red Sox. Thorne was one of the first people to criticize the Red Sox for leaving ill-fated Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner out in the 10th inning over Dave Stapleton.

From 1987-1993, Thorne served as the play-by-play voice of the New Jersey Devils of the NHL. By this time, Thorne's hockey duties started to conflict his job with the Mets so he left New York in favor of a one year stint with the Chicago White Sox.

In 1989, Thorne was named a back up play-by-play announcer (behind Al Michaels) for ABC's Thursday Night Baseball telecasts with Joe Morgan. Thorne also served as a field reporter for the World Series and covered the World Series Trophy presentation for ABC.

Beginning in 1997, Gary Thorne has served as the play-by-play man for the World Series on Armed Forces Radio/Major League Baseball International-TV. He also calls ABC's coverage of the Capital One Bowl. In 2005 when ESPN dropped out of the bidding for NHL hockey games, Gary Thorne began doing play-by-play for baseball and college football on ESPN.

Controversy

In 2004, Thorne wrote an article for The Bangor Daily News, in which he described the National Basketball Association as, "quickly becoming the nation's most expensive gang, if not the most dangerous."

The article attracted derision from some corners, with people, a majority of whom were African-American, viewing the comments as 'code' and/or racist as well. The comments did not attract a firestorm outside of online disscussion boards and was never picked up by the media. Thorne has not spoken about them publicly.

This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Gary Thorne