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Gus Johnson (sportscaster)

This article is about the sportscaster. For other people named Gus Johnson, see Gus Johnson (disambiguation).

Augustus Cornelius Johnson Jr. (born 1967 or 1968)[1] is an American sportscaster. He is the lead play-by-play announcer for Fox Sports calling college football and college basketball. Prior to working with Fox, he was with CBS Sports.[2] He also calls select NBA Playoff games for NBA on TNT and NBA TV.

Gus Johnson
Johnson in 2023
Born
Augustus Cornelius Johnson Jr.

1967 or 1968 (age 56–57)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Alma materHoward University
OccupationSports commentator
Employers
Sports commentary career
GenrePlay-by-play
Sports

Early life and education

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Johnson was born in Detroit, Michigan.[2] He is a Catholic.[3] He graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in 1985, where he played baseball, basketball, and football.[4] Johnson attended Howard University, where he played on the baseball team all four years and graduated in 1990 with a degree in political science.[1][2]

In 2022, Johnson enrolled in Harvard University's Advanced Leadership Initiative. A documentary chronicling his progress in the yearlong program was subsequently broadcast on Fox Sports.[4]

Career

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Early career

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Johnson called play-by-play for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves (1996–97), Big East basketball on the Big East Network, college hockey and college basketball on ESPN and Canadian Football League games for ESPN2, and NFL games for CBS from 1998 to 2010.

Johnson hosted ESPN's Black College Sports Today in 1991. After brief stints as an on-air personality with KXXV-TV in Waco, Texas, WAAY-TV in Huntsville, Alabama, and WXII-TV in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he served as the weekend anchor for WTTG in Washington, D.C. from 1991 to 1992. He also had a small cameo as an announcer in the 1998 film He Got Game.

Roles

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Johnson called play-by-play for numerous sports for CBS Sports, including the network's coverage of March Madness from 1996 to 2011. Among the memorable games that Johnson has called are UCLA's 17-point comeback over Gonzaga in 2006, the double-overtime Xavier vs. Kansas State game on March 25, 2010 and George Mason's upset of Villanova in 2011. He also announced the Big Ten Network's Sunday-night basketball games.[5]

Johnson worked for the Madison Square Garden Network (MSG) from 1994 to 2010, where he was the radio and backup television play-by-play announcer for the NBA's New York Knicks and the television play-by-play announcer for the WNBA's New York Liberty. Johnson has also hosted MSG studio shows focused on the Yankees, Rangers and Knicks. He called 20 Milwaukee Bucks games during the 2015–16 season on Fox Sports Wisconsin.[6] Johnson also handled play-by-play duties for the inaugural season of BIG3 basketball.

He has announced preseason television games for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions as well as the Arena Football League's New York Dragons.

Johnson has called MSG's coverage of the Golden Gloves as well as Showtime Championship Boxing on Showtime, replacing longtime voice Steve Albert. Johnson was also a mixed martial arts commentator for both EliteXC and Strikeforce through until 2011. Johnson drew scorn for his commentary during the Kimbo Slice vs. Seth Petruzelli fight, in which he announced that the fight was "the most incredible victory in the history of mixed martial arts."[7][8]

Johnson has lent his voice for the play-by-play commentary in the video games NCAA Basketball 10, Madden NFL 11 and Madden NFL 12.[9] He was also heard as the play-by-play announcer for the fictional football games seen in commercials for Buffalo Wild Wings.[10]

Before the 2010–11 NBA season, Johnson left MSG Network to spend more time with his son. CBS released him on May 5, 2011 following a contract dispute.[11] On May 9, 2011, he finalized a deal to call college football and NFL telecasts for Fox Sports.[12]

In 2012, Johnson served as radio play-by-play announcer of Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes.[13] He was named the lead Fox Soccer play-by-play announcer that year calling Barclays Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League matches. His first soccer match was the UEFA Champions League round of 16 match on February 13, 2013.[14][15][16][17] He then called the 2013 FA Cup final[18] and the 2013 UEFA Champions League final,[19] both held at Wembley Stadium.[20][21] He then repeated this feat in both finals within a week apart, both along with color commentator and former USMNT star Eric Wynalda,[22][23] except this time the 2014 UEFA Champions League final was played at Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, but he stepped down from that role on September 15, 2014.[24][25][26][27]

In August 2021, Fox Sports announced that Johnson would announce "select" NFL games for the 2021 season with former NFL player Aqib Talib.[28]

Johnson worked as a play-by-play announcer for the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs for TNT and NBA TV and did it again the next year. Johnson also worked the first round of the NBA Playoffs for NBATV in 2024 and 1 game for TNT with Jim Jackson and Sideline Reporter Dennis Scott.Lsk [29][30]

In September 2021, Johnson was challenged by comedian Gus Johnson to an athletic competition for the Twitter handle @GusJohnson,[31] as the sportscaster has not tweeted since 2012.[32]

Johnson returned to MSG Network to fill-in sporadically when both Mike Breen and Breen's backup, Kenny Albert, are unable to call games due to national game commitments starting with the 2023-24 NBA season.[33]

Announcing style

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Johnson's high-energy style has resulted in a polarized response in the sports world. Some critics have opined that Johnson's exuberance can often overshadow the games he is calling, though ESPN's Bill Simmons wrote that Johnson "could make a chess match sound exciting."[34] Johnson's signature phrases include emphatic uses of "pure!" and "count it!"[35][36] Despite being known for his catchphrases, Johnson also utilizes silence at opportune times to let television viewers absorb the moment, such as during a 2015 college football matchup between Notre Dame and Stanford when Stanford kicked the game-winning field goal at the end of a high-scoring game.[37]

References

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  1. ^ a b Bishop, Greg (March 14, 2011). "For Voice of March, Authenticity Comes With Sizzle". New York Times. Archived from the original on September 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2011. For all the ways in which Johnson, 43...
  2. ^ a b c "Gus Johnson Bio & Career Accomplishments". Fox Sports. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  3. ^ "'Raff stories?' Plenty to go around on hoops analyst". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. March 16, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Julia Hinds, "Gus Johnson of Fox Sports fame goes to Harvard and Detroit in new film" at Detroit Free Press on 15 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Chicago Tribune August 26, 2008 Big Ten adds Johnson to its network lineup". Chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  6. ^ "Broadcaster Gus Johnson to call games for Bucks". NBA. September 14, 2015. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  7. ^ Wetzel, Dan (October 7, 2008). "Petruzelli in center of Elite XC storm – UFC – Yahoo! Sports". Sports.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  8. ^ "FOX Could Add Gus Johnson To Announce Shows". FightLine.com. August 19, 2011. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  9. ^ "Madden Taps Gus Johnson for Video Games' Top Play-by-Play Job". Kotaku.com. May 21, 2010. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  10. ^ "Gus Johnson Trademarks "Rise & Fire" To Sell Apparel". CNBC. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  11. ^ "Gus Johnson parts ways with CBS". CNN. May 5, 2011. Archived from the original on May 9, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  12. ^ Raissman, Bob (May 9, 2011). "Gus Johnson officially out at CBS, headed to Fox after CBS declines to match Fox's offer". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  13. ^ "Quakes announcer Gus Johnson making an impact in first year calling soccer matches". San Jose Mercury News. May 8, 2012. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  14. ^ Dachman, Jason (February 7, 2013). "Behind the Mic: Gus Johnson Set to Become Voice of Fox World Cup Coverage; Vitale To Call Final Four for ESPN International". Sports Video Group. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  15. ^ "Commentary: How was Gus Johnson in Fox Soccer debut?". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  16. ^ Foss, Mike (February 5, 2013). "Gus Johnson will make you want to watch soccer". USA Today. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  17. ^ Pfeiffer, Jeff (February 5, 2013). "Gus Johnson to call his first-ever match for Fox Soccer". Channel Guide Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  18. ^ Pfeiffer, Jeff (May 9, 2013). "FA Cup final on U.S. broadcast TV for first time ever with FOX airing". Channel Guide Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  19. ^ Pfeiffer, Jeff (May 23, 2013). "2013 UEFA Champions League Final - date, time, channel in U.S." Channel Guide Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  20. ^ Bell, Jack (February 12, 2013). "On TV, New Voice for Champions League". Goal. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  21. ^ Pfeiffer, Jeff (May 23, 2013). "2013 UEFA Champions League Final - date, time, channel in U.S." Channel Guide Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  22. ^ Berenz, Ryan (May 15, 2014). "Arsenal vs. Hull City in FA Cup Final 2014 Saturday on FOX". Channel Guide Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  23. ^ Berenz, Ryan (May 22, 2014). "Battle of Madrid UEFA Champions League Final on FOX". Channel Guide Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  24. ^ Deitsch, Richard (September 14, 2014). "Exclusive: Gus Johnson steps down as Fox's top soccer announcer". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  25. ^ Lewis, Jon (September 15, 2014). "Gus Johnson No Longer Lead Voice of Soccer on FOX". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  26. ^ Parker, Graham (September 15, 2014). "US soccer needs to find its voice – it wasn't Fox's Gus Johnson". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  27. ^ Yoder, Matt (September 15, 2014). "Gus Johnson out as Fox's lead soccer announcer". Awful Announcing. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  28. ^ Traina, Jimmy. "Fox Gives NFL Viewers a True Gift With Entertaining Broadcast Team". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  29. ^ Lewis, Jon (April 16, 2022). "News: Gus Johnson, Melissa Stark, Big Ten". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  30. ^ Novak, Chris (April 14, 2023). "Gus Johnson rejoins NBA on TNT playoffs coverage". Awful Announcing. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  31. ^ "Gus Johnson (@gusjohnson) | Twitter". Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  32. ^ "gus johnson is done". September 8, 2021. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  33. ^ Gamarra, Max (November 17, 2023). "Randle: Knicks 'Play For Each Other' on Offense". Sports Illustrated New York Knicks News, Analysis and More. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  34. ^ Patashnik, Josh (March 19, 2008). "The Golden Gus". The New Republic. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  35. ^ Thomas, Eric (March 21, 2011). "My Two Cents: If it's March, I want Gus Johnson calling the games". Penn Live. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  36. ^ Rudnansky, Ryan (November 24, 2010). "Gus Johnson's Best Calls (With Video)". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  37. ^ Lyles, Harry Jr (September 19, 2019). "How Gus Johnson became sports' most exciting broadcaster". SBNation.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
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