Ian Eagle

Ian Eagle
Born (1969-02-09) February 9, 1969
Essex Fells, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma mater Syracuse University, B.A. 1991 (Journalism)
Occupation Sports announcer/commentator
Years active 1992-present
Spouse(s) Alisa
Children 2
Parent(s) Jack Eagle & Monica Maris

Ian Eagle (/ˈaɪ.ən/; born February 9, 1969) is an American sports announcer. He calls National Football League (NFL) games on CBS and Brooklyn Nets games on the YES Network[1] and hosts Full Court Press, a basketball talk show, with former player Kenny Smith on Sirius Satellite Radio. Other announcing experiences include NCAA men's basketball, tennis, the Army–Navy football games, the Army-Navy basketball games, boxing, and NCAA track and field for CBS.[2] He is a graduate of Syracuse University, where he was initiated into the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity. He is known as "Bird" or the "Birdman".

Biography

Parents

Eagle was born to entertainers Jack Eagle and Monica Maris. Jack, a former "Catskills comedian" and commercial actor, was best known for portraying "Brother Dominic" and "Mr. Cholesterol" in Xerox and Fleischmann's margarine television commercials respectively in the 1970s. Maris was a singer.[3][4]

Early career

Eagle began his career by announcing football, basketball, and lacrosse for the Syracuse Orangemen on WAER, a student run radio station. While at Syracuse, he was in the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. Following his graduation in 1990, Eagle began working for WFAN Radio in New York City as a producer. In 1992, WFAN gave him his own show (Bagels and Baseball). In 1993, Eagle was given pregame and postgame duties for the Jets. 1994 saw Eagle's first year as a Nets play-by-play radio announcer. A year later, he was made a TV announcer for SportsChannel, which later became Fox Sports Net New York (now MSG Plus). In 1997, WFAN made Eagle play-by-play announcer for Jets games.

Later television and radio career

Eagle joined CBS in 1998 doing announcing work for NFL and NCAA basketball. He continues to serve these roles today. In 2010, he joined Dan Fouts to make up the number three broadcast team for CBS' NFL coverage. The pair was elevated to the number two slot behind Jim Nantz and Phil Simms in the 2014 season.[5] Other CBS work includes boxing, The Pilot Pen Tennis tournament, the U.S. Open (both the late night show and daytime studio host for 2008 U.S. Open coverage), and the NCAA Track and Field Championships.

Prior to joining the YES Network as Nets announcer in 2002, Ian Eagle served the same role for the Nets on the MSG Network and Fox Sports Net New York. When Marv Albert joined the YES Network prior to the 2005-06 NBA season, the games were split between the two broadcasters, before Eagle again became the primary announcer for the Nets in the 2011-12 NBA season upon Albert's departure.

During the 2010 NBA Playoffs, Eagle called two games on TNT, a likely move to promote him to calling national television broadcasts, similar to what Albert, former Minnesota Timberwolves play-by-play man Kevin Harlan and Knicks play-by-play man Mike Breen experienced. He was again called up by TNT for the 2011 NBA Playoffs, pairing with his YES colleague Mike Fratello. He also does play by play for Thursday Night Football on Westwood One. On Sirius, in addition to his daily talk show, Eagle did a weekly talk show, The Phil Jackson Show, with Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson. And Eagle retains his roots to WFAN, occasionally serving as a fill-in talk show host on his old station.

Eagle also serves as the voice-over host of NBA Action and previously, NBA Jam. In 2013, he called the international telecasts of the 2013 NBA Finals alongside Jim Spanarkel, his partner on Nets broadcasts on YES.

Since Eagle pronounces his first name "EYE-un" (instead of the more common "EE-an"), he has often admitted that life was easier prior to the 1986 release of the movie Iron Eagle. In fact, many callers (including prominent sports figures) continue to call him "Iron Eagle"—much to his chagrin.

Broadcasting partners

Other announcing

Personal

Eagle lives in Essex Fells, New Jersey with his wife Alisa and their two children.[7]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Biographies".
  2. ↑ "CBS Sports TV Team - CBSSports.com".
  3. ↑ Eagle, Ian. "Broadcaster of the Week: Ian Eagle, New Jersey Nets," NBA.com, Thursday, March 1, 2007.
  4. ↑ "Passings: Jack Eagle; Comedian acted in TV commercials," Los Angeles Times, Friday, January 18, 2008.
  5. ↑ "CBS Sports 2014 booth pairings: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts named No. 2 team".
  6. ↑ "Ian Eagle ::Tennis Channel".
  7. ↑ Ian Eagle, CBS Sports. Accessed November 9, 2012. "A 1990 graduate of Syracuse University, Eagle was the play-by-play voice of the Orangemen for football, basketball and lacrosse, and was awarded the Bob Costas Award for Outstanding Sportscasting. He lives in Essex Fells, N.J., with his wife, Alisa, and two children."

External links and references

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