Mike Goldberg
| Mike Goldberg | |
|---|---|
|
Mike Goldberg at UFC 80 | |
| Born |
November 24, 1964 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse(s) | Kim (2 children) |
Mike Goldberg (born November 24, 1964) is an American play-by-play commentator, mainly known for his work with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Broadcasting career
Born in North Olmsted, Ohio,[1] Goldberg is best known as the lead play-by-play announcer (working alongside Joe Rogan) for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the world's largest mixed martial arts organization, where he first began working in 1997.[2] His voice is heard on pay-per-views and Fox, Fox Sports Networks and Spike TV. Goldberg is the host of the FOX TV program UFC Unleashed.
Goldberg was also the studio host for college football telecasts on FSN. Most games involve teams in the Big 12 and Pac-12 conferences.
In 2005, Goldberg was offered a contract to work for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), to be the head announcer on the WWEs flagship show RAW.[3] He was also reportedly offered an extra six-figure amount to no-show at a UFC event prior to starting work for WWE.[4] Ultimately, Goldberg refused the WWE contract and signed a new deal with the UFC.
He is the former TV play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild and ESPN2 Hockey. He has also done fill-in work for the Phoenix Coyotes TV broadcasts, and he also called PPV games for the Vancouver Canucks in the 1990s. Before that, he worked at WWSB-40 in Sarasota, Florida 1987 - 1988.
Goldberg is the announcer for the Lingerie Bowl. He also does play-by-play commentary for FSN's broadcasts of the Red Bull Air Race World Series.
Goldberg also serves as the play-by-play announcer and co-host of Shaquille O'Neal's sports reality television show Shaq Vs..
He has also called Arizona Cardinals preseason telecasts, and called a regular season Detroit Lions-Minnesota Vikings game for Fox in 2014. Goldberg was supposed to become a regular play-by-play man for Fox's NFL telecasts in 2014, but poor response to his play-by-play, followed by Goldberg's often obscene off-air replies to that response, prompted Fox to replace Goldberg with Tim Brando.[5] In 2015 Goldberg will fill-in for Steve Byrnes on NASCAR Camping World Truck Series telecasts on Fox Sports 1 during Weeks 6-8 of NFL season while Mike Joy and Adam Alexander on Fox NFL assignment during MLB Playoffs.
Personal life
Mike and his wife, Kim, who is of Japanese Canadian descent, have two children, a daughter, a son and two dogs named Bailey and Prada. Goldberg is based in Phoenix, Arizona.[6]
In late 2012, Goldberg took time off and missed UFC 155 after catching a respiratory infection in Brazil, then experiencing complications of combining drugs to treat it with drugs to treat his long-standing asthma.[7]
References
- ↑ Stupp, Dan. "UFC’s military events have impact on broadcaster". Dayton Daily News.
- ↑ Reynolds, Robert. "UFC announcer Mike Goldberg goes from pucks to punchouts". MMADieHards.com.
- ↑ GOLDBERG SPEAKS FOR FIRST TIME - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more
- ↑ 411mania.com: Wrestling - VIOLENT PANDA Saturday News 08.05.06
- ↑ Pergament, Alan (October 20, 2014). Fox's Brando proves to be a strong substitute and storyteller. The Buffalo News. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
- ↑ [Stated in the August 2007 issue of Ultimate Grappling]
- ↑ "Mike Goldberg: I Absolutely Do Not Have a Drug Problem", from MMAFighting