Chris Berman

Berman was born in Greenwich, Connecticut,{{cite web |last1=Chamoff |first1=Lisa |title=Sportscaster Berman is GHS commencement speaker |url=https://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/Sportscaster-Berman-is-GHS-commencement-speaker-4464383.php |website=Greenwich Time |date=April 26, 2013 |access-date=February 1, 2023}} and grew up in Irvington, New York, the son of Peggy Shevell (née Tenenbaum), who worked as a reporter-researcher for Time magazine, and James Keliner Berman, a corporate executive vice president.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/24/style/katherine-alexinski-wed-to-christopher-berman.html |title=Katherine Alexinski Wed to Christopher Berman |work=The New York Times |date=1983-07-24 |access-date=2013-11-10}} He was raised Jewish.{{cite web|title=CSULB professor explores baseball's impact on Jewish Americans|publisher=Daily 49er|date=April 15, 2010|author=Sean Dillon, Staff Writer|url=http://www.daily49er.com/news/csulb-professor-explores-baseball-s-impact-on-jewish-americans-1.2224704|access-date=June 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703043727/http://www.daily49er.com/news/csulb-professor-explores-baseball-s-impact-on-jewish-americans-1.2224704|archive-date=July 3, 2013|url-status=dead}} During his childhood, he went to Camp Winnebago in Fayette, Maine. He enrolled at the Hackley School in 1970, and graduated Brown University in 1977 with a degree in history,{{cite news|last=Arace|first=Michael|title=Chris Berman: Regular Guy With a National Following|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ts4zAAAAIBAJ&pg=2362,3975925&dq=chris+berman+hackley+school&hl=en|access-date=May 5, 2013|newspaper=Gainesville Sun|date=October 14, 1993}} where he was the sports director of the school's radio station, WBRU.{{cite news | last=Schwartzapfel | first=Beth |url=http://www.brownalumnimagazine.com/content/view/353/40/ |title=Radio Heads |publisher=brownalumnimagazine.com |date=January 2006 |access-date=2015-12-12}}

File:Chris Berman sings with Huey Lewis (edit).jpg on stage]]

Berman's sportscasting career began at Hartford's WVIT-TV as a weekend sports anchor. He joined ESPN in 1979, a month after its founding, and has been with the network ever since. He is one of ESPN's longest-tenured employees, and the only remaining SportsCenter anchor from 1979. He spent 31 years as the host of both Sunday NFL Countdown, and ten years hosting Monday Night Countdown. In addition, during the NFL season, he hosts the evening SportsCenter (airing generally at either 7:30 PM Eastern Time or 11 PM Eastern Time) along with Herm Edwards, who replaced Tom Jackson for the 2016 season. Berman often appears on SportsCenter at night (midnight to 1 a.m.) hosting brief segments called "Chris Berman's two-minute drill". From 1988 to 1989, he hosted ESPN's first game show, Boardwalk and Baseball's Super Bowl of Sports Trivia.{{cite web | last=Murphy | first=Brian | title=The Super Bowl... of Sports Trivia | url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/murphy/040202.html | publisher=ESPN Page2 | access-date=May 5, 2013}}

By 1993, Berman was described as the leader of the ESPN team and one of the most recognizable sportscasters in the business. "The true test is when Chris is on, turn down your TV and open your window. You will hear him. The microphone is nothing but a prop," said fellow ESPN anchor Keith Olbermann.{{cite news | last1=Jenks | first1=Jim | title=At ESPN, it's all play and all work for 'Boomer' | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=19931219&id=1hYxAAAAIBAJ&pg=1293,4568857&hl=en | access-date=October 5, 2016 | work=The Daily Gazette | date=December 19, 1993 | page=D6}} In December 2008, the Associated Press ran a long retrospective on Berman's 30-year career with ESPN.[http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2008/12/26/sports/26_berman.txt Berman set to embark on 30th year at ESPN] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910171814/http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2008/12/26/sports/26_berman.txt |date=September 10, 2012 }} "He is our most important person," said Norby Williamson, ESPN's vice president of production. "He is the face of ESPN," he added. At the time, Berman noted that his contract with ESPN would expire on his 55th birthday, and that he did not see himself broadcasting into his 60s. In April 2010, however, ESPN extended Berman's contract for an undisclosed period of time, only noting that it was a multi-year deal.{{cite web | url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2010-04-19/espn-extend-chris-bermans-contract | title=ESPN to extend Chris Berman's contract - NFL - Sporting News | publisher=Aol.sportingnews.com | date=2010-04-19 | access-date=2013-11-10}} The contract was eventually revealed to expire at the end of 2016.{{cite news | url=http://thebiglead.com/2016/05/26/chris-berman-retiring-espn-after/ | last=McIntyre | first=Jason | title=Chris Berman's Contract Won't Be Renewed at ESPN, Who Replaces Him? | work=USA Today | date=May 26, 2016 | access-date=May 26, 2016}}

Between 1995 and 2006, Berman hosted Monday Night Football as well as live coverage of three Super Bowls for ABC Sports. He continued to host MNF when ESPN got the rights in 2006.

Berman was a season ticket holder for the Hartford Whalers and was a strong supporter of the team's staying in Connecticut. He occasionally makes reference to the team, sometimes even by humming the team's theme song, "Brass Bonanza". Berman has also become a strong backer of the Buffalo Bills in recent years. In an interview with Buffalo Bills reporter and play-by-play voice John Murphy on July 26, 2012, Berman acknowledged that you could call him a "Bills Booster".[http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/723196.html Wilson request stunned Berman] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706115133/http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/723196.html |date=July 6, 2009 }} This sentiment is also echoed in Berman's on-air phrase, "No one circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills!" In addition, he has been involved with several events relating to the Bills, such as team founder Ralph Wilson's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Bruce Smith's Bills Hall of Fame induction in September 2016. Berman signed a new contract in January 2017 for a reduced schedule, but remains at ESPN.

On October 29, 2018, Berman served as the on-field emcee for Thurman Thomas's number retirement ceremony. In May 2019, Berman called a three-game series for the Boston Red Sox Radio Network alongside longtime Red Sox broadcaster Joe Castiglione.{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/media/2019/04/25/chris-berman-red-sox-weei|title=Chris Berman to call Red Sox games in May|last=Finn|first=Chad|website=Boston.com|date=April 25, 2019|access-date=April 28, 2019}}

In 2019, Berman and Tom Jackson re-united for a revival of NFL Primetime, streamed exclusively on ESPN+.{{cite web |title=ESPN reviving 'NFL Primetime' with Chris Berman and Tom Jackson |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/09/13/espn-reviving-nfl-primetime-chris-berman-tom-jackson/2316268001/ |website=usatoday.com |publisher=Ganett Satellite Information Network, LLC |access-date=24 December 2019}} In addition, they have also hosted the "fastest three minutes" segments on the Monday Night Football halftime show.

Berman signed a multiyear contract with ESPN in May 2021 to continue to host NFL PrimeTime. In the ESPN contract announcement, Berman said "ESPN has been almost two-thirds of my life. I'm honored that what I do still works."

Berman is well known for his various catchphrases and player nicknames.{{cite news|last1=Arkush|first1=Arthur|title=ESPN's Chris Berman reportedly retiring after 2016 NFL season|url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/2016/05/27/espns-chris-berman-reportedly-retiring-after-2016-nfl-season/arb22il/|access-date=October 5, 2016|work=Pro Football Weekly|date=May 27, 2016}}

• His mid-play prediction of a touchdown run as "He could...go...all...the...way!" is perhaps his most famous phrase, and one of the first he adopted.{{cite news|last1=Doyle|first1=Bill|title=ESPN's Chris Berman is serious about having fun|url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20111014/COLUMN08/110149837|access-date=October 5, 2016|work=Telegram & Gazette|date=October 14, 2011}} It was featured on the Jock Rock, Volume 2 compilation album.{{cite news|last1=Lomartire|first1=Paul|title=ESPN hits the music charts|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19961213&id=budMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3112,5909932&hl=en|access-date=October 5, 2016|work=Rome News-Tribune|agency=Cox News Service|date=December 13, 1996|page=45}}
• His home run calls of "Back, back, back, back...Gone!", which he implements most commonly during the MLB Home Run Derby.{{cite news|last1=Cunningham|first1=Dave|title=Announcers Hit Home Runs With Their Calls Of Long Ball|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1998/09/13/announcers-hit-home-runs-with-their-calls-of-long-ball/|access-date=October 5, 2016|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=September 13, 1998}}
• A "Whoop!" is uttered during highlights when a player makes a quick move or causes someone to miss or make a mistake.
• "Tick, tick, tick, tick tick tick tick..." during a post-game recap, for a play or moment in which the clock is a factor.{{cite book|last1=Akers|first1=David|author-link1=David Akers|title=Winning in Spite Of: Nine Biblical Principles for Turning Hard Times into Personal Growth, Increased Impact, and Abundant Life|date=2016|publisher=Redemption Press|isbn=978-1683141068|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GB7UDAAAQBAJ&q=chris+berman+tick+tick+tick&pg=PT100|access-date=October 5, 2016}}
• When a large player such as a lineman runs with the football, Berman describes him as "rumblin', bumblin', stumblin'".{{cite news|last1=Holmgren|first1=Ryan|title=Bishop Ryan has hands full with Kindred's Bachmeier|url=http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/577974/Bishop-Ryan-has-hands-full-with-Kindred-s-Bachmeier.html?nav=5016|access-date=October 5, 2016|work=Minot Daily News|date=September 6, 2013}}
• Berman is known for integrating puns into player nicknames. For example, he dubbed former Minnesota Twins pitcher Bert Blyleven "Bert Be Home Blyleven". He referred to San Diego Chargers running back Eric Bieniemy as "Eric Sleeping With Bieniemy". Other examples include "Young Again" for Oddibe McDowell, “ABCDEFG” for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb{{Citation |title=Chris Berman gives CeeDee Lamb a new nickname | date=December 28, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OzQSwgrCs8 |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en}} and an imitation of a sneeze for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew, where Berman goes, “min-min-min, MIN-SHEW!”{{Citation |title=Chris Berman Fastest 3 Minutes {{!}} ESPN MNF 2023-24 Week 12 {{!}} BEARS vs VIKINGS | date=November 27, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDnLCFRr_aA |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en}}{{Citation |title=Chris Berman Fastest 3 Minutes {{!}} ESPN MNF 2022 Week 16 {{!}} CHARGERS vs COLTS | date=December 26, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9AILlct9OQ |access-date=2023-12-18 |language=en}}
• When speaking about the Las Vegas Raiders, he will often pronounce them as "the RRRAY-DAHS" in an homage to late owner Al Davis' accent.
• When a ball carrier breaks a tackle, he will mimic a collision sound after every broken tackle.
• The Detroit Lions have never won an NFC Championship Game and, as such, have never made it to the Super Bowl, earning them a long history of denigration. Thus, when the Lions do something good, Berman will sometimes utter the word, "LIONS???" in a surprised tone.{{Citation |title=Chris Berman - The Lions? | date=October 2, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9tGHpDsNN0 |access-date=2023-10-30 |language=en}}{{Citation |title=Chris Berman most explosive WHOOP ever! | date=November 4, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qJSrjxnu4U |access-date=2023-10-30 |language=en}}

Berman adopts the persona of his alter ego, "The Swami," to make predictions on Sunday NFL Countdown. For seven consecutive years "The Swami" predicted a Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and the Buffalo Bills, one or the other – but never both – making it during that span.{{Cite web |url=http://www.footballperspective.com/san-francisco-sets-record-in-chris-bermans-mythical-super-bowl/ |title=San Francisco sets record in Chris Berman's mythical Super Bowl |publisher=footballperspective.com |author=Chase Stuart |date=7 October 2012 }}

Many have enjoyed Berman's approach over the years, and he has won various awards. A 1990 Sports Illustrated feature article cited traits that struck a chord with his TV audience: playfulness, humor, and a Fred Flintstone-like persona. The nicknames were called a key to his success. His genuine love of sports was also noted.{{cite magazine|last1=Lidz|first1=Franz|title=Yabba-Dabba-Doo!|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1990/03/26/yabbadabbadoo|access-date=December 7, 2022|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=March 26, 1990}}

However, he has also drawn a good deal of criticism. Over time, his style came to rub quite a few viewers the wrong way.{{cite news|title=Joining the anti-Berman bandwagon|url=https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/columns/article_f582807d-3469-5eda-b50b-588b30b8f031.html?outputType=amp|access-date=December 7, 2022|work=The Virginian-Pilot|date=September 27, 2010}} His detractors find him overly bombastic - and worse, unfunny. A "blowhard...tossing out corny clichés" was one description.{{cite news|title=Blowhard Berman at his worst in homer derby|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/blowhard-berman-at-his-worst-in-homer-derby/|access-date=December 7, 2022|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=July 14, 2011}} Columnist Phil Mushnick viewed his "clown act" as forced, self-serving, and stale.{{cite news|last1=Mushnick|first1=Phil|title=It's a Shtick Up! Berman's Act Steals from Game|url=https://nypost.com/2004/10/10/its-a-shtick-up-bermans-act-steals-from-game/|access-date=December 7, 2022|work=New York Post|date=October 10, 2004}}{{cite news|last1=Mushnick|first1=Phil|title=Open and Shut|url=https://nypost.com/2007/06/18/open-and-shut/|access-date=December 7, 2022|work=New York Post|date=June 18, 2007}}{{cite news|last1=Mushnick|first1=Phil|title=Why hasn't ESPN told Chris Berman people can't stand him?|url=https://nypost.com/2016/07/15/why-hasnt-espn-told-chris-berman-people-cant-stand-him/|access-date=December 7, 2022|work=New York Post|date=July 15, 2016}} "Schtick" is another label that has been applied.{{cite news|last1=Korman|first1=Chris|title=Former co-stars surprise Chris Berman during emotional 'Countdown' sendoff|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ftw/2017/01/22/former-costars-surprise-chris-berman-during-emotional-countdown-sendoff/96926050/|access-date=December 7, 2022|work=USA Today|date=January 22, 2017}} A Paste article from 2017 noted that the reasons for his appeal were also what made him eventually grow tiresome.{{cite news|last1=Grierson|first1=Tim|title=Chris Berman Is What Makes You Fall in Love With Sports—And Then You Have to Outgrow Him|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/chris-berman/chris-berman-is-what-makes-you-fall-in-love-with-s/|access-date=December 7, 2022|work=USA Today|date=February 13, 2017}}

Berman appeared in Adam Sandler's 1998 comedy The Waterboy as well as Sandler's ''[[The Longest Yard (2005 film)|

The Longest Yard]] in 2005, playing himself as the play-by-play announcer of the prison football game. Berman also appeared as himself in Necessary Roughness in 1991, The Program in 1993 (though was a little out of place doing college football), Little Big League in 1994, as well as Eddie and Kingpin in 1996. He made a cameo appearance in the 1995 Hootie and the Blowfish video for the single "Only Wanna Be With You." Berman made a cameo in the 2013 comedy Grown Ups 2''. Berman appears in Nutrisystem commercials with Don Shula, Dan Marino, Terry Bradshaw, and Mike Golic, using some of his trademark phrases and nicknames to show how much weight they lost. He also appears in commercials for repair insurer Carshield.

He appears as the host of SportsCenter in ESPN NFL 2K5; he is also an unlockable free agent.

Berman married Katherine "Kathy" Alexinski in 1983. She died in a traffic collision in Woodbury, Connecticut on May 10, 2017.{{cite news|title=Cafe under investigation in death of ESPN broadcaster's wife|url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/08/15/sports/sports-breaking/cafe-under-investigation-in-death-of-espn-broadcasters-wife/|work=Star-Advertiser|location=Honolulu|agency=Associated Press|date=2017-08-15|access-date=2017-08-16}} Katherine Berman was driving drunk when she crashed into the back of another vehicle, killing herself and the other driver.{{Cite news|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-berman-fatal-state-police-report-20180830-story.html|title=State Police: Katherine Berman, Wife Of ESPN's Chris Berman, Was Drunk, Caused Deadly Crash|last1=Altimari|first1=Dave|work=Courant|location=Hartford, Connecticut|date=August 30, 2018|access-date=2020-08-12|language=en-US}} The couple had two children.{{cite web |last=Goodman |first=Mark |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20109573,00.html |title=Sonic Boomer |publisher=People.com |access-date=October 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110164721/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20109573,00.html |url-status=dead }}

File:Chris Berman sportscaster.jpg

• National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association National Sportscaster of the Year (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001)
• American Sportscasters Association Sportscaster of the Year – Studio Host (1995, 1997, 1998)
• CableACE Award Best Cable Sportscaster 1987, 1988, 1990
• 1997 "TV's Most Fascinating Stars" from People
• 2001 Maxwell Football Club's Reds Bagnell Award
• 2007 honorary degree from Brown University.
• 2009 Presented Ralph C. Wilson Jr. into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Received star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 24, 2010
• Received the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award on July 12, 2010
• 2017 inductee - Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame

• 1979–present: SportsCenter anchor (occasionally since 1990){{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espntv/espnBio?type=name |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718065209/http://sports.espn.go.com/espntv/espnBio?type=name |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 18, 2006 |title=ESPN TV Listings - ESPN |publisher=ESPN |access-date=2013-11-10}}
• 1985–2016: Sunday NFL Countdown host
• 1985–2016: NFL draft host
• 1986–2014: U.S. Open nightly show host
• 1987–2005: NFL Primetime host (Postgame host during playoffs, 2017–present)Stoneberg, Allie (January 5, 2017). [http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2017/01/chris-berman-assume-new-espn-role-nfl-season/ "Chris Berman to Assume New ESPN Role after NFL Season"]. ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
• 1987–2005: ESPN Sunday Night Football halftime host
• 1990–2016: Baseball Tonight host (occasional)
• 1990–2016: MLB on ESPN play-by-play (selected games)
• 1986–2016: Home Run Derby play-by-play
• 1996–1999, 2006–2016, and during NFL playoff between 1998 and 2005: Monday Night Football halftime host
• 1999–present: Master of Ceremonies for the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction
• 2003–2014: U.S. Open host
• 2003: NHL on ESPN and NHL on ABC studio co-host (Stanley Cup Finals)
• 2006–2016: Monday Night Countdown host
• 2012–2016: ESPN Monday Night Football No. 2 play-by-play
• 2017–present: Monday Night Countdown panelist

• You're with me, leather

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• {{IMDb name|0075740|Chris Berman}}
• [http://deadspin.com/355926/espn-reacts-to-berman-videos-takes-them-down-off-youtube-but-worry-not.html Deadspin Videos]
• [https://www.sportsbroadcastinghalloffame.org/inductees/chris-berman/ Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame]

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