“Yessss and it counts!”
Undoubtedly, you’ve heard that countless times during an NBA broadcast. That familiar phrase is one of the calling cards of the legendary Marv Albert. The veteran of NBC, TNT and Westwood One has covered the gamut in the world of sports. Basketball, Football, Hockey, boxing and even Wimbledon appear on his gaudy resume. His voice is unmistakable, his look is his own and the unbridled enthusiasm shoots through in every broadcast.
As a kid, Albert took to the asphalt courts of Brooklyn, alongside friends, developing a love for the game of basketball. Pickup games ruled the day. According to legend, during those games was the voice of someone calling the play-by-play of the games. New York kids were treated to some legendary voices to imitate, like Vin Scully and Marty Glickman. Albert was not the one calling the games, he was too shy to “perform” in front of the group. One of his friends was the mouth of the gaggle of friends.
Albert wanted to do it, but instead of in public, he’d call games in his own living room. He’d turn down the sound on the family’s television set and do play-by-play into a small tape recorder, given to him as a gift by his father.
He told the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, “I still tell kids interested in sportscasting who hope to do this for a living to take that path. I probably did hundreds of games in my living room.”
Albert also wrote an essay in third-grade telling his teacher he wanted to become a sports announcer or writer. The rest, as they say, is history. He’s been a fixture in New York and across the United States for five decades.
To me Albert stands the test of time, because of his passion. There are no other announcers that call a game like him. His voice is unique. His phrases are unique. The pacing of his words almost echo and make you see the tempo of the game. Albert’s insight challenges those working with him.
Marv Albert worked his way up the ladder and started, well, pretty much at the bottom. He got his first break in the sports business when he worked as a ball boy for the New York Knicks. That’s where he met and started a friendship with the legendary New York sportscaster Marty Glickman, who took a liking to Albert and his passion. Glickman brought the kid on as a statistician and advised the him to attend his own alma mater, Syracuse University.
Albert later worked alongside Glickman, when the latter needed a writer/producer at WCBS Radio. The move proved to be a smart one, offering Albert the chance to fill in for Glickman on occasion and actually had Albert on the mic calling several Knicks and Rangers games at just age 19.
“That was kind of ridiculous, especially when I go back and listen to the tapes.” Albert told the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
BEST KNOWN FOR
There have been some magical moments in the career of Marv Albert. Many of them surround the NBA. One of his fondest memories, was the night he uttered the “Yes!” for the first time.
It was in 1967, when he took over as the full-time radio voice of the Knicks. The word jumped out of his mouth for the first time during a playoff series.
Knicks guard Dick Barnett banked a shot off the glass at a key moment in the game and “Yes” became all his. Albert told the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, “It just seemed to feel right. I’d throw it in every once in a while, on big baskets. That was when I started hearing it said back to me. It made me realize that, Hey, people are actually listening.”
To me, it’s a natural “catch word.” We all say it, so it’s not about the word. It’s about the emphasis and meaning of the three letters and his timing in using them. That stuff may seem easy, but when you have a word or a phrase, you can’t over use it. Albert saves the big time “Yes!” for those big-time moments.
Albert also called the infamous Willis Reed game at Madison Square Garden. It was Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Lakers. He rode the momentum of the crowd when Willis walked out of the tunnel before the game, moving gingerly on an injured thigh.
“I remember Wilt Chamberlain turning and looking in astonishment as Willis was coming out of the tunnel just before the opening tip,” said Albert. “That was the loudest I ever heard a crowd at a basketball game.”
Albert was off and rolling as Reed hit his first two shots. The game ended with the Knicks as the new champs of the NBA. In listening back to some of the early action, Albert could have easily gotten out of his element. He could have started screaming and yelling. He didn’t. Albert stayed within himself, his usual energetic, exuberant self. That’s hard to do. Sometimes broadcasters can get caught up in the moment, but Albert delivered his usual stellar broadcast. Even at a young age, he got it.
Over the years Albert was a mainstay on NBC’s coverage of the NBA and later with TNT. There are far too many huge moments to recall during this run. A couple stand out in somewhat recent times.
During the 1991 NBA Finals between the Bulls and Lakers, Michael Jordan well, did what Michael Jordan does. He hung in the air through traffic, appearing on the verge of unleashing a thunderous dunk. But when he approached the rim and Lakers defender Sam Perkins, he changed his mind. He switched the ball from his right hand to his left and scooped it to the opposite side of the basket for a layup. Almost in awe, Albert said, “Oh! A spectacular move by Michael Jordan!”. It doesn’t sound like much, but it was what we were all thinking. Right there, at that moment, it was spectacular.
Albert along with his longtime broadcast partner Mike Fratello, called every moment of the original “Dream Team” games in Barcelona during the 1992 Olympics. He couldn’t help but get caught up in the moment.
“The first time they ran onto the court, I got the chills because I knew then that we were seeing the greatest group of athletes assembled in the history of team sports – it was stunning,” he recalled.
Imagine how tough these games were to do. Team USA routinely rolled over opponents during that tournament. Lopsided scores leads to “Plan B, C, D and maybe even E” for a broadcaster. Not to mention all the foreign names he had to learn and memorize for the television broadcasts. It was another situation of allowing himself to be humbled by the moment, without affecting his broadcast.
For those in Generation X, we may remember Albert as a fixture on David Letterman’s late night shows. He appeared on the show 126 times, presenting his “Albert Achievement Awards”, with “a look at the ‘wild and whacky’ from the world of sports, as compiled by our crack staff.” Then to the videos of some crazy, unbelievable bloopers from basketball, football, hockey, boxing, fans, you name it, they covered it.
Before the internet, the only way to see these bloopers were at a stadium or ballpark or on Letterman’s show with Albert. The awards started in 1986 and came to end with the Letterman show in 2015. Albert played along, no matter what direction Letterman would go, he would be there to follow. The wry sense of humor and deadpan delivery really worked. The bloopers were good, but the banter was always better.
They went suit shopping in one appearance and Marv even showed up at David’s mother’s house in another. He made himself human, poked a little fun at himself and I really enjoyed those shows.
WHY IS HE SO GOOD?
There is just something about Marv Albert’s voice. It’s not a traditional broadcasting voice by today’s standards. There is something real about it though. It cuts through action during a game. You know he’s there. I enjoy the enthusiasm he brings to every event he covers. There was a time that if it was a big game, he was doing it.
His personality makes his broadcasts great. The way he’ll set up his analyst with some witty banter, served with a side of sarcasm is music to my ears. While the style isn’t for everyone, there’s a ‘down home’ quality about it. Simple catch phrases, a simple “Yes!” or “serves up a facial” or “and it counts,” just proving the old adage, less is sometimes more.
Albert has proven himself to be a very versatile announcer. While he’s most known for his work in the NBA and to an extent the NFL as well, there have been numerous other games he’s worked. I mentioned in the opening paragraph of this column, he called hockey. In fact, he was the voice of the New York Rangers and served as lead announcer on NBC’s coverage of several NHL All-Star games. Boxing is another sport he’s excelled in. With his knowledge and wit, there really isn’t much he hasn’t done or can’t do.
With the restart of the NBA season, many wondered if Albert at age 79, would be in Orlando to call games.
No. That’s the straight up answer.
Albert was looking forward to being a part of things, but the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Florida made him reconsider any thoughts of being on site. Turner Sports confirmed that Albert will not be part of the regular play-by-play crew in Orlando, but that he will contribute some “commentary” remotely.
Albert indeed has made an impact on sports and the way it’s announced. You could say “Yes!” and he really did make it count.
Andy Masur is a columnist for BSM and works for WGN Radio as an anchor and play-by-play announcer. He also teaches broadcasting at the Illinois Media School. During his career he has called games for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. He can be found on Twitter @Andy_Masur1 or you can reach him by email at Andy@Andy-Masur.com.
