Longtime Boston Celtics television play-by-play announcer Mike Gorman has announced that the 2023-24 season will be his last calling games on NBC Sports Boston. Over the last several years, Gorman has traveled to a select few road venues to call games, including those in Philadelphia, Penn. and New York City, but is present for home games at TD Garden.
Sean Grande, the team’s radio play-by-play voice, often moves over to TV to fill in on these games and perhaps could be considered for the full-time television job after next year. If that were to happen, the radio position would become available, which could precipitate a change for Toucher & Rich on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
Anchor Jon Wallach began filling in on Celtics’ radio broadcasts last season, and there always is a chance that he could be considered for the role. Fred Toucher emphasized that the topic will be discussed on the show “ad nauseam” since it could affect its future cast.
Over the years, the Celtics radio broadcasts have featured a wide variety of color commentators alongside Gorman. Toucher said the team has essentially permitted just about anyone to enter TD Garden and call the games with the legend.
“Pete from the ZLX morning show was like, ‘I like basketball,’ and they were like, ‘Sure, come call the game,’” Toucher said. “If you had a way to get to the Garden, they were allowing you to do it.”
The crew discussed the difference each sport presents in play-by-play announcing. Toucher told Wallach that basketball would be the easiest sport to call, a perspective Wallach wanted to know more about. When he asked Toucher why he believed this to be the case, Toucher replied that the sport is relatively easy to follow and has a steady flow.
“It’s 10 people – it’s pretty consistent,” Toucher said. “The ball’s on the other end [for] 20 seconds. I’m not saying I could do it; I just don’t think it would be as difficult.”
