Gus Johnson (sportscaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gus Johnson
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Johnson in 2023
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Augustus Cornelius Johnson Jr.
1967/1968 (age 57–58) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Howard University |
| Occupation | Sports commentator |
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| Genre(s) | Play-by-play |
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Augustus Cornelius Johnson Jr. (born 1967/1968) is a famous American sportscaster. He is known for his exciting play-by-play calls. He works for Fox Sports, where he announces college football and college basketball games. Before Fox, he worked at CBS Sports. He also calls some NBA Playoff games for NBA on TNT and NBA TV.
Contents
- Early Life and Education
- Gus Johnson's Career in Sports Announcing
- Gus Johnson's Announcing Style
- Famous Calls by Gus Johnson
- "Heartbreak City!" - UCLA vs. Gonzaga (2006 NCAA Tournament)
- "Touchdown Denver! Unbelievable!" - Bengals vs. Broncos (2009 NFL)
- "Gettin' Away From the Cops Speed!" - Jaguars vs. Titans (2009 NFL)
- "Unbelievable! Mike Thomas! Touchdown, Jags!" - Texans vs. Jaguars (2010 NFL)
- "At the Buzzer! Young Zeke!" - Arizona vs. Washington (2011 Pac-10 Tournament)
- "Miracle!" - FA Cup Final (2013 Soccer)
- "Ramos Again! And We're Level!" - Champions League Final (2014 Soccer)
- "He Missed It! Unbelievable!" - Vikings vs. Cardinals (2021 NFL)
- "Agnew! Touchdown, Jacksonville! Incredible!" - Jaguars vs. Cardinals (2021 NFL)
- Famous Calls by Gus Johnson
- Images for kids
Early Life and Education
Gus Johnson was born in Detroit, Michigan. He went to the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. There, he played baseball, basketball, and football. After high school, he attended Howard University. He played on the baseball team for four years. In 1990, he graduated with a degree in political science.
In 2022, Johnson joined a special program at Harvard University. This program helps leaders learn new skills. A TV show about his time in this program was shown on Fox Sports.
Gus Johnson's Career in Sports Announcing
Starting His Announcing Journey
Gus Johnson began his career calling many different sports. He announced games for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves in 1996–97. He also called Big East basketball games. You might have heard his voice on ESPN for college hockey and college basketball. He even announced Canadian Football League games for ESPN2. From 1998 to 2010, he called NFL games for CBS.
In 1991, Johnson hosted a show called Black College Sports Today on ESPN. He also worked as a news anchor for a short time. He even had a small acting part as an announcer in the 1998 movie He Got Game.
Key Roles and Memorable Moments
Johnson called many sports for CBS Sports. This included the exciting March Madness basketball tournament from 1996 to 2011. Some of his most famous calls during March Madness include:
- UCLA's big comeback win against Gonzaga in 2006.
- The thrilling double-overtime game between Xavier and Kansas State in 2010.
- George Mason's surprising win over Villanova in 2011.
He also announced Sunday-night basketball games for the Big Ten Network. From 1994 to 2010, Johnson worked for the Madison Square Garden Network (MSG). He was the radio and backup TV announcer for the NBA's New York Knicks. He also announced games for the WNBA's New York Liberty.
Johnson has also announced preseason NFL games for teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions. He has called Golden Gloves boxing matches and Showtime Championship Boxing. He was also a commentator for mixed martial arts events like EliteXC and Strikeforce.
You might have heard his voice in video games too! He was a play-by-play announcer in NCAA Basketball 10, Madden NFL 11, and Madden NFL 12.
In 2011, Johnson joined Fox Sports. He started calling college football and NFL games there. He also announced Major League Soccer games for the San Jose Earthquakes in 2012. He became the lead soccer announcer for Fox, calling matches like the Barclays Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
More recently, Johnson has announced "select" NFL games for Fox Sports. He also calls games for the first round of the NBA playoffs for TNT and NBA TV. In 2023, he returned to MSG Network to fill in for New York Knicks games.
Gus Johnson's Announcing Style
Gus Johnson is known for his very energetic announcing style. Some people think his excitement can be a bit much. But ESPN's Bill Simmons once said that Johnson "could make a chess match sound exciting."
Johnson has some famous phrases he uses often, like "pure!" and "count it!" Even though he's known for these catchphrases, he also knows when to be quiet. He lets the exciting moments speak for themselves. For example, during a college football game in 2015, he let the crowd's reaction tell the story when Stanford kicked a game-winning field goal.
Famous Calls by Gus Johnson
Gus Johnson has made many memorable calls throughout his career. Here are a few that show his exciting style:
"Heartbreak City!" - UCLA vs. Gonzaga (2006 NCAA Tournament)
During a thrilling college basketball game, UCLA was losing by a lot to Gonzaga. But then, UCLA made an amazing comeback. As UCLA stole the ball and scored to take the lead, Johnson shouted:
Johnson: And a steal! Farmar! Inside... the freshman up- [nearly inaudible over the crowd cheering as UCLA forward Luc Mbah a Moute scores a layup] Oh and they go in front! Raivio! Last chance to dance!
When UCLA finally won, Johnson yelled:
Johnson: UCLA! Unbelievable!
Analyst Len Elmore: Are you kidding me?!
Johnson: After being down by 17, heartbreak city!
This call earned him the nickname "Screaming Gus Johnson."
"Touchdown Denver! Unbelievable!" - Bengals vs. Broncos (2009 NFL)
In an NFL game, the Denver Broncos were losing with seconds left. Their quarterback threw a pass that was tipped, but it landed right in the hands of Brandon Stokley. He ran it for an amazing game-winning touchdown! Johnson's call was full of shock and excitement:
Johnson: Orton… pumps again to the sideline… batted up- OH, CAUGHT! STOKLEY! DOWN THE SIDELINE! CAN HE CATCH HIM!? STOKLEY! WOW! [Pause] Touchdown Denver! Unbelievable!
"Gettin' Away From the Cops Speed!" - Jaguars vs. Titans (2009 NFL)
During another NFL game, Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans broke free for a 52-yard touchdown run. Gus Johnson's description of his speed became instantly famous:
Johnson: First down and 10... Johnson... gets a shoulder he's- WOW! Watch out! He's got gettin' away from the cops speed! Touchdown!
"Unbelievable! Mike Thomas! Touchdown, Jags!" - Texans vs. Jaguars (2010 NFL)
In a tied game with almost no time left, the Jaguars threw a long pass. A defender batted it down, but the ball magically landed in the hands of another Jaguars receiver, Mike Thomas, for the winning touchdown!
Johnson: Garrard… steps up… fires, Mike Sims-Walker…! [Ball is batted down] Knocked down- [Ball lands in the hands of Thomas]
Color commentator Steve Tasker: OH, HE CAUGHT IT!
Johnson: OHH! UNBELIEVABLE! MIKE THOMAS! TOUCHDOWN, JAGS! BALLGAME! FIFTY YARDS!
"At the Buzzer! Young Zeke!" - Arizona vs. Washington (2011 Pac-10 Tournament)
In a championship basketball game, Isaiah Thomas of University of Washington hit a game-winning shot as time ran out. Gus Johnson's call captured the excitement:
Johnson: Shot clock turned off. Game clock at 8... He's gonna do it himself. Thomas. Shake, crossover, step baaack [Isaiah Thomas shoots the game winning shot that goes through the net as the clock expires.]
Johnson: Ahhhhh! At the buzzer! Young Zeke! And Washington wins it! On a last second J! Coooold blooded!
"Miracle!" - FA Cup Final (2013 Soccer)
When Wigan Athletic scored a surprising winning goal against a much stronger team, Manchester City, in the 2013 FA Cup final, Johnson's excitement was clear:
Here's [Shaun] Maloney, [as Ben Watson head the ball towards goal], head it… OH, BEN WATSON! OFF THE BENCH, WHAT A GOAL! [Ian Wright, the color commentator, laughs] Wigan take a 1-0 lead in the 90+1 minute of the FA Cup final, MIRACLE!
"Ramos Again! And We're Level!" - Champions League Final (2014 Soccer)
In the 2014 UEFA Champions League final, Real Madrid scored a game-tying goal in the very last seconds. This forced the game into extra time. Johnson's reaction was full of energy:
Painful for both sides. Luka Modric [as he lobs the ball to Sergio Ramos, who heads the ball toward the goal]. Headed down, AND IN!!! RAMOS AGAIN!!! AND WE'RE LEVEL!!! [pauses] 93rd minute, Sergio Ramos!
"He Missed It! Unbelievable!" - Vikings vs. Cardinals (2021 NFL)
In a close NFL game, the Vikings tried a game-winning field goal. But the kick missed, and Johnson was shocked:
Good snap, clean hold, for the winnnn...OHHHHH MY GOODNESS, HE MISSED IT! (pause) UNBELIEVABLE! And the Cardinals survive...34-33! You're watching the NFL, folks! On F-O-X!"
"Agnew! Touchdown, Jacksonville! Incredible!" - Jaguars vs. Cardinals (2021 NFL)
A week later, in another Cardinals game, a long field goal attempt was short. Jamal Agnew of the Jaguars caught the ball in his own end zone and ran it all the way back for an amazing 109-yard touchdown! Johnson's screaming call was a highlight:
So here we go, Matt Prater, ready to attempt a 68-yarder, for NFL history. Got it up...it's short! Agnew, brings it out of the end zone. Agnew...still running. AGNEW...DOWN THE SIDELINE! AGNEW! TOUCHDOWN, JACKSONVILLE! A hundred...and...nine...yards. INCREDIBLE!
Images for kids
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Johnson in 2023
