Keith Jackson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Keith Jackson
Jackson at Falcon Stadium in 1986
Born	Keith Max Jackson (1928-10-18)October 18, 1928 Roopville, Georgia, U.S.
Died	January 12, 2018(2018-01-12) (aged 89) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Washington State University
Occupation	Sports commentator, journalist, author, radio personality
Years active	1952–2006
Spouse(s)	Turi Ann Jackson (m. 1954-2018; his death)
Children	3
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1946–1950
Unit	United States Marine Corps Aviation
Battles/wars	Cold War

Keith Max Jackson (October 18, 1928 – January 12, 2018) was a famous American sports commentator. He was also a journalist, author, and radio personality. He worked for ABC Sports for many years, from 1966 to 2006.

While he covered many different sports, Keith Jackson was best known for his amazing work with college football. He announced games from 1952 until 2006. People loved his deep, powerful voice. It was often called the "voice of ultimate authority" in sports broadcasting.

About Keith Jackson

Early Life and Education

Keith Jackson grew up on a farm in Roopville, Georgia. He was the only child in his family. He loved listening to sports on the radio.

After serving as a mechanic in the United States Marine Corps, he went to Washington State University. He studied political science at first. But he soon became very interested in broadcasting. He graduated in 1954 with a degree in speech communications.

His Broadcasting Career

Keith Jackson is famous for college football. But he also announced many other sports for ABC. These included Major League Baseball, NBA basketball, boxing, auto racing, PGA Tour golf, and the Olympic Games. He even worked briefly with Dick Vitale on college basketball.

Jackson also hosted the pregame, halftime, and postgame shows for Super Bowl XXII in 1988. He gave famous nicknames to sports venues. He called the Rose Bowl "The Grandaddy of them All." He also named Michigan Stadium "The Big House."

Starting Out

Jackson began his broadcasting career in 1952. He called a college football game between Stanford and Washington State. He then worked for KOMO radio and KOMO-TV in Seattle. From 1954 to 1964, he was a news co-anchor. He covered hydroplane races, minor league baseball, and University of Washington football games.

In 1958, Jackson made history. He was the first American sports announcer to broadcast from the Soviet Union. He covered a crew race between the Washington Huskies and a Soviet team. Even with many challenges from Soviet officials, Jackson successfully covered the race. It was the first time an American sports team won on Russian soil.

In 1964, Jackson joined ABC News Radio. He became the sports director for ABC Radio West. He then moved to ABC Sports in 1966.

Professional Football

In the early 1960s, Jackson covered American Football League games. In 1970, he was chosen to be the first play-by-play announcer for Monday Night Football. This was a big deal for the NFL. He worked on the show for its first season.

Jackson was also the main play-by-play announcer for the United States Football League (USFL) on ABC. He covered games from 1983 to 1985. He called all three championship games in the league's short history.

Olympic Games Coverage

Jackson was a key part of ABC's coverage of the Olympic Games. He covered 10 Summer and Winter Olympics in total.

He was involved in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. During these games, a serious event involving terrorists happened. Jackson continued to report, showing how sports broadcasting could also cover major news. He covered swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics and track and field in 1976. He also covered speed-skating at the 1980 Winter Olympics. This was when Eric Heiden won five gold medals. Jackson also called basketball in 1984.

NBA and Wide World of Sports

Jackson was ABC's main basketball announcer for two years. He worked with NBA legend Bill Russell.

He was also a regular on ABC's popular show Wide World of Sports. He covered many different events. These included popular sports and unusual ones like wrist wrestling. He covered Evel Knievel's successful jump in Toronto in 1974. He also covered boxer Sugar Ray Leonard early in his career. Jackson worked with Jackie Stewart on auto racing events. He covered the 1974 Firecracker 400 and the 1975 Indianapolis 500.

Major League Baseball

In baseball, Keith Jackson called many important games. He worked with Tim McCarver on the famous 16-inning sixth game of the 1986 National League Championship Series. This was between the New York Mets and Houston Astros. It was his last Major League Baseball game broadcast.

Jackson also called the 1977 World Series, 1979 World Series, and 1981 World Series. He announced several All-Star Games and championship series. He also covered regular-season games for ABC.

Sometimes, his college football duties overlapped with baseball. He would often fly quickly between games to cover both.

College Basketball

Starting in 1987, Jackson became ABC's main play-by-play announcer for college basketball. He worked with analyst Dick Vitale. This team worked together until 1992.

College Football Focus

Keith Jackson received the most praise for his college football coverage. He truly loved the sport. He started announcing college football in 1952. He only missed one season in over 50 years. That was when he worked on Monday Night Football.

He worked with many different commentators over the years. These included Bud Wilkinson, Ara Parseghian, and Bob Griese. Jackson called 16 Sugar Bowls and 15 Rose Bowls for ABC.

He was often assigned to the main national game of the week. His unique phrases became famous. These included "Whoa, Nellie!", "Fum-BLE!", and "Hold the phonnnnne!" He called offensive and defensive line players the Big Uglies. He also said "That guy...is a hoss" (horse).

Jackson is also known for naming Michigan Stadium The Big House. In his final season before his first retirement, the Michigan Marching Band spelled out "Thanks Keith" on the field. The fans cheered for him. He received a jersey with "The Big House" on it and a Michigan football helmet.

In the mid-1980s, Jackson's contract expired. But the new ABC Sports President, Dennis Swanson, offered him a new contract. Jackson accepted it.

Jackson had a special connection to the University of Nebraska. When they designed their new press box, they asked for his advice. He suggested a restroom inside the broadcast booth. When he broadcast a game there later, he found a restroom with a sign that said "The Keith Jackson Memorial Bippy." It was a joke from a friend, but the name stuck. A permanent plaque was put up that reads "The Keith Jackson Toilet Facility – Dedicated Sept 11, 1999."

Jackson once called the 1972 USC Trojans football team the greatest team he ever saw. He also said the 1967 USC vs. UCLA football game was the greatest game he ever saw.

Not every broadcast was perfect. During the 1978 Gator Bowl, Jackson missed a famous moment. Ohio State Coach Woody Hayes punched a Clemson player. Jackson and his co-commentator did not see it happen live. This was because they had limited replay tools and no sideline reporter. Hayes was later fired for the incident.

Retirement

As he neared his 70th birthday, Jackson announced his first retirement. This was at the end of the 1998 season. He wanted to live full-time in California. His last broadcast was the first BCS National Championship Game in 1999. It was the 1999 Fiesta Bowl between Tennessee and Florida State. He ended the broadcast by saying, "Tennessee 23, Florida State 16. And so it is done. I say goodbye to all of you. God bless and good night."

However, he returned to broadcasting the next fall. He worked a more limited schedule, mostly on the West Coast. He called the 100th meeting of the Michigan–Ohio State game in 2003. He also called the 100th meeting of the Oklahoma vs. Texas football game in 2005.

He officially announced his retirement on April 27, 2006. He said he didn't want to "die in a stadium parking lot." His very last game call was the 2006 Rose Bowl. This was the BCS National Championship Game between Texas and Southern California. It was also the last college football game shown on ABC under the "ABC Sports" name.

Big Ten Icons

In 2010, the Big Ten Conference announced that Jackson would host a TV series. It was called Big Ten Icons for the Big Ten Network. The show highlighted the top 50 student-athletes from the Big Ten Conference.

Awards and Honors

Keith Jackson received many awards for his work.

• In 1999, the National Football Foundation gave him their highest honor, the Gold Medal Award.
• The same year, he was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. This was for his many contributions to "The Grandaddy of Them All."
• His alma mater, Washington State University, gave him the Murrow Award in 1999.
• In 1994, Jackson was inducted into the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame.
• In 1995, he joined the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame. He had won their National Sportscaster of the Year award five times in a row.
• The American Football Coaches Association gave him the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award in 1993. He was the first sports announcer to receive this award.

Many famous coaches praised Jackson. Joe Paterno said no one had done more for college football than Keith Jackson. Lloyd Carr called Jackson "a symbol of all the good things in college football."

In 2015, the radio and TV booths at the Rose Bowl stadium were renamed "The Keith Jackson Broadcast Center."

Film and Television Appearances

Keith Jackson also had a small acting career. He often played himself or a sportscaster. He appeared in the film The Fortune Cookie (1966). He also narrated several sports documentaries. His call of the 1977 World Series was used in the film Summer of Sam (1999). He appeared in clips on the ESPN series The Bronx Is Burning.

Jackson appeared in many commercials. He once parodied his famous "Whoa, Nellie!" line in a Miller Lite beer commercial. He also appeared in commercials for Shoney's restaurants and Gatorade. In 2006, he was in a commercial for Ice Breakers with Hilary Duff and Joey Lawrence.

Actor Shuler Hensley played Keith Jackson in the 2002 film Monday Night Mayhem. This movie told the story of the early days of Monday Night Football.

Personal Life and Death

Keith Jackson and his wife, Turi Ann, lived in California. They also spent time at their vacation home in British Columbia. They had three children: Melanie Ann, Lindsey, and Christopher. At the time of his death, he lived in Los Angeles.

Jackson passed away on January 12, 2018. He was 89 years old.

Notable Broadcasts

Here are some of the most famous events Keith Jackson broadcasted:

1950s

• September 20, 1958: One of his earliest surviving college football broadcasts.

1960s

• March 2, 1969: PBA San Jose Open – Johnny Guenther bowled a perfect 300 game.

1970s

• September 21, 1970: The very first Monday Night Football game.
• 1971 Daytona 500: Richard Petty won his 3rd Daytona 500 race.
• 1972 NBA Finals: The Los Angeles Lakers won the championship.
• 1972 Summer Olympics: U.S. swimmer Mark Spitz won seven gold medals.
• 1973 NBA Finals: The New York Knicks won their 2nd league championship.
• November 30, 1974: No. 6 USC vs. No. 5 Notre Dame – known as the "Earthquake Game."
• 1975 Indianapolis 500: Bobby Unser won this rain-shortened race.
• 1976 American League Championship Series: New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals.
• 1977 World Series: New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers. This included Reggie Jackson's three home runs on three pitches.
• October 2, 1978: American League East Playoff – New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox. This game featured Bucky Dent's famous home run.
• December 29, 1978: Gator Bowl – Ohio State vs. Clemson. This was Woody Hayes' final game as coach.
• January 1, 1979: Sugar Bowl – No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 1 Penn State for the national championship.

1980s

• 1980 Winter Olympics: U.S. speed skater Eric Heiden won five gold medals.
• 1980 National League Championship Series: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Houston Astros.
• January 1, 1981: Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 7 Notre Dame. Georgia won the national championship.
• 1981 World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers defeated New York Yankees in 6 games.
• November 28, 1981: Iron Bowl – Alabama vs. Auburn. Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant won his 315th college game.
• November 27, 1982: Iron Bowl – Auburn vs Alabama – known as "Bo Over The Top."
• January 1, 1983: Sugar Bowl – No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 2 Penn State for the national championship.
• 1984 Summer Olympics: The USA basketball team, led by Michael Jordan, won gold.
• November 30, 1985: Iron Bowl Alabama vs Auburn – known as "The Kick."
• 1986 National League Championship Series: New York Mets vs. Houston Astros. This included the famous 16-inning Game 6.
• May 17, 1987: NASCAR The Winston won by Dale Earnhardt ("The Pass in the Grass").
• November 26, 1988: No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 USC.
• September 16, 1989: No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Michigan.

1990s

• May 27, 1990: Monaco Grand Prix won by Ayrton Senna.
• November 16, 1991: No. 2 Miami vs. No. 1 Florida State (a.k.a. "Wide Right I").
• January 1, 1992: Rose Bowl – No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Michigan.
• October 3, 1992: No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 2 Miami (a.k.a. "Wide Right II").
• January 1, 1993: Sugar Bowl – No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 1 Miami for the national championship.
• September 24, 1994: The Miracle at Michigan – No. 7 Colorado at No. 4 Michigan.
• January 2, 1997: Sugar Bowl – No. 1 Florida State vs. No. 3 Florida for the national championship.
• January 1, 1998: Rose Bowl – No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 8 Washington State. Michigan won a share of the 1997 national championship.
• January 4, 1999: Fiesta Bowl – No. 1 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Florida State in the first BCS National Championship Game.

2000s

• January 4, 2002: Rose Bowl – Miami (FL) vs. Nebraska in the 2002 BCS National Championship Game.
• January 3, 2003: Fiesta Bowl – Miami (FL) vs. Ohio State in the 2003 BCS National Championship Game.
• November 22, 2003: Ohio State at Michigan (the 100th meeting).
• January 1, 2004: 2004 Rose Bowl – Michigan vs. USC.
• October 8, 2005: Oklahoma vs. Texas (the 100th meeting).
• January 4, 2006: Rose Bowl – Texas vs. USC in the 2006 BCS National Championship Game. This was his final game call.