Mike Gorman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Gorman
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Gorman at the Massachusetts State House in 2008
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| Born | November 24, 1947 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Boston State College |
| Years active | 1970s–2024 |
| Sports commentary career | |
| Team(s) | Boston Celtics |
| Genre(s) | Play-by-play |
| Sports | Basketball |
Mike Gorman, born on November 24, 1947, is a famous American sports commentator. He is best known for being the voice of the Boston Celtics basketball team for many years. He started calling Celtics games in 1981. He worked alongside Celtics legend Tom Heinsohn until 2020. Mike Gorman retired from broadcasting in 2024.
Besides the Celtics, Gorman also worked for big TV networks like CBS, ESPN, NBC, and TBS. He called exciting games like college basketball tournaments and the Summer Olympic Games. In 2021, he was honored in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He received the Curt Gowdy Award for his amazing work.
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Mike Gorman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 24, 1947. He was the youngest of three children. As a kid, he loved basketball. He would read about the NBA in the newspaper. Sometimes, he even tried to sneak into Boston Celtics games! He played basketball for his school, Boston Latin, as a guard. He was a very good player.
Gorman went to Boston State College, which is now the University of Massachusetts Boston. He studied to become a teacher and coach. After college, he joined the United States Navy. He became a pilot who flew planes for looking at things from the air. He was known as a very reliable pilot. In 1972, he was supposed to be on a flight that crashed, but he was redirected at the last minute. This made him feel very sad. He decided to stop flying and left the Navy in 1973.
Broadcasting Career Highlights
Starting in Radio and TV
After leaving the Navy, Mike Gorman wanted to work in radio and TV. A friend from the Navy told him about it. He asked for advice from Gil Santos, a famous broadcaster in Boston. Gil Santos helped Gorman get his first job at a radio station called WNBH. Gorman then worked at WPRO in Providence, Rhode Island. He also became the sports director for WPRI-TV. He called games for the Providence Friars men's basketball team.
The Voice of the Boston Celtics
On November 1, 1981, Mike Gorman started calling Boston Celtics games on TV. He worked with Tom Heinsohn, a Celtics legend. People called them "Mike and Tommy." They worked together for 39 years, which is one of the longest partnerships in sports!
Heinsohn taught Gorman to talk about what they saw happening in the game. Gorman became known for his special calls. When a Celtics player made an important shot, he would often say "got it!" or "takes it... makes it!" He was inspired by another Celtics announcer, Johnny Most, who had his own famous call. Gorman's favorite season was when the Celtics won their 17th NBA championship in 2008.
Mike and Tommy's partnership ended when Tom Heinsohn passed away in November 2020. After that, former Celtics player Brian Scalabrine became the new color commentator.
Before the 2023–24 season, Gorman announced he would retire after the season. For his last season, he only called Celtics home games. Another announcer, Drew Carter, called the away games. On April 12, 2024, the broadcasting table at TD Garden was named the "Mike Gorman Broadcast Table." The mayor of Boston also declared April 12, 2024, "Mike Gorman Day." His very last game was on May 1, 2024, when the Celtics won a playoff game. He worked with the Celtics for 43 years! The Celtics later won their 18th NBA championship in 2024. Mike Gorman joined them for their victory parade. Drew Carter took over as the full-time Celtics TV announcer.
Working for National TV Networks
Besides the Celtics, Mike Gorman also worked for big national TV networks. He called college basketball games for ESPN. He also called NCAA basketball tournament games for CBS. He even called NBA playoffs games for TBS.
Gorman also worked for NBC at the Summer Olympic Games. He called tennis matches at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Later, he called handball at the 2012 Olympics in London. He also called men's basketball games at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Personal Life
Mike Gorman has been married twice. He has a daughter named Kristen from his first marriage. He married his second wife, Teri, in 1988. They met when she worked on college basketball games that he was calling. They even worked together on editing game highlights. As of 2019, Mike and his wife lived in an apartment near TD Garden, where the Celtics play.
In 2023, Mike Gorman had a sudden eye injury. He temporarily lost sight in one eye. He had surgery quickly, which saved his vision. This injury helped him decide to retire after the 2023–24 season.
Awards and Honors
Mike Gorman has won the Sports Emmy Award five times. In 2004, he was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2021, he was honored in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He received the Curt Gowdy Award for his great work as a basketball commentator.
