Tim Ryan (sportscaster) facts for kids
Tim Ryan (born May 16, 1939) is a Canadian sportscaster who is now retired. He worked for many big TV networks in the United States, like NBC, CBS, Fox, and ESPN. Tim Ryan was the main announcer for NHL on NBC hockey games from 1972 to 1975. He also called over 300 championship boxing matches. Plus, he was a host and announcer for Tennis on CBS.
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Tim Ryan's Early Life and Family
Tim Ryan was born in Winnipeg, Canada. He grew up in Toronto and went to De La Salle College. His father, Joe Ryan, was a general manager for Canadian Football League (CFL) teams. These teams included the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Montreal Alouettes, and Edmonton Eskimos. Joe Ryan is a member of both the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. When Tim was in high school in 1956, he started working in radio at CFRB in Toronto.
How Tim Ryan Started His Career
Tim Ryan went to the University of Notre Dame. He studied journalism there. While at college, he was the sports director for the university's radio station. After he graduated, he went back to Toronto. He worked as a sportswriter for the Toronto Star newspaper.
In 1961, he joined the new TV station CFTO in Toronto. He was the assistant sports director until 1967. Then, he became the public relations director for the San Francisco Seals. This was a hockey team in the Western Hockey League. The next year, they joined the National Hockey League as the Oakland Seals. Tim Ryan also announced the team's games on radio and TV.
Tim Ryan in New York City
In 1970, Tim Ryan moved to New York City. He worked at WPIX as a news anchor and sportscaster. He also announced games for the New York Rangers hockey team. In 1971, he called the famous Fight of the Century boxing match. He announced it for Radio New Zealand and the American Forces Network. He was the only English-speaking announcer to call that fight live.
In 1972, he became the main announcer for NHL on NBC. NBC stopped showing hockey after three seasons. But Tim Ryan stayed with NBC. He announced NFL football games, boxing matches, and other sports events. From 1975 to 1982, Tim Ryan announced games for the New York Islanders hockey team. He worked with George Michael and Ed Westfall.
Tim Ryan's Time at CBS
Tim Ryan started working for CBS in 1977. He was an announcer for the NBA on CBS basketball games and NFL on CBS football games. He also called boxing matches on CBS Sports Spectacular. In 1982, he began announcing college basketball games for CBS.
From 1987 to 1994, he was the studio host for CBS's coverage of the US Open tennis tournament. In 1994, he and Jim Nantz became the main tennis announcers for the network. Tim Ryan also announced alpine skiing at the 1992, 1994, and 1998 Winter Olympic Games. From 1996 to 1997, he announced college football games for CBS.
Later Career Highlights
In 1998, Tim Ryan moved to Fox. There, he announced NFL football games and the World Bowl '98. In 2003 and 2004, he announced ESPN College Football games. He also hosted a nightly show on SIRIUS radio during the 2006 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament.
Tim Ryan worked for NBC during many Olympic Games. He announced events like equestrian (horse riding), rowing, canoeing, and alpine skiing. These Olympics included:
- 2000 Summer Olympics
- 2002 Winter Olympics
- 2004 Summer Olympics
- 2006 Winter Olympics
- 2008 Summer Olympics
- 2010 Winter Olympics
- 2012 Summer Olympic
Tim Ryan's Personal Life
Tim Ryan has four children. His first wife, Lee Ryan, had Alzheimer's disease and passed away in 2002. For eight years, he was on the national board of the Alzheimer's Association Public Policy Forum.
In 2016, Tim Ryan wrote a book about his life. It is called On Someone Else's Nickel: A Life in Television, Sports, and Travel.
He lived in Ketchum, Idaho for a long time. In 2019, he moved to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He lives there with his second wife, Patricia.
