Tim Ryan (sportscaster) facts for kids

Tim Ryan is a famous Canadian sportscaster who used to announce many different sports games. He was born on May 16, 1939. Tim worked for big TV networks like NBC, CBS, Fox, and ESPN in the United States. He was known for calling hockey games, over 300 championship boxing matches, and hosting tennis tournaments.

Early Life and First Steps

Tim Ryan was born in Winnipeg, Canada. He grew up in Toronto and went to De La Salle College. His father, Joe, was a well-known leader for teams in the Canadian Football League. Joe Ryan is even in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. When Tim was still in high school in 1956, he started his career in radio at CFRB in Toronto.

Starting His Career

Tim Ryan studied journalism at the University of Notre Dame. He was the sports director for the university's radio station. After college, he went back to Toronto. He worked as a sportswriter for the Toronto Star newspaper.

In 1961, Tim joined the TV station CFTO when it first started. He was the assistant sports director there until 1967. Then, he moved to California to work for the San Francisco Seals hockey team. This team was part of the Western Hockey League. The next year, they joined the National Hockey League as the Oakland Seals. Tim also announced their games on radio and TV.

Moving to New York City

In 1970, Tim Ryan moved to New York City. He became a news and sports announcer at WPIX and called games for the New York Rangers hockey team. In 1971, he announced the famous Fight of the Century boxing match. He was the only English-speaking announcer to call that fight live.

In 1972, he became the main announcer for the NHL on NBC. NBC stopped showing hockey after three seasons. But Tim stayed with NBC to announce NFL football games, boxing matches, and other sports. From 1975 to 1982, Tim also called games for the New York Islanders hockey team.

Working at CBS

Tim Ryan joined CBS in 1977. He announced games for the NBA on CBS (basketball) and NFL on CBS (football). He also called boxing matches for CBS Sports Spectacular. In 1982, he started announcing college basketball games for CBS.

From 1987 to 1994, he hosted CBS's coverage of the US Open tennis tournament. In 1994, he became a play-by-play announcer for tennis alongside Jim Nantz. Tim 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 college football games for ESPN. He also hosted a nightly show on SIRIUS radio during the 2006 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament.

Tim Ryan announced many events for NBC during the Olympic Games. He covered the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2002 Winter Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics, 2006 Winter Olympics, 2008 Summer Olympics, 2010 Winter Olympics, and 2012 Summer Olympic. He announced sports like equestrian, rowing, canoeing, and alpine skiing.

Personal Life

Tim Ryan has four children. His first wife, Lee Ryan, had Alzheimer's disease and passed away in 2002. Tim was a national board member for the Alzheimer's Association Public Policy Forum for eight years.

In 2016, Tim Ryan wrote a book about his life called On Someone Else's Nickel: A Life in Television, Sports, and Travel.

For a long time, Tim lived in Ketchum, Idaho. In 2019, he moved to Victoria, British Columbia, where he now lives with his second wife, Patricia.