Wayne Larrivee facts for kids

Wayne Larrivee is an American sportscaster. This means he's a person who talks about sports on TV or radio. He is currently the main radio voice for the Green Bay Packers football team. You can hear him on the Packers Radio Network, often with Larry McCarren. Wayne also calls college football and basketball games for the Big Ten Network.

Even though he works with the Packers now, Wayne is also very well-known for his time covering sports in Chicago. He was the voice for the Chicago Cubs baseball team, the Chicago Bears football team for over ten years, and the Chicago Bulls basketball team for nearly twenty years.

About Wayne Larrivee

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Wayne Larrivee was born in Lee, Massachusetts. He went to Emerson College in Boston, where he studied mass communications. He graduated from college in 1977.

While at Emerson, Wayne practiced his play-by-play skills. He would go to the old Boston Garden and record himself calling games. He even interviewed players after games for his college radio station.

Wayne started his professional career in radio in 1975 in Pampa, Texas. Later, he moved to Davenport, Iowa. There, he announced games for the University of Iowa football team, the Quad City Angels minor league baseball team, and high school basketball games.

From 1978 to 1984, Wayne was the play-by-play announcer for the Kansas City Chiefs football team.

In 1985, Wayne became the radio voice for the Chicago Bears. He stayed with them until the end of the 1998 NFL season. The next year, he became the voice of the Green Bay Packers. At both teams, he took over from other famous announcers.

Wayne has called two Super Bowl victories. He was there when the Bears won Super Bowl XX and when the Packers won Super Bowl XLV.

Other Sports Broadcasting Work

Wayne also worked as the television play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Bulls basketball team for seventeen seasons on WGN-TV. Over the years, he has also called games for:

• The Chicago Cubs baseball team
• The Kansas City Kings basketball team
• Iowa Hawkeyes football
• Missouri Tigers basketball
• Big Ten football and basketball for ESPN Plus

Wayne also works for Westwood One sports. He announces games for the NCAA basketball tournament. He also fills in as an announcer for NFL games on their network.

In his free time, Wayne voices commercials for Badger Mutual Insurance in Wisconsin and other states. He also voices the "In the Tunnel" segment for Green Bay Packers games.

More Broadcasting Assignments

During the NFL season, Wayne also hosts a national radio show. He co-hosts it with Hub Arkush, who publishes Pro Football Weekly.

On July 18, 2007, Wayne was chosen as a top play-by-play announcer for football games on the Big Ten Network. He works with former football player Chris Martin.

On October 10, 2017, Wayne was announced as the television play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Panthers men's basketball team.

Wayne's Famous Phrases

Wayne Larrivee is known for a special phrase he uses during exciting moments in games. When a team scores a point that seems to guarantee a win, he calls it "The Dagger."

However, there was one time in the 2012 NFL season when he called "The Dagger" too early. He thought the Packers had won against the Seattle Seahawks. But the Seahawks then scored a very controversial touchdown to win the game instead!

In 2011, Wayne started selling merchandise with his famous "The Dagger" phrase.