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{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Mike Breen
|name = Mike Breen
| image = Мајк Брин 2023.png
|image = Мајк Брин 2023.png
| caption = Breen in 2023
|caption = Breen in 2023
| birthname = Michael Breen
|birthname = Michael Breen
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|5|22}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|5|22}}
| birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
|birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
| death_date =
|death_date =
| death_place =
|death_place =
| education = [[Fordham University]]
|education = [[Fordham University]]
| years_active = 1991–present
|years_active = 1991–present
| alias =
|alias =
| title = Sportscaster
|title = Sportscaster
| family =
|family =
| spouse = Rosanne Breen
|spouse = Rosanne Breen
| domestic_partner =
|domestic_partner =
| children = 3
|children = 3
| relatives =
|relatives =
| credits = *Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on May 14, 2021
|credits = *Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on May 14, 2021
*Broadcaster of the Year, 1998 National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mike Breen|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/breen_mike/|website=ESPN Press Room U.S.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref>
*Broadcaster of the Year, 1998 National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mike Breen|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/breen_mike/|website=ESPN Press Room U.S.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref>
*Two-time [[Sports Emmy Award]] winner (Outstanding Play-by-Play)<ref>{{cite web |title=2023 Sports Emmy Winners |url=https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/44-Sports-Winners-Press-Release-v3.pdf |website=2023 Sports Emmy Awards |publisher=NATAS |access-date=May 22, 2023}}</ref>
*Three-time [[Sports Emmy Award]] winner (Outstanding Play-by-Play)<ref>{{cite web|title=2023 Sports Emmy Winners|url=https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/44-Sports-Winners-Press-Release-v3.pdf|website=2023 Sports Emmy Awards|publisher=NATAS|access-date=May 22, 2023}}</ref>
| URL =
|URL =
| module = {{infobox sports announcer details
|module = {{infobox sports announcer details
| role = [[Play-by-play]]
|role = [[Play-by-play]]
| sport = {{hlist|[[Basketball]]|[[American football]]}}
|sport = {{hlist|[[Basketball]]|[[American football]]}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
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==Biography==
==Biography==
===Early life===
===Early life===
Breen was raised in [[Yonkers, New York]], and attended St. Paul the Apostle Catholic grammar school. He is a 1979 graduate of [[Salesian High School (New Rochelle)|Salesian High School]], and a 1983 graduate of [[Fordham University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msg.com/tv/network-talent/mike-breen |title=Mike Breen |work=MSG.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721015858/http://www.msg.com/tv/network-talent/mike-breen |archive-date=July 21, 2011 }}</ref>
Breen was raised in [[Yonkers, New York]], and attended St. Paul the Apostle Catholic grammar school. He is a 1979 graduate of [[Salesian High School (New Rochelle)|Salesian High School]], and a 1983 graduate of [[Fordham University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msg.com/tv/network-talent/mike-breen|title=Mike Breen|work=MSG.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721015858/http://www.msg.com/tv/network-talent/mike-breen|archive-date=July 21, 2011}}</ref>


===Basketball===
===Basketball===
[[File:Мајк Брин 2018.png|thumb|left|Breen in 2008]]
[[File:Мајк Брин 2018.png|thumb|left|upright=0.7|Breen in 2008]]


Breen started doing play-by-play for the [[Marist Red Foxes men's basketball|Marist College Red Foxes basketball team]] in 1985. From 1991 to 1997 he worked with the Knicks as a radio announcer for [[WFAN (AM)|WFAN]]. For the 1997–98 season, Breen was promoted to television play-by-play for the Knicks, as [[Marv Albert]] was fired from [[MSG Network]] following his infamous sex scandal. Upon Albert's return in 1999, he became his backup on MSG Network and continued as the lead announcer on WFAN. In 2004 he became the lead Knicks play-by-play following Albert's second dismissal from the network.
Breen started doing play-by-play for the [[Marist Red Foxes men's basketball|Marist College Red Foxes basketball team]] in 1985. From 1991 to 1997 he worked with the Knicks as a radio announcer for [[WFAN (AM)|WFAN]]. For the 1997–98 season, Breen was promoted to television play-by-play for the Knicks, as [[Marv Albert]] was fired from [[MSG Network]] following his infamous sex scandal. Upon Albert's return in 1999, he became his backup on MSG Network and continued as the lead announcer on WFAN. In 2004 he became the lead Knicks play-by-play following Albert's second dismissal from the network.


For the [[1998 NBA playoffs]], Breen joined [[NBA on NBC|NBC]] as a backup play-by-play announcer, and he remained in that role until the end of the network's coverage of the league in 2002. He joined [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]] as the number 3 announcer for the [[2003–04 NBA season]]. In [[2005-06 NBA season|February 2006]], with the departure of [[Al Michaels]] from the network, [[ESPN on ABC|ABC]] announced that Breen would take over as the lead broadcaster for the NBA, including the [[NBA Finals]]. In the 2006–2007 season, he was part of the lead broadcast team with [[Jeff Van Gundy]] and [[Mark Jackson]] as analysts, and the trio called games until Van Gundy and Jackson's dismissal from the network amid ESPN's layoffs in 2023.
For the [[1998 NBA playoffs]], Breen joined [[NBA on NBC|NBC]] as a backup play-by-play announcer, and he remained in that role until the end of the network's coverage of the league in 2002. He also did play-by-play for [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]] games during his tenure at NBC, most notably Game 2 of the [[1999 WNBA Championship|1999 WNBA Finals]] when [[New York Liberty]] guard [[Teresa Weatherspoon]] made a half-court shot at the final buzzer to beat the [[Houston Comets]]. He joined [[NBA on ESPN|ESPN]] as the number 3 announcer for the [[2003–04 NBA season]]. In [[2005-06 NBA season|February 2006]], with the departure of [[Al Michaels]] from the network, [[ESPN on ABC|ABC]] announced that Breen would take over as the lead broadcaster for the NBA, including the [[NBA Finals]]. In the 2006–2007 season, he was part of the lead broadcast team with [[Jeff Van Gundy]] and [[Mark Jackson]] as analysts, and the trio called games until Van Gundy and Jackson's dismissal from the network amid ESPN's layoffs in 2023.


Breen is known for yelling the word "BANG!" (or others such as "It's good!" or "Puts it in!") after a key shot is made, usually very late in the game. Famous "Bang!" calls include [[Stephen Curry|Stephen Curry's]] game-winning 38-foot three-point shot vs. [[Oklahoma City Thunder|Oklahoma City]] in February 2016, [[Ray Allen|Ray Allen's]] game-tying shot against [[San Antonio Spurs|San Antonio]] in the [[2013 NBA Finals|2013 Finals]], and [[Luka Doncic]]’s game-winning buzzer-beater in overtime against the [[Los Angeles Clippers|Clippers]] in the [[2020 NBA playoffs|2020 playoffs]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2019/06/18/mike-breen-bang-calls-ray-allen-stephen-curry-dirk-nowitzki-video|title=The Best of 'Bang!': Mike Breen's 10 Best 'Bangs' of the Decade|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|first=Khadrice|last=Rollins|date=June 18, 2019|access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> Breen's "BANG!" call originated from his time at Fordham University. Breen explains that as a fan in the stands, he used to yell "BANG!" when a player would nail a big shot. He then decided to test the saying out in the booth when announcing games; he got an immediate positive reaction and stuck with it all throughout his career, making it his trademark.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-03 |title=BANG! Here's Mike Breen's iconic NBA catchphrase origin story |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/05/nba-mike-breen-bang-call-origins-history |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=For The Win |language=en-US}}</ref>
Breen is known for yelling the word "BANG!" (or others such as "It's good!" or "Puts it in!") after a key shot is made, usually very late in the game. Famous "Bang!" calls include [[Stephen Curry|Stephen Curry's]] game-winning 38-foot three-point shot vs. [[Oklahoma City Thunder|Oklahoma City]] in February 2016, [[Ray Allen|Ray Allen's]] game-tying shot against [[San Antonio Spurs|San Antonio]] in the [[2013 NBA Finals|2013 Finals]], and [[Luka Doncic]]’s game-winning buzzer-beater in overtime against the [[Los Angeles Clippers|Clippers]] in the [[2020 NBA playoffs|2020 playoffs]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2019/06/18/mike-breen-bang-calls-ray-allen-stephen-curry-dirk-nowitzki-video|title=The Best of 'Bang!': Mike Breen's 10 Best 'Bangs' of the Decade|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|first=Khadrice|last=Rollins|date=June 18, 2019|access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> Breen's "BANG!" call originated from his time at Fordham University. Breen explains that as a fan in the stands, he used to yell "BANG!" when a player would nail a big shot. He then decided to test the saying out in the booth when announcing games; he got an immediate positive reaction and stuck with it all throughout his career, making it his trademark.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-05-03|title=BANG! Here's Mike Breen's iconic NBA catchphrase origin story|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/05/nba-mike-breen-bang-call-origins-history|access-date=2022-05-17|website=For The Win|language=en-US}}</ref>


Some of his "BANG!" calls include the following:
Some of his "BANG!" calls include the following: "They do have a timeout, decide not to use it, Curry way downtown, BANG! BANG! OH WHAT A SHOT BY CURRY! <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEMVGHoenXM</ref>and in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals "James catches puts up a three, won't go, rebound Bosh, back out to Allen his three pointer BANG! Tie game with 5 seconds remaining!"<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr6XsZVb-ZE</ref>
"They do have a timeout, decide not to use it, Curry way downtown, BANG! BANG! OH, WHAT A SHOT FROM CURRY!"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEMVGHoenXM|title=Steph Curry Drains the Game Winner vs Oklahoma City|website=[[YouTube]]|date=February 27, 2016}}</ref> and in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals: "[[LeBron James|James]] catches puts up a three, won't go, rebound [[Chris Bosh|Bosh]], back out to Allen, his three pointer, BANG! Tie game with five seconds remaining!"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr6XsZVb-ZE|title=Ray Allen's AMAZING game-tying 3-pointer in Game 6!|website=[[YouTube]]|date=June 18, 2013}}</ref> Mike Breen has only used the BANG! BANG! a total of 8 times.


When the Knicks made the [[2011 NBA Playoffs]], Breen did not call any of the games for MSG due to his involvement with ESPN and ABC; he did call Games 3 (with the MSG broadcasts handled by [[Kenny Albert]]) and 4 for ESPN and ABC, respectively.
When the Knicks made the [[2011 NBA Playoffs]], Breen did not call any of the games for MSG due to his involvement with ESPN and ABC; he did call Games 3 (with the MSG broadcasts handled by [[Kenny Albert]]) and 4 for ESPN and ABC, respectively.


Some of Breen's current and past broadcast partners were employed with the Knicks at one point. The list includes former Knicks head coaches [[Hubie Brown]] and [[Jeff Van Gundy]], former Knicks players Mark Jackson and [[Walt Frazier]], and former Knicks radio color announcer [[John Andariese]]. While working alongside [[Bill Walton]] on ESPN, Breen was on hand for [[Malice at the Palace|the infamous Pacers–Pistons brawl]] on November 19, 2004. Two seasons later, Breen was on hand for the [[Knicks–Nuggets brawl]] with MSG Network on December 16, 2006.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/oOAEz9uK6GY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210409160849/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOAEz9uK6GY Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOAEz9uK6GY&t=345s&ab_channel=epaddon| title = 2006 Knicks-Nuggets Brawl | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=December 18, 2006 |title=During a Brawl, Words of Disgust and Indifference |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/sports/basketball/18sandomir.html |access-date=March 23, 2024 |website=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> The former was detailed in ESPN's [[First Take (talk show)|First Take]] talk show on The Old Man and The Three podcast w/ [[JJ Redick]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Mike Breen Opens Up About Calling The Malice At The Palace |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6jGqAsJ6sw |access-date=2024-03-23 |language=en}}</ref>
Some of Breen's current and past broadcast partners were employed with the Knicks at one point. The list includes former Knicks head coaches [[Hubie Brown]] and [[Jeff Van Gundy]], former Knicks players Mark Jackson and [[Walt Frazier]], and former Knicks radio color announcer [[John Andariese]]. While working alongside [[Bill Walton]] on ESPN, Breen was on hand for [[Malice at the Palace|the infamous Pacers–Pistons brawl]] on November 19, 2004. Two seasons later, Breen was on hand for the [[Knicks–Nuggets brawl]] with MSG Network on December 16, 2006.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/oOAEz9uK6GY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210409160849/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOAEz9uK6GY Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOAEz9uK6GY&t=345s&ab_channel=epaddon|title = 2006 Knicks-Nuggets Brawl|website=[[YouTube]]|date = February 21, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=December 18, 2006|title=During a Brawl, Words of Disgust and Indifference|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/sports/basketball/18sandomir.html|access-date=March 23, 2024|website=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> The former was detailed in ESPN's [[First Take (talk show)|First Take]] talk show on The Old Man and The Three podcast w/ [[JJ Redick]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Mike Breen Opens Up About Calling The Malice At The Palace|date=February 10, 2023|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6jGqAsJ6sw|access-date=2024-03-23|language=en}}</ref>


In addition, he was also the voice of the ''[[NBA Live (video game series)|NBA Live]]'', beginning with ''[[NBA Elite 11]]'', alongside his usual ESPN partners Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. However, the series was canceled indefinitely. He did voice along with Van Gundy in the ''NBA Live'' series beginning with ''[[NBA Live 14]]'' through ''[[NBA Live 18]]''. Following ''NBA Live 18'', Breen and Van Gundy were replaced by [[Ed Cohen]] and [[Jay Williams (basketball)|Jay Williams]].
In addition, he was also the voice of the ''[[NBA Live (video game series)|NBA Live]]'', beginning with ''[[NBA Elite 11]]'', alongside his usual ESPN partners Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. However, the series was canceled indefinitely. He did voice along with Van Gundy in the ''NBA Live'' series beginning with ''[[NBA Live 14]]'' through ''[[NBA Live 18]]''. Following ''NBA Live 18'', Breen and Van Gundy were replaced by [[Ed Cohen]] and [[Jay Williams (basketball)|Jay Williams]].


Providing emphasis on how important to the basketball community Breen has been, on May 14, 2021, he was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] and was awarded the [[Curt Gowdy Media Award]]. These are two of the most prestigious accolades someone in this field can attain. When presented with the Curt Gowdy Media Award, Breen stated in his acceptance speech, “I’ve had this enormous privilege to call so many great moments in NBA history, but the best part, the best part, has always been the lifetime of friendships that the game has given me.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-19 |title=NBA Announcer Mike Breen Inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame |url=https://news.fordham.edu/fordham-magazine/nba-announcer-mike-breen-inducted-into-basketball-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Fordham Newsroom |language=en-US}}</ref>
Providing emphasis on how important to the basketball community Breen has been, on May 14, 2021, he was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] and was awarded the [[Curt Gowdy Media Award]]. These are two of the most prestigious accolades someone in this field can attain. When presented with the Curt Gowdy Media Award, Breen stated in his acceptance speech, “I’ve had this enormous privilege to call so many great moments in NBA history, but the best part, the best part, has always been the lifetime of friendships that the game has given me.”<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-19|title=NBA Announcer Mike Breen Inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame|url=https://news.fordham.edu/fordham-magazine/nba-announcer-mike-breen-inducted-into-basketball-hall-of-fame/|access-date=2022-05-17|website=Fordham Newsroom|language=en-US}}</ref>


In Game 7 of the [[2022 NBA playoffs|2022 Eastern Conference Finals]], as well as the first two games of the [[2022 NBA Finals]], Breen sat out of the broadcasting team due to a positive COVID-19 test, and was replaced by [[Mark Jones (sportscaster)|Mark Jones]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Rivera|first=Joe|title=Where is Mike Breen? Why ESPN's Mark Jones is calling Celtics vs. Heat Game 7 instead|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/mike-breen-mark-jones-espn-celtics-heat-game-7-covid-19/st6mlvm0tguan6jffj2kelyj|access-date=May 30, 2022|website=The Sporting News|date=May 29, 2022 }}</ref> Breen returned in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jack Baer |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-finals-espn-mike-breen-back-3-games-missed-covid-19-201808693.html |title=NBA Finals: ESPN's Mike Breen back after bout with COVID-19 |publisher=Sports.yahoo.com |date=2022-06-08 |access-date=2022-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Crowley |first=Kerry |date=2022-06-08 |title=NBA Finals: Top ESPN broadcaster returning from COVID to call Game 3, per report |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/06/08/nba-finals-top-espn-broadcaster-returning-from-covid-to-call-game-3-per-report/ |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}</ref>
In Game 7 of the [[2022 NBA playoffs|2022 Eastern Conference Finals]], as well as the first two games of the [[2022 NBA Finals]], Breen sat out of the broadcasting team due to a positive COVID-19 test, and was replaced by [[Mark Jones (sportscaster)|Mark Jones]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Rivera|first=Joe|title=Where is Mike Breen? Why ESPN's Mark Jones is calling Celtics vs. Heat Game 7 instead|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/mike-breen-mark-jones-espn-celtics-heat-game-7-covid-19/st6mlvm0tguan6jffj2kelyj|access-date=May 30, 2022|website=The Sporting News|date=May 29, 2022}}</ref> Breen returned in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jack Baer|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-finals-espn-mike-breen-back-3-games-missed-covid-19-201808693.html|title=NBA Finals: ESPN's Mike Breen back after bout with COVID-19|publisher=Sports.yahoo.com|date=2022-06-08|access-date=2022-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Crowley|first=Kerry|date=2022-06-08|title=NBA Finals: Top ESPN broadcaster returning from COVID to call Game 3, per report|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/06/08/nba-finals-top-espn-broadcaster-returning-from-covid-to-call-game-3-per-report/|access-date=2024-03-23|website=The Mercury News|language=en-US}}</ref>


In 2023, following a wave of layoffs which included his partners Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, Breen was the only remaining commentator in the lead broadcast team, with [[Doris Burke]] and former NBA coach [[Doc Rivers]] joining the lead team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/08/espn-new-on-air-nba-announcers-doris-burke-1235519292/|title=ESPN Revamps No. 1 On-Air NBA Announcing Team & Sets Up History-Making Finals Run For Doris Burke|first=Tom|last=Tapp|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 14, 2023|access-date=August 15, 2023}}</ref>
In 2023, following a wave of layoffs which included his partners Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, Breen was the only remaining commentator in the lead broadcast team, with [[Doris Burke]] and former NBA coach [[Doc Rivers]] joining the lead team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/08/espn-new-on-air-nba-announcers-doris-burke-1235519292/|title=ESPN Revamps No. 1 On-Air NBA Announcing Team & Sets Up History-Making Finals Run For Doris Burke|first=Tom|last=Tapp|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 14, 2023|access-date=August 15, 2023}}</ref>
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===Radio===
===Radio===
Breen has been a fixture on the radio as well. He began his professional radio career as a sportscaster on [[WNBC (AM)|WNBC]] radio in the early 1980s, and frequently substituted for [[Dave Sims]] as host of "[[Sportsnight|SportsNight]]" on the station. From 1988 to 2000, Breen did the sports segment on the [[WFAN (AM)|WFAN]] and nationally syndicated ''[[Imus in the Morning]]'' talk/comedy radio show. Breen became noted for his [[deadpan]] delivery of false sports news, such as in the mid-1990s reporting that in the previous night's [[New York Mets|Mets]] game, ''"[[Félix Millán]] went 4-for-4 with 3 runs scored"'' (Millán retired in 1977).
Breen has been a fixture on the radio as well. He began his professional radio career as a sportscaster on [[WNBC (AM)|WNBC]] radio in the early 1980s, and frequently substituted for [[Dave Sims]] as host of "SportsNight" on the station. From 1988 to 2000, Breen did the sports segment on the [[WFAN (AM)|WFAN]] and nationally syndicated ''[[Imus in the Morning]]'' talk/comedy radio show. Breen became noted for his [[deadpan]] delivery of false sports news, such as in the mid-1990s reporting that in the previous night's [[New York Mets|Mets]] game, ''"[[Félix Millán]] went 4-for-4 with 3 runs scored"'' (Millán retired in 1977).


===Personal life===
===Personal life===
Breen resides on [[Long Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]], with his wife Rosanne and their three children.{{cn|date=April 2024}}
Breen resides on [[Long Island]], [[New York (state)|New York]], with his wife Rosanne and their three children.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}


== References ==
== References ==
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{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box|before=[[Al Michaels]]| title=Play-by-play announcer, [[NBA Finals]]| years=[[2006 NBA Finals|2006]]–Present| after=Incumbent}}
{{succession box|before=[[Al Michaels]]|title=Play-by-play announcer, [[NBA Finals]]|years=[[2006 NBA Finals|2006]]–Present|after=Incumbent}}
{{succession box|before=[[Al Michaels]]| title=Lead play-by-play announcer, ''[[NBA on ABC]]''| years=[[2005-06 NBA season|2006]]–present| after=Incumbent}}
{{succession box|before=[[Al Michaels]]|title=Lead play-by-play announcer, ''[[NBA on ABC]]''|years=[[2005-06 NBA season|2006]]–present|after=Incumbent}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


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[[Category:New York Knicks announcers]]
[[Category:New York Knicks announcers]]
[[Category:Olympic Games broadcasters]]
[[Category:Olympic Games broadcasters]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from New York City]]
[[Category:Television personalities from New York City]]
[[Category:Women's National Basketball Association announcers]]
[[Category:Women's National Basketball Association announcers]]
[[Category:WFUV people]]
[[Category:WFUV people]]

Latest revision as of 10:12, 20 November 2024

For other people named Mike Breen, see Mike Breen (disambiguation).

Mike Breen
Breen in 2023
Born
Michael Breen

(1961-05-22) May 22, 1961 (age 63)
New York City, U.S.
EducationFordham University
Years active1991–present
Notable credits
  • Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on May 14, 2021
  • Broadcaster of the Year, 1998 National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association[1]
  • Three-time Sports Emmy Award winner (Outstanding Play-by-Play)[2]
TitleSportscaster
SpouseRosanne Breen
Children3
Sports commentary career
Sports

Michael Breen (born May 22, 1961) is an American play-by-play sports commentator. He has been the lead announcer for NBA games on ABC and ESPN since 2006, including the NBA Finals. He is also the lead announcer for New York Knicks games on the MSG Network. Breen previously called NFL regular season games for both NFL on Fox and NFL on NBC, as well as New York Giants preseason games.

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

Breen was raised in Yonkers, New York, and attended St. Paul the Apostle Catholic grammar school. He is a 1979 graduate of Salesian High School, and a 1983 graduate of Fordham University.[3]

Basketball

[edit]
Breen in 2008

Breen started doing play-by-play for the Marist College Red Foxes basketball team in 1985. From 1991 to 1997 he worked with the Knicks as a radio announcer for WFAN. For the 1997–98 season, Breen was promoted to television play-by-play for the Knicks, as Marv Albert was fired from MSG Network following his infamous sex scandal. Upon Albert's return in 1999, he became his backup on MSG Network and continued as the lead announcer on WFAN. In 2004 he became the lead Knicks play-by-play following Albert's second dismissal from the network.

For the 1998 NBA playoffs, Breen joined NBC as a backup play-by-play announcer, and he remained in that role until the end of the network's coverage of the league in 2002. He also did play-by-play for WNBA games during his tenure at NBC, most notably Game 2 of the 1999 WNBA Finals when New York Liberty guard Teresa Weatherspoon made a half-court shot at the final buzzer to beat the Houston Comets. He joined ESPN as the number 3 announcer for the 2003–04 NBA season. In February 2006, with the departure of Al Michaels from the network, ABC announced that Breen would take over as the lead broadcaster for the NBA, including the NBA Finals. In the 2006–2007 season, he was part of the lead broadcast team with Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson as analysts, and the trio called games until Van Gundy and Jackson's dismissal from the network amid ESPN's layoffs in 2023.

Breen is known for yelling the word "BANG!" (or others such as "It's good!" or "Puts it in!") after a key shot is made, usually very late in the game. Famous "Bang!" calls include Stephen Curry's game-winning 38-foot three-point shot vs. Oklahoma City in February 2016, Ray Allen's game-tying shot against San Antonio in the 2013 Finals, and Luka Doncic’s game-winning buzzer-beater in overtime against the Clippers in the 2020 playoffs.[4] Breen's "BANG!" call originated from his time at Fordham University. Breen explains that as a fan in the stands, he used to yell "BANG!" when a player would nail a big shot. He then decided to test the saying out in the booth when announcing games; he got an immediate positive reaction and stuck with it all throughout his career, making it his trademark.[5]

Some of his "BANG!" calls include the following: "They do have a timeout, decide not to use it, Curry way downtown, BANG! BANG! OH, WHAT A SHOT FROM CURRY!"[6] and in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals: "James catches puts up a three, won't go, rebound Bosh, back out to Allen, his three pointer, BANG! Tie game with five seconds remaining!"[7] Mike Breen has only used the BANG! BANG! a total of 8 times.

When the Knicks made the 2011 NBA Playoffs, Breen did not call any of the games for MSG due to his involvement with ESPN and ABC; he did call Games 3 (with the MSG broadcasts handled by Kenny Albert) and 4 for ESPN and ABC, respectively.

Some of Breen's current and past broadcast partners were employed with the Knicks at one point. The list includes former Knicks head coaches Hubie Brown and Jeff Van Gundy, former Knicks players Mark Jackson and Walt Frazier, and former Knicks radio color announcer John Andariese. While working alongside Bill Walton on ESPN, Breen was on hand for the infamous Pacers–Pistons brawl on November 19, 2004. Two seasons later, Breen was on hand for the Knicks–Nuggets brawl with MSG Network on December 16, 2006.[8][9] The former was detailed in ESPN's First Take talk show on The Old Man and The Three podcast w/ JJ Redick.[10]

In addition, he was also the voice of the NBA Live, beginning with NBA Elite 11, alongside his usual ESPN partners Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. However, the series was canceled indefinitely. He did voice along with Van Gundy in the NBA Live series beginning with NBA Live 14 through NBA Live 18. Following NBA Live 18, Breen and Van Gundy were replaced by Ed Cohen and Jay Williams.

Providing emphasis on how important to the basketball community Breen has been, on May 14, 2021, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award. These are two of the most prestigious accolades someone in this field can attain. When presented with the Curt Gowdy Media Award, Breen stated in his acceptance speech, “I’ve had this enormous privilege to call so many great moments in NBA history, but the best part, the best part, has always been the lifetime of friendships that the game has given me.”[11]

In Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, as well as the first two games of the 2022 NBA Finals, Breen sat out of the broadcasting team due to a positive COVID-19 test, and was replaced by Mark Jones.[12] Breen returned in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.[13][14]

In 2023, following a wave of layoffs which included his partners Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, Breen was the only remaining commentator in the lead broadcast team, with Doris Burke and former NBA coach Doc Rivers joining the lead team.[15]

Olympics

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Breen has announced in five Olympic Games during his career, one Winter Olympics and four Summer Olympics. At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Breen called basketball, handling play-by-play for both the men and the women. At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Breen called ski jumping. Breen served as a play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports coverage of men's and women's Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[16]

Radio

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Breen has been a fixture on the radio as well. He began his professional radio career as a sportscaster on WNBC radio in the early 1980s, and frequently substituted for Dave Sims as host of "SportsNight" on the station. From 1988 to 2000, Breen did the sports segment on the WFAN and nationally syndicated Imus in the Morning talk/comedy radio show. Breen became noted for his deadpan delivery of false sports news, such as in the mid-1990s reporting that in the previous night's Mets game, "Félix Millán went 4-for-4 with 3 runs scored" (Millán retired in 1977).

Personal life

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Breen resides on Long Island, New York, with his wife Rosanne and their three children.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Mike Breen". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  2. ^ "2023 Sports Emmy Winners" (PDF). 2023 Sports Emmy Awards. NATAS. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  3. ^ "Mike Breen". MSG.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011.
  4. ^ Rollins, Khadrice (June 18, 2019). "The Best of 'Bang!': Mike Breen's 10 Best 'Bangs' of the Decade". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  5. ^ "BANG! Here's Mike Breen's iconic NBA catchphrase origin story". For The Win. May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  6. ^ "Steph Curry Drains the Game Winner vs Oklahoma City". YouTube. February 27, 2016.
  7. ^ "Ray Allen's AMAZING game-tying 3-pointer in Game 6!". YouTube. June 18, 2013.
  8. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "2006 Knicks-Nuggets Brawl". YouTube. February 21, 2021.
  9. ^ Sandomir, Richard (December 18, 2006). "During a Brawl, Words of Disgust and Indifference". New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  10. ^ Mike Breen Opens Up About Calling The Malice At The Palace, February 10, 2023, retrieved March 23, 2024
  11. ^ "NBA Announcer Mike Breen Inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame". Fordham Newsroom. May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  12. ^ Rivera, Joe (May 29, 2022). "Where is Mike Breen? Why ESPN's Mark Jones is calling Celtics vs. Heat Game 7 instead". The Sporting News. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  13. ^ Jack Baer (June 8, 2022). "NBA Finals: ESPN's Mike Breen back after bout with COVID-19". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  14. ^ Crowley, Kerry (June 8, 2022). "NBA Finals: Top ESPN broadcaster returning from COVID to call Game 3, per report". The Mercury News. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Tapp, Tom (August 14, 2023). "ESPN Revamps No. 1 On-Air NBA Announcing Team & Sets Up History-Making Finals Run For Doris Burke". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  16. ^ Ray Frager (July 16, 2008). "Medium Well: Your NBC Olympics lineup – A blog on sports media, news and networks – baltimoresun.com". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on November 5, 2008.
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Preceded by Play-by-play announcer, NBA Finals
2006–Present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Lead play-by-play announcer, NBA on ABC
2006–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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