Sam Rosen (sportscaster)

Sam Rosen (born April 4, 1948 in Ulm, Germany) is the primary play-by-play announcer for the New York Rangers (NHL) games on MSG. From 1982–84, he was the studio host on Ranger broadcasts, but was promoted to play-by-play in 1984, succeeding Jim Gordon, who had been the Rangers' TV voice since 1973. Rosen's first partner was ex-Bruin and Ranger star Phil Esposito. Starting in 1986–87, when Esposito left to become Rangers General Manager, Rosen was paired with former Rangers goaltender John Davidson. The team would last 20 years together until Davidson left for a management position with the St. Louis Blues. Beginning with the 2006–07 NHL season, Sam partnered with Joe Micheletti.

Sam also handles play-by-play for NHL Radio, a partnership between the NHL and Westwood One. He has called the Stanley Cup on radio for many years, as well as the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympic Men's Hockey Tournaments.

Rosen is also a play-by-play announcer for "The NFL on FOX". Currently, he broadcasts with Tim Ryan.

On June 14, 1994, he called Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, between the Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden. While the rest of the country, except for those in the border cities, watched the game on ESPN, New Yorkers could only see the game on MSG. (Those in the border cities, along with Canadians, watched the game on the CBC). The Rangers won that game and ended a 54-year Stanley Cup drought. At the final horn, Rosen shouted, though CBC "Hockey Night in Canada" commentator Bob Cole had already announced it by then (Cole was the first NHL commentator to announce that the Rangers had won the Stanley Cup).

Cole made his call at the final faceoff with 1.6 seconds to go: "The New York Rangers have DONE IT HERE ON A HOT JUNE NIGHT IN NEW YORK! THE RANGERS ARE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!"CBC Broadcast of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, June 14, 1994]

It was the most-watched game in NHL history. [http://archive.sportingnews.com/nhl/articles/20030526/475402.html CBC sets finals broadcast team] ]

His trademark, "It's a power play goal!!!" started in 1984, when he was known for rather subdued commentary. John Davidson, following Phil Esposito as color commentator, is quoted as saying, "Sam, make it colorful, really colorful!" When the Rangers scored on a powerplay in November of 1984, Sam jumped out of his announcer's seat and joyfully exclaimed, "It's a power play goal!" Davidson erupted into laughter and Sam said, "Is that good enough for you?" From then on, it became a sarcastic trademark of Rosen's.

Rosen was also the lead boxing announcer for the MSG Network until 1993. In 1989, he won the Sam Taub Award for excellence in boxing broadcasting journalism. [ [http://www.ibhof.com/ibhfbwaa.htm Internantional Boxing Hall of Fame / BWAA Awards ] ]

Sam's son, Matt, was a radio broadcaster for the Phoenix Coyotes for a couple of seasons and previously called minor-league hockey. His other son, Garett, is a certified public accountant and lawyer working for Citigroup in New York City.

Sam was an accomplished athlete in his youth, serving as the Captain of the Stuyvesant High School baseball team in 1964 as well as the starting catcher.

References

External links

* [http://www.msg.com/television/sam-rosen.html Sam Rosen Official Bio]
* [http://gameon.msg.com/sam_rosen/index.html Sam Rosen's Blog]