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Jim Karvellas
Jim Karvellas (August 24, 1935–January 1, 2007) was a veteran play-by-play sportscaster whose career on radio and television spanned more than 30 years. Known for his trademark calls of "Bulls-eye!" for big baskets and "This is Coz-MOES SOCK-errr!," Karvellas was the voice of the NBA's Baltimore/Washington Bullets and New York Knicks as well as the NASL's New York Cosmos. "There was always an undercurrent of enthusiasm when he was on the air because he loved the game. And he had that deep resonant voice. You can be a great technician but you have to have that voice," said Frank Deford of Sports Illustrated and NPR.
After his broadcast career, Karvellas co-founded the Celebrity Golf Association (CGA). In 1990, he partnered with NBC to host the first of many Celebrity Golf Championships. Many consider him a "founding father" of celebrity golf.
A native of Chicago, Jim Karvellas was born Demetrie C. Karvellas to first-generation Greek Americans Christ and Anthy Karvellas. He grew up among a close-knit extended family residing in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago near his father's grocery store. Jim was the oldest of three children, including a sister Becky (Theon) and brother Peter.
At an early age, Karvellas practiced what would evolve into his signature play-by-play style. He spent a lot of time playing All Star Baseball, a common board game he would use to create an imaginary game. "When we were 14 or 15, we played what we called 'Spinner Baseball,' and Jim always did the commentary after we'd spun the dial," said a cousin, Larry Poullman of Chicago." Karvellas spent his high school years at St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, WI and later attended Northwestern University.
Karvellas' radio and TV broadcasting career spanned basketball, soccer, football, baseball, golf, and even NASCAR. In 2002, Karvellas reflected on the diversity of his career in the St. Petersburg Times: "As a sports announcer, you may be better at one or the other depending on your style. But doing all those sports made me more professional." He continued: "You learn how to open and close events, fill time during delays in auto races, so those were all really important in helping mold me as an announcer."
Karvellas began his career in 1962 as the voice of the Chicago Packers (1961–1962). The team was soon renamed the Chicago Zephyrs (1962–1962). In 1963, he moved with the Zephyrs to Baltimore where it became the Baltimore Bullets, taking the name from an earlier team. In his own words, quoted from The Baltimore Sun in 1988: "It was my first really big league job, It was exciting for me being with a major league team. Although the NBA wasn't as big league then, it was big enough for me." At the time, he was the youngest NBA announcer. In 1992, he returned to the then Washington Bullets.
For twelve years, New York fans came to know Karvellas as the voice of the New York Knicks. He began in 1980 on the MSG TV side, working for the first six seasons on home games with Cal Ramsey (two seasons) and Butch Beard (four seasons). He next moved to radio where he worked with Ernie Grunfeld (two seasons) and Walt (Clyde) Frazier (three seasons). He covered NBA games for CBS radio (1978–1986) and was host of the USA Network's NBA Game of the Week (1979–1981.)
Beginning in 1968, Karvellas began calling other Baltimore games. He did play-by-play for the Colts and became the third member of the Orioles' broadcast team that included Chuck Thompson and Bill O'Donnell. A year later, he called both the 1969 Super Bowl and World Series on national radio when both teams made appearances.
Jim Karvellas
Jim Karvellas (August 24, 1935–January 1, 2007) was a veteran play-by-play sportscaster whose career on radio and television spanned more than 30 years. Known for his trademark calls of "Bulls-eye!" for big baskets and "This is Coz-MOES SOCK-errr!," Karvellas was the voice of the NBA's Baltimore/Washington Bullets and New York Knicks as well as the NASL's New York Cosmos. "There was always an undercurrent of enthusiasm when he was on the air because he loved the game. And he had that deep resonant voice. You can be a great technician but you have to have that voice," said Frank Deford of Sports Illustrated and NPR.
After his broadcast career, Karvellas co-founded the Celebrity Golf Association (CGA). In 1990, he partnered with NBC to host the first of many Celebrity Golf Championships. Many consider him a "founding father" of celebrity golf.
A native of Chicago, Jim Karvellas was born Demetrie C. Karvellas to first-generation Greek Americans Christ and Anthy Karvellas. He grew up among a close-knit extended family residing in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago near his father's grocery store. Jim was the oldest of three children, including a sister Becky (Theon) and brother Peter.
At an early age, Karvellas practiced what would evolve into his signature play-by-play style. He spent a lot of time playing All Star Baseball, a common board game he would use to create an imaginary game. "When we were 14 or 15, we played what we called 'Spinner Baseball,' and Jim always did the commentary after we'd spun the dial," said a cousin, Larry Poullman of Chicago." Karvellas spent his high school years at St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, WI and later attended Northwestern University.
Karvellas' radio and TV broadcasting career spanned basketball, soccer, football, baseball, golf, and even NASCAR. In 2002, Karvellas reflected on the diversity of his career in the St. Petersburg Times: "As a sports announcer, you may be better at one or the other depending on your style. But doing all those sports made me more professional." He continued: "You learn how to open and close events, fill time during delays in auto races, so those were all really important in helping mold me as an announcer."
Karvellas began his career in 1962 as the voice of the Chicago Packers (1961–1962). The team was soon renamed the Chicago Zephyrs (1962–1962). In 1963, he moved with the Zephyrs to Baltimore where it became the Baltimore Bullets, taking the name from an earlier team. In his own words, quoted from The Baltimore Sun in 1988: "It was my first really big league job, It was exciting for me being with a major league team. Although the NBA wasn't as big league then, it was big enough for me." At the time, he was the youngest NBA announcer. In 1992, he returned to the then Washington Bullets.
For twelve years, New York fans came to know Karvellas as the voice of the New York Knicks. He began in 1980 on the MSG TV side, working for the first six seasons on home games with Cal Ramsey (two seasons) and Butch Beard (four seasons). He next moved to radio where he worked with Ernie Grunfeld (two seasons) and Walt (Clyde) Frazier (three seasons). He covered NBA games for CBS radio (1978–1986) and was host of the USA Network's NBA Game of the Week (1979–1981.)
Beginning in 1968, Karvellas began calling other Baltimore games. He did play-by-play for the Colts and became the third member of the Orioles' broadcast team that included Chuck Thompson and Bill O'Donnell. A year later, he called both the 1969 Super Bowl and World Series on national radio when both teams made appearances.