The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) today proudly announced that Brent Musburger, one of the most recognizable and accomplished voices in sports broadcasting will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Sports this year.
"As a sports fanatic, I have followed Brent Musburger from when we were both starting at
CBS and throughout his illustrious career at ESPN," said Bob Mauro, President, NATAS. "From his iconic call of Doug Flutie's Hail Mary pass to his coverage of the Rose Bowl and his work on 'The NFL Today,' and many other championship games, he has been a guiding force and a constant staple in the sports broadcast field for nearly 50 years. It is with great pleasure that we honor him at the 38th Annual Sports Emmy Awards on Tuesday, May 9, with our Lifetime Achievement Award."
ESPN President John Skipper added, "Brent's presence and delivery have come to symbolize big time sports for multiple generations of fans. When he opens with his signature 'You are looking live,' you sit up straight in your chair because you know something important is about to happen. Brent's catalog of big events is unmatched, and he has skillfully guided us through some of the most dramatic and memorable moments in sports with his authentic and distinctive style. He is one of the best story-tellers to ever grace a sports booth."
Musburger began his career in local television in 1968 and has been on the national stage since 1975. He joined
ABC in May 1990 after 15 years as
CBS Sports' primary host and play-by-play commentator.
During his career at
ABC and ESPN, he has hosted and/or called play-by-play for
COLLEGE FOOTBALL (including seven BCS Championship Games) and basketball, golf, NBA, NASCAR and IRL races and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He called the Little League
WORLD SERIES from 2000-11. He also hosted
SUPER BOWL XXV's pre-game and half-time shows as well as the 1991 Pan Am Games from Cuba. For CBS, he was host or play-by-play on NFL games and the ground-breaking The NFL Today, the NCAA Final Four, tennis' US Open, the NBA, the Masters, the Belmont
STAKES and the College World Series.
Musburger's incredible career resume also includes play-by-play or hosting responsibilities (TV or radio) for Super Bowl,
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Championship, Final Four, Masters, Rose Bowl, Little League World Series, FIFA World Cup, Indianapolis 500, NBA Finals, MLB Playoffs, U.S. Open tennis, Belmont
STAKES and much more.
Born in Portland, Ore., and raised in Montana, Musburger attended Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism before joining the Chicago American. His broadcast career began in 1968 as sports director at WBBM-TV in Chicago. He then moved to Los Angeles as sports anchor and later, co-anchor of the nightly news at KNXT-TV.
In November 2016, Musburger was presented with the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports Broadcasting, presented by Fordham University's WFUV radio station. It is named for the legendary Dodgers broadcaster, a Fordham graduate.
Musburger also received the 2011 National Football Foundation (NFF) &
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Hall of Fame Outstanding Contributor to Amateur Football Award, as well as named to the 2011 National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) Hall of Fame.
Musburger recently decided to end his legendary play-by-play career of nearly 50 years as host and play-by-play commentator on January 31, 2017. "What a wonderful journey I have traveled with
CBS and the Disney Company," Musburger said. "A love of sports allows me to live a life of endless pleasure. And make no mistake, I will miss the arenas and stadiums dearly. Most of all, I will miss the folks I have met along the trail."
