Legendary NBA announcer Mike Breen on broadcasting career, Clyde Frazier, Knicks, more
On the latest episode of the Rex Chapman Show with Josh
Hopkins, Rex is joined by Mike Breen, who has been in the
building for so many classic NBA moments, for both the Knicks plus
ABC and ESPN. Whether it was Steph Curry's record-breaking
3-pointer at Madison Square Garden, or one of the 16 NBA Finals
Mike has been there for, he shares his life and best moments with
Rex. 6:30 - Rex remembers when Mike first started calling the games
for the Knicks and wondering who that one young guy was that was
sitting in the booth next to all the old guys. 8:45 - How Mike has
bonded with Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson over the last few
decades after they all grew up with the New York Knicks and have
since been in the booth together for ESPN. 11:00 - It's never been
about "dealing with Mark and Jeff". Mike says it's a shared passion
for the game and respect for their wealth of knowledge that makes
broadcasting with them so fun. Basketball is a team sport and
basketball broadcasting certainly is too. 14:20 - Growing up one of
6 boys, and with a father who was an avid sports fan, there was no
shot Mike wouldn't be playing sports. There's a poster of Walt
Frazier that went up on his childhood bedroom wall 50 years ago
that still hangs to this day. 17:00 - Mike discusses why Knicks
fans are so passionate, and the difference between the fans growing
up with the Championship Knicks of the 70's and the Ewing led team
of the 90's that made a pair of Finals appearances. 20:00 - How
long was it after Breen called "BANG" before it took on a life of
its own? Mike didn't like to use his trademark call on the radio,
but finally found it worked best on TV. Of course, Breen first
shouted BANG when he was still in the student section at Fordham.
22:15 - Mike details who his favorite broadcasters are across
sports, and why Marv Albert will always serve as his inspiration
and his biggest influence as a basketball broadcaster. 25:00 - How
Mike went from idolizing Clyde and then having the ability to
broadcast games with Walt Frazier. 30:20 - When the Knicks
are on the doorstep of greatness, how does the lifelong fan keep
himself from hyperventilating when he could make the call for a
Knicks Championship. In 1994, Mike wasn't sure if John Starks was
about to clinch the Championship if it weren't for the fingertips
of Hakeem Olajuwon. 30:00 - One of the most iconic Knicks of
all-time, and how impactful Patrick Ewing is to the city of New
York. Mike details how their friendship has blossomed over the last
three decades and is proud of how he's always been such a wonderful
person. 32:00 - Mike says the most fun he's ever had broadcasting
were during the two weeks of Linsanity. What Jeremy Lin did as a
role player, becoming one of the most recognizable players on the
planet was so improbable and how he handled himself was something
Mike will never forget. 34:00 - How special it was when Steph Curry
broke the 3-point record and everything came to a halt at Madison
Square Garden? Mike says with the type of person he is and how he's
changed the game created a type of moment usually reserved for when
teams make the NBA Finals. 39:00 - Mike draws on his experience
calling the NBA Finals, and other than the Knicks, he thinks Ray
Allen's 3-pointer against the Spurs, or the LeBron James chasedown
block for Cleveland's title were the two most impactful he's
called. 48:45 - LeBron James has gone above and beyond the high
expectations that were place on him as a high schooler, and Mike
says he takes a backseat to no one, with how his teams, in this
era, are always in championship contention. 46:30 - As COVID
concerns continue to affect the NBA, Mike details what it took for
the 2020 season to conclude in the bubble. As Mike put it, fans are
the oxygen in sports, so not having them made it so hard to make it
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