- Neil Funk
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Neil Funk is the current television play-by-play announcer for the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls.
A 1969 graduate of Syracuse University, Funk's first broadcasting job was covering high school sports for a small radio station in Danville, Illinois. He quickly moved up the ranks to acquire a job with the Philadelphia 76ers' WIBG-radio broadcasting crew in 1976. He later broadcast games for the Kansas City Kings and New Jersey Nets, winning an Emmy Award in 1989. He joined the Chicago Bulls as a radio play-by-play announcer in 1991. On May 6, 2008, it was announced that Funk would replace Tom Dore (Comcast Sportsnet) and Wayne Larrivee (WGN-TV) as the play-by-play man for Chicago Bulls games on television.[1]
Funk is known for using his signature phrase "Ka-Boom!" whenever a Bulls player hits a three-point field goal. He is also well known for his dramatic call "Bang, down the well it goes!"
A typical sampling of Funk's play-by-play call: "Dennis inbounds to Scottie, who brings the ball up. Pippen across the timeline with Stockton on him. Scottie left side for Michael. Michael backing Russell, backing, backing now swings it down to Luc. Over to Scottie with 10 on the 24. Scottie to Steve Kerr for three—ka-boom!"
Funk was also featured as the play-by-play announcer for the 1996 Midway Games arcade game NBA Hangtime. Among many NBA players of the time and members of the game's development team, Funk is accessible as a hidden character by using the name NFUNK along with pin 0101.
Notes
- ^ Sherman, Ed (May 6, 2008). "Bulls shake up broadcast teams". Chicago Tribune.
External links
Chicago Bulls Founded in 1966 • Based in Chicago, Illinois The Franchise Arenas Head Coaches D-League Affiliate NBA Finals Appearances (6) NBA Championships (6) Retired Jerseys Hall of Famers Key Personnel Owner: Jerry Reinsdorf • Vice President of Basketball Operations: John Paxson • General Manager: Gar Forman • Coach: Tom ThibodeauRivals Culture & Lore Hare Jordan and Air Jordan • Disputed Foul Against Scottie Pippen • The Shot • Tommy Edwards • Benny the Bull • "Sirius" • Ray Clay • 72-10 • The Flu Game • Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals • The Last Shot • Jerry Krause • The Zen Master • "The Madhouse on Madison" • "The Madhouse on Madison II"/"The House That Jordan Built" • Ashland Green Line Station • Game 6 of the 2009 NBA Playoffs First RoundMedia TVRadioCategories:- Syracuse University alumni
- National Basketball Association broadcasters
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