Spero Dedes
| Spero Dedes | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Spero Dedes February 27, 1979 Paramus, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Years active | 2001-present |
Spero Dedes (born February 27, 1979) is an American sportscaster. He is employed by CBS Sports, calling the NFL, college football and college basketball. He was the radio play-by-play voice for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2005 to 2011. In addition, he served as a radio/TV play-by-play announcer for the New York Knicks from 2011-2014.
Spero Dedes was born in Paramus, New Jersey in 1979. He is a graduate of Paramus High School and a 2001 graduate of Fordham University in New York City.
Early Career: WFAN, AFL, YES Network, NBA TV
Dedes began his career at WFAN in New York.
In 2001 and 2002, Dedes was the radio announcer for the New Jersey Gladiators of the AFL.[1]
In 2002, Dedes was tapped as a fill-in announcer for New Jersey Nets games on the Yes Network.[2]
In 2003, Dedes was hired as a studio host and play-by-play man for NBA TV. He hosted Hardwood Classics and The Insiders.[3]
National Exposure: Olympics, Networks, Lakers, Super Bowl
At 24, Dedes worked the 2004 Summer Olympics for NBC Sports.[4]
In 2004, Dedes also served as a fill-in commentator of College Basketball on CBS.[5] Also in 2004, Dedes served as a fill-in commentator for the NFL on FOX.[4]
In 2005, Dedes filled in on the NFL on CBS.[6]
In 2005, Dedes got the biggest break of his career when he was hired as the radio announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers [4]
From 2006 until 2011, Dedes worked for the NFL Network. His duties included studio hosting and play-by-play. In 2015, Dedes went back to his old stomping grounds by returning to NFL Network as a studio host. [7]
In 2007, Dedes served as the play-by-play man for the international feed of Super Bowl XLI by CBS Sports.[8]
Full-Time at CBS and New York Knicks
In December 2009, Dedes joined CBS Sports full-time, calling regular season college basketball and the 2010 NCAA Tournament.[9]
For the 2010 NFL season, he was named a full-time announcer of the NFL on CBS. Dedes is currently partnered with Solomon Wilcots.[10]
In 2011, Dedes left the Lakers and became the radio voice of the New York Knicks.[11] Dedes cited the flexibility to continue his work at CBS Sports as the reason for leaving the Lakers.[12]
In addition, that fall, he became the #2 voice of the SEC on CBS behind Verne Lundquist.[13]
Dedes has also filled in for Ian Eagle on play-by-play for the New York Jets preseason network on CBS 2 New York.
Jeremy Lin controversy
On February 17, 2012, Dedes used the phrase "Chink in the armor" on 1050 ESPN New York when referring to Knicks player Jeremy Lin, an Asian-American. While ESPN fired one employee and suspended another for using the same reference, Dedes was an employee of Madison Square Garden (MSG) and was not fired.[14][15][16] He apologized and was disciplined by MSG.[17]
Notes
- ↑ http://www.nba.com/video/spero_dedes_bio.html
- ↑ Marchand, Andrew (November 1, 2002). "THE FORDHAM FLASH: YES' DEDES GETS NETS' FILL-IN JOB – AT AGE 23". New York Post.
- ↑ http://www.nba.com/nba_tv/spero_dedes_bio.html
- 1 2 3 http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/dedes_050630.html
- ↑ http://www.cbssports.com/cbssports/team/sdedes
- ↑ http://www.tv.com/shows/nfl-on-cbs/week-2-baltimore-ravens-vs-tennessee-titans-2005-2674191/
- ↑ http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/onairtalent/spero-dedes
- ↑ http://www.bostonsportsmedia.com/2007/02/weekend-watch-super-bowl-xli-edition
- ↑ https://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-sports/releases/view?id=23639
- ↑ https://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-sports/releases/view?id=26145
- ↑ http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/6836391/spero-dedes-named-new-york-knicks-radio-play-play-man
- ↑ http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lakers-313932-dedes-chick.html
- ↑ https://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-sports/releases/view?id=29308
- ↑ Boren, Cindy (February 19, 2012). "ESPN fires employee for offensive Jeremy Lin headline; "SNL" weighs in". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012.
- ↑ Collins, Scott (February 19, 2012). "Jeremy Lin and ESPN: Network rushes to quell furor over 'chink' comments". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012.
- ↑ Spar, Jerry (February 20, 2012). "Mashup: Lin accepts ESPN apology for slur". WEEI.com. Entercom Boston. Archived from the original on February 21, 2012.
- ↑ "Knicks announcer Spero Dedes disciplined for using questionable phrase while covering Jeremy Lin". SportingNews.com. February 22, 2012. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012.