Sportscaster Al Michaels' Interview is online

About this Interview:

Al Michaels was interviewed for nearly three hours in Brentwood, CA. He spoke about his early years as a sports enthusiast who, as a child, wanted to become an announcer. He talked about the practical experience he gained announcing college games before becoming a professional. He also discussed one of his first jobs, as a contestant interviewer for Chuck Barris Productions. He then chronicled his illustrious sportscasting career, which began as a three-year stint in Hawaii for minor league baseball. He spoke about his long tenure at ABC sports featuring Wide World of Sports and Monday Night Football. He related his approach to announcing and how he prepares for broadcasts. He discussed some of his announcing highlights including the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Olympic hockey game and the 1989 World Series, where a major earthquake disrupted the game. He also spoke in detail about working with his broadcast colleagues: Howard Cosell, Dan Dierdorf, Frank Gifford, Chick Hearn and Jim McKay. The interview was conducted by Jennifer Howard on August 31, 2005.