Gus Johnson (sportscaster)

Augustus Cornelius Johnson Jr. (born 1967 or 1968)[1] is an American sportscaster. He is the lead play-by-play announcer for Fox Sports calling college football and college basketball. Prior to working with Fox, he was with CBS Sports.[2] He also calls select NBA Playoff games for NBA on TNT.

This article is about the sportscaster. For other people named Gus Johnson, see Gus Johnson (disambiguation).

Gus Johnson
Johnson in 2021
Born
Augustus Cornelius Johnson Jr.

1967 or 1968 (age 55–56)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Alma materHoward University
OccupationSports commentator
Title
Sports commentary career
Genre(s)Play-by-play
SportsBasketball, American football, Boxing, Mixed martial arts

Early life and education

Johnson was born in Detroit, Michigan.[1] He graduated in 1985 from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. He was an all-league quarterback and co-captain of the school's football team, an all-league shooting guard, co-captain and MVP of the basketball team and a first baseman and catcher on the baseball team.

Johnson graduated from Howard University[1] with a degree in political science in 1990 and was a four-year letter winner on the baseball team.

Johnson returned to academics by enrolling into Harvard in 2022 as part of the university's Advanced Leadership Initiative.[3] A documentary was subsequently broadcast on Fox Sports.

Career

Early career

Johnson called play-by-play for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves (1996–97), Big East basketball on the Big East Network, college hockey and college basketball on ESPN and Canadian Football League games for ESPN2, and NFL games for CBS from 1998 to 2010.

Johnson hosted ESPN's Black College Sports Today in 1991. After brief stints as an on-air personality with KXXV-TV in Waco, Texas, WAAY-TV in Huntsville, Alabama, and WXII-TV in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he served as the weekend anchor for WTTG in Washington, D.C. from 1991 to 1992. He also had a small cameo as an announcer in the 1998 film He Got Game.

Roles

Johnson called play-by-play for numerous sports for CBS Sports, including the network's coverage of March Madness from 1996 to 2011. Among the memorable games that Johnson has called are UCLA's 17-point comeback over Gonzaga in 2006, the double-overtime Xavier vs. Kansas State game on March 25, 2010 and George Mason's upset of Villanova in 2011. He also announced the Big Ten Network's Sunday-night basketball games.[4]

Johnson worked for the Madison Square Garden Network (MSG) from 1994 to 2010, where he was the radio and backup television play-by-play announcer for the NBA's New York Knicks and the television play-by-play announcer for the WNBA's New York Liberty. Johnson has also hosted MSG studio shows focused on the Yankees, Rangers and Knicks. He called 20 Milwaukee Bucks games during the 2015–16 season on Fox Sports Wisconsin.[5] Johnson also handled play-by-play duties for the inaugural season of BIG3 basketball.

He has announced preseason television games for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions as well as the Arena Football League's New York Dragons.

Johnson has called MSG's coverage of the Golden Gloves as well as Showtime Championship Boxing on Showtime, replacing longtime voice Steve Albert. Johnson was also a mixed martial arts commentator for both EliteXC and Strikeforce through until 2011. Johnson drew scorn for his commentary during the Kimbo Slice vs. Seth Petruzelli fight, in which he announced that the fight was "the most incredible victory in the history of mixed martial arts."[6][7]

Johnson has lent his voice for the play-by-play commentary in the video games NCAA Basketball 10, Madden NFL 11 and Madden NFL 12.[8] He was also heard as the play-by-play announcer for the fictional football games seen in commercials for Buffalo Wild Wings.[9]

Before the 2010–11 NBA season, Johnson left MSG Network to spend more time with his son. CBS released him on May 5, 2011 following a contract dispute.[10] On May 9, 2011, he finalized a deal to call college football and NFL telecasts for Fox Sports.[11]

In 2012, Johnson served as radio play-by-play announcer of Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes.[12] He called his first UEFA Champions League match on February 13, 2013[13] but stepped down as Fox's lead soccer announcer in 2014.

In August 2021, Fox Sports announced that Johnson would announce "select" NFL games for the 2021 season with former NFL player Aqib Talib.[14]

Johnson worked as a play-by-play announcer for the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs for TNT and NBA TV; Johnson returned the following year's playoffs in April 2023.

In September 2021, Johnson was challenged by comedian Gus Johnson to an athletic competition for the Twitter handle @GusJohnson,[15] as the sportscaster has not tweeted since 2012.[16]

Announcing style

Johnson's high-energy style has resulted in a polarized response from sports fans.[17] He often uses signature phrases like "Hurt My Feelings!", "Oh my goodness!", "Rise and fire... Count it!", "Here comes the pain!", "He's got 'get away from the cops' speed!", "From the parking lot!", "And the runner... bang!", "Pure!", "BAM!", "Hot Sauce!", "Cold-Blooded!", "What a game!", "Down the Sideline!" and "HA-HAAA".[18] Despite being known for his catchphrases, Johnson also utilizes silence at opportune times to let television viewers absorb the moment, such as during a 2015 college football matchup between Notre Dame and Stanford when Stanford kicked the game-winning field goal at the end of a high-scoring game.[19]

Notable calls

As Knicks announcer – With the Knicks, Johnson was well-known for calls such as "My name is Al Harrington... and I get buckets!" Perhaps Johnson's most famous Knicks call was his enthusiastic description of Allan Houston's last-second shot to defeat the top-seeded Miami Heat in the first round of the 1998–1999 NBA playoffs.[20]

March 23, 2006 – During the 2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, Johnson was calling the Sweet 16 matchup between UCLA and Gonzaga. Gonzaga held a 71–70 lead with just 19.7 seconds left in the game, needing to wind the clock down while passing the ball in from its own side of the court:

Johnson: They throw it to Morrison. He holds on.
Analyst Len Elmore: You don't want to foul Morrison. You make them get it over half court, you know you gotta foul- [UCLA guard Jordan Farmar steals the ball from Gonzaga forward J. P. Batista] Woah!
Johnson: And a steal! Farmar! Inside... the freshman up- [nearly inaudible over the crowd cheering as UCLA forward Luc Mbah a Moute scores a layup] Oh and they go in front! Raivio! Last chance to dance! [inaudible as Mbah a Moute steals the ball via a jump ball before Gonzaga commits a foul, leaving just over two seconds left] Mbah a Moute!
Elmore: Unbelievable!
Johnson: Oh what a game!
Elmore: Unbelievable!
Johnson: What a game!
Elmore: Unbelievable!
Johnson: UCLA! Unbelievable!
Elmore: Are you kidding me?!
Johnson: After being down by 17, heartbreak city!
Elmore: Holy mackerel!

Following this sequence, Gonzaga had one last chance to score a game-winning basket, once again throwing the ball in from its side of the court.

Johnson: In the frontcourt, Batista with THE CAATCH! [Batista shoots before the buzzer, but misses] And that's it! WHAT A COMEBACK! UCLA defeats Gonzaga 73–71 after being down by 17!

As the game wound up having a tight finish, Johnson received praise for his enthusiastic announcing, earning the nickname "Screaming Gus Johnson". The next day, CBS Sports host Greg Gumbel later joked that Johnson would be "out of the hospital" by the next game.[20]

September 13, 2009 – Johnson was calling an NFL regular season opening game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos. During the waning seconds of the game, Denver, down 6–7, needed to drive down the field to get into field goal range or score a touchdown. Quarterback Kyle Orton threw a pass to receiver Brandon Marshall near the sideline. Though the ball was tipped by Bengals defender Leon Hall, it landed into the hands of Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley, who ran it in for an improbable game-winning touchdown.[21][20] Johnson's call of the play is as follows:

Johnson: Second down and 10 at the 13 [yard line].
Analyst Dan Fouts: In other words, about 60 yards [to get into field goal range].

Johnson: Orton in the gun, Buckhalter right next to him. Orton... pumps again to the sideline... batted up- OH, CAUGHT! STOKLEY! DOWN THE SIDELINE! CAN HE CATCH HIM!? STOKLEY! WOW! [Pause] Touchdown Denver! Unbelievable! [pause] Oh my goodness! What a play! 87 yards! [pause] Woah!"

In a later interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Johnson later explained of the play: "I thought I was gonna have a heart attack. It was the most incredible thing. I’ve seen a lot of great things in sports. I started doing this in 1990, but I’ve never seen anything; not like in that in football. I mean wow."[22]

November 1, 2009 – Johnson was calling another regular season NFL game, this time between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans when Titans running back Chris Johnson broke away for a 52-yard touchdown. This was Gus Johnson's call:

First down and 10... Johnson... gets a shoulder he's- WOW! Watch out! He's got gettin' away from the cops speed! Touchdown! [pause] 52 yards!

Though Gus Johnson received some criticism for this call,[23] it has nonetheless become one of his most famous, as Complex magazine named it his top call in 2013.[20]

November 14, 2010 – Johnson was announcing another Jacksonville Jaguars game, this time against their AFC South rivals the Houston Texans. With 0:03 left in regulation, the score tied at 24, and the ball at midfield, the Jaguars and quarterback David Garrard had a chance to win the game and avoid a potential overtime loss. The ball was snapped, Garrard stepped into the pocket, and launched the ball 50 yards downfield into the endzone to his target, receiver Mike Sims-Walker. Texans safety Glover Quin batted the ball down, but the ball miraculously landed in the hands of Jaguars receiver Mike Thomas, resulting in a touchdown, a win for the Jaguars, and one of Gus Johnson’s most memorable calls:

Johnson: Garrard… steps up… fires, Mike Sims-Walker…! [Ball is batted down] Knocked down- [Ball lands in the hands of Thomas]

Analyst Steve Tasker: OH, HE CAUGHT IT!

Johnson: OHH! UNBELIEVABLE! MIKE THOMAS! TOUCHDOWN, JAGS! BALLGAME! FIFTY YARDS! [Pause] WHOA!

October 7, 2017 – As the play-by-play announcer of a college football game between Ohio State and Maryland, Johnson added some playful commentary after Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward laid a vicious hit on Maryland receiver Taivon Jacobs. Though the play ultimately resulted in Ward's ejection from the game, Johnson's enthusiasm was noted:

Second down after the 7-yard gain... [Maryland quarterback] Bortenschlager to the sideline, caught, first down. [Ward levels Jacobs, causing a fumble] Whoo! What a hit! Denzel Ward! You've got barbecue back there, and you didn't invite me? Hurt! My! Feelings![24]

December 8, 2018 – Johnson called the 2018 Citi Hoops Classic match-up between the Seton Hall Pirates and the 9th ranked Kentucky Wildcats at Madison Square Garden, where Keldon Johnson took a pass from P. J. Washington and made a half-court shot at the buzzer to tie the game at 70. Johnson's call of the final seconds of regulation:

Here's P.J. Washington, he can run the baseline. Throws it, midcourt, Keldon Johnson! [buzzer sounds] OHH! HE BURIED IT! WOW! AND WE'RE – LEVEL AT 70! Whoo! Unbelieveable. And we're going to overtime... at the Garden!

September 18, 2021 – On the 50th anniversary of the "Game of the Century" between Oklahoma and Nebraska, Johnson was the play-by-play announcer when the two teams faced each other again. During the fourth quarter, Oklahoma DB D.J. Graham made a one-handed interception on fourth down, leading to a notable call by Johnson, who referenced a similar one-handed touchdown catch made by Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014:

Martinez, steps up, throws ... OHH, WHAT AN INTERCEPTION! OH MY GOSH! D.J. Graham! Gimme that Odell![25]

September 19, 2021 – After returning to NFL duties for Fox, Johnson called the Week 2 NFL matchup between the Vikings and Cardinals, which came down to the Vikings attempting a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation, behind 34–33. The kick from Greg Joseph sailed to the right of the goalposts, leaving Johnson flabbergasted:

Good snap, clean hold, for the winnnn...OHHHHH MY GOODNESS, HE MISSED IT! (pause) UNBELIEVABLE! And the Cardinals survive...34...33! You're watching the NFL, folks! On F-O-X!"[26]

September 26, 2021 – Merely a week later in Week 3, Johnson was assigned again to a Cardinals game, this time against the Jaguars. Cardinal placekicker Matt Prater attempted a 68-yard field goal before halftime to top his previous league record 64-yarder in 2013, with the Jaguars readying Jamal Agnew for a possible return of a miss from the end zone. With Prater's kick trajectory short (by coincidence, Justin Tucker would hit a 66-yard winner in Detroit the same day, winning the game for Baltimore and earning the record), Agnew caught the ball 109 yards away in the Jaguars end zone, setting up Johnson for an enthusiastic call of his 'kick-six' runback:

So here we go, Matt Prater, ready to attempt a 68-yarder, for NFL history. Got it up...it's short! Agnew, brings it out of the end zone. Agnew...still running. AGNEW...DOWN THE SIDELINE! AGNEW! TOUCHDOWN, JACKSONVILLE! A hundred...and...nine...yards. INCREDIBLE! [pause] Oh my goodness, watch this! (cuts to replay with Aqib Talib's analysis of the play)[27]

Johnson's call, which had him screaming at the top of his lungs, was well received by several fans and commentators.[28]

Personal life

Johnson is Catholic.[29]

References
  1. Bishop, Greg (March 14, 2011). "For Voice of March, Authenticity Comes With Sizzle". New York Times. Archived from the original on September 16, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2011. For all the ways in which Johnson, 43...
  2. "Gus Johnson". Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  3. Julia Hinds, "Gus Johnson of Fox Sports fame goes to Harvard and Detroit in new film" at Detroit Free Press on 15 February 2023.
  4. "Chicago Tribune August 26, 2008 Big Ten adds Johnson to its network lineup". Chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  5. "Broadcaster Gus Johnson to call games for Bucks". NBA. September 14, 2015. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  6. Wetzel, Dan (October 7, 2008). "Petruzelli in center of Elite XC storm – UFC – Yahoo! Sports". Sports.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  7. "FOX Could Add Gus Johnson To Announce Shows". FightLine.com. August 19, 2011. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  8. "Madden Taps Gus Johnson for Video Games' Top Play-by-Play Job". Kotaku.com. May 21, 2010. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  9. "Gus Johnson Trademarks "Rise & Fire" To Sell Apparel". CNBC. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  10. "Gus Johnson parts ways with CBS". CNN. May 5, 2011. Archived from the original on May 9, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  11. Raissman, Bob (May 9, 2011). "Gus Johnson officially out at CBS, headed to Fox after CBS declines to match Fox's offer". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  12. "Quakes announcer Gus Johnson making an impact in first year calling soccer matches". San Jose Mercury News. May 8, 2012. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  13. Deitsch, Richard. "Gus Johnson groomed as voice of World Cup by Fox=". SI.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  14. Traina, Jimmy. "Fox Gives NFL Viewers a True Gift With Entertaining Broadcast Team". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  15. "Gus Johnson (@gusjohnson) | Twitter". Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  16. "gus johnson is done". Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  17. Patashnik, Josh (March 19, 2008). "The Golden Gus". The New Republic. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  18. Rudnansky, Ryan (November 24, 2010). "Gus Johnson's Best Calls (With Video)". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  19. Lyles, Harry Jr (September 19, 2019). "How Gus Johnson became sports' most exciting broadcaster". SBNation.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  20. Pastore, Tim (February 9, 2013). "Gus Johnson's 25 Most Over-the-Top Calls". Complex. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.Pastore, Tim (February 9, 2013). "Gus Johnson's 25 Most Over-the-Top Calls". Complex. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  21. David Fucillo (September 13, 2009). "Let's close out the night with Gus Johnson's call on the Broncos TD to beat Cincinnati". Niners Nation. SB Nation. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  22. Powell, Brian (September 15, 2009). "Gus Johnson Talks About Stokley Call". Awful Announcing. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  23. Brown, Larry (November 3, 2009). "Gus Johnson on Chris Johnson: He Has 'Getting Away from the Cops Speed'". Larry Brown Sports. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  24. "Gus Johnson Yelled About Barbecue After an Ejection-Worthy Hit By Ohio State". The Big Lead. October 7, 2017. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  25. "Watch: Gus Johnson's brain broke on this 1-handed interception from Oklahoma's D.J. Graham". FanSided. September 18, 2021. Archived from the original on October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  26. "Gus Johnson made quite the noises calling the Vikings' game-ending missed field goal". Awful Announcing. September 19, 2021. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  27. Keeley, Sean (September 26, 2021). "LISTEN: Gus Johnson calls Jacksonville's 109-yard kick-six touchdown return". Awful Announcing. Archived from the original on September 30, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  28. Joseph, Andrew (September 26, 2021). "Gus Johnson went nuts calling the Jaguars' 109-yard FG return and NFL fans loved it". For The Win. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  29. "'Raff stories?' Plenty to go around on hoops analyst". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
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