John Ireland (sportscaster)

John Alexander Ireland Jr. (born July 15, 1953) is an American sportscaster based in Southern California, who is currently the radio play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1]

John Ireland
Born
John Alexander Ireland Jr.

(1963-07-15) July 15, 1963
Sports commentary career
Team(s)Los Angeles Lakers
Genre(s)play-by-play
Sports commentator
SportsLos Angeles Lakers

Early life

Ireland was born in Newport Beach, California to Myrna and John Ireland and was raised in the neighborhood Corona del Mar, Newport Beach.

Radio career

Since 2011, Ireland has been employed as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers.[2][3] He also hosts (along with Steve Mason) a Monday-Friday sports talk show on KSPN-AM radio, from 12:55pm to 3:55pm.[3]

Previously, Ireland hosted shows at XTRA-AM in San Diego, KLAC-AM in Los Angeles, and nationally on the Fox Sports Radio network. From 1997-2000, Mason and Ireland hosted a live TV/Radio simulcast on the Fox Sports West cable network.

Prior to being named the Lakers announcer, he did part-time play-by-play and sideline work for the Los Angeles Clippers, as well as UCLA football and basketball.

Television career

From 1995 through 2012, Ireland was employed as a sports anchor/reporter by KCBS/KCAL-TV, the Viacom-owned duopoly in Los Angeles. From 2002-2010, he worked as the sideline reporter for all Los Angeles Lakers broadcasts on KCAL-TV.[4]

Previously, he worked as a sportscaster at KTVE-TV in Monroe, Louisiana; KBMT-TV in Beaumont, Texas; and KUSI-TV in San Diego, California. In San Diego, he won two Emmy awards for best sportscast.[1]

Education

Ireland is a graduate of Corona del Mar High School, in Newport Beach, California, Class of 1971.[5] In high school, he was a member of the basketball team and wrote for Trident Magazine.

He received a bachelor's degree in history from UCLA in 1975,[1] and was the sports director of the campus radio station, KLA-AM.[6] He is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

References
  1. "John Ireland". CBS Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09.
  2. Medina, Mark (June 21, 2011). "Lakers name Bill Macdonald and John Ireland as team's play-by-play announcers for 2011-2012 season". LA Times. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  3. Lev, Michael (December 12, 2013). "Lev: John Ireland's best call is channeling Chick". OC Register.
  4. Hoffarth, Tom (January 20, 2011). "MEDIA: L.A.'S BEST/WORST TV PERSONALITIES: Maggio brings what KCBS/KCAL is looking for". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  5. Szabo, Matt (August 7, 2007). "IRELAND:Former Sea King no paper boy". Daily Pilot. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018.
  6. Lee, Jordan (February 11, 2015). "Q&A: Lakers radio host, UCLA alumnus discusses his beginnings in the industry". Daily Bruin. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
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