Jim Gray (sportscaster)

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Jim Gray is an American sportscaster. He has previously worked as a reporter with NBC Sports and CBS Sports. He is currently with the Westwood One radio network, Showtime and ESPN/ESPN on ABC.

[edit] Notable events covered and athletes interviewed

Gray has been well known for his interview technique. Gray has broken numerous sports stories and has scored a number of exclusive interviews with Mike Tyson, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Barry Bonds and others. Gray has won 11 National Emmy Awards and has twice been named the Sports Reporter of the Year by the ASA. Gray has worked on many major sporting events including numerous Super Bowls, World Series, NBA Finals, NCAA Final Fours, Olympics, The Masters and World Boxing Title Fights.

Gray was the sideline reporter for the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl in 2004. He was also the reporter on the air for Showtime for the Tyson/Holyfield fight in 1997 in which Tyson bit Holyfields ear. Gray also reported on the Olympic bombing from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Jim Gray also provided surprise play-by-play coverage for a little league game in Hermosa Beach, California on Saturday, March 10th, 2007. The event, organized by an improvisation group called Improv Everywhere, included: mascots, vendors with food, a jumbotron in the outfield and a flyover by the Goodyear blimp. ^{[1] [2]}

[edit] Criticism

While some have been critical of Gray for being abrasive in interviews, others have also criticized him for giving soft interviews. Gray has been known for his close relationship with Kobe Bryant, which showed in the immediate aftermath of Bryant's sexual assault situation (the night when the news broke, Gray appeared on SportsCenter in defense of Bryant's character)^[3] and in several sideline interviews. It was Gray whom Bryant phone called to vent about teammate Shaquille O'Neal in October of that year (a phone call that started one of O'Neal and Bryant's worst disagreements).^[4] Also, some found Gray's interview with maligned baseball player Barry Bonds in 2006 to be too soft.

[edit] The Pete Rose interview

The most notable interview of Gray's sportscasting career occurred with former baseball player Pete Rose. During Game 2 of the 1999 World Series, Rose was introduced as a member of the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. After the ceremony, Gray (who was covering the series for NBC) pointedly queried Rose about allegations of gambling on baseball, which he repeatedly denied:^[5]

Many people were outraged over Gray's aggressive questioning, feeling that it detracted from the ceremony. Others felt that given the dichotomy of Rose's banishment from baseball and his inclusion on the All-Century Team, the questions were appropriate. Because of Gray's interview tactics with Rose, New York Yankees outfielder Chad Curtis snubbed Gray's request for an interview at the conclusion of Game 3. After hitting the game winning home run, Curtis responded to Gray on the Yankees' behalf:

Despite the heavy criticism he received, Gray offered no apology for his line of questioning toward Rose.

Five years later, Rose finally admitted to gambling on baseball.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Rose's admission puts Gray's interview in different light