JP Dellacamera
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John Paul Dellacamera (born in Waltham, Massachusetts, June 12, 1956 United States), known as JP (no periods), is the voice of Major League Soccer for ABC and ESPN.
He is also ESPN and ABC's play-by-play man for their coverage of international soccer, as he's been calling the sport for nearly 30 years. His most famous assignments include the 1999 UEFA Champions League final and 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup final between the United States, and China. That match ended in a 0–0 tie after regulation, with the U.S. women winning in a penalty kick shootout 5–4 ("The shot-save, Scurry!" was one of Dellacamera's most memorable calls from that day's shootout, coming from U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry's save on China's third kick of the shootout). He's also called numerous United States World Cup qualifiers, including Paul Caligiuri's famed 1989 "Shot Heard Round the World" goal against Trinidad & Tobago.
In the early 2000s, he was the lead play-by-play announcer for the WUSA national broadcasts. Dellacamera was NBC's play-by-play voice for soccer at the 2004 Summer Olympics, where he did both the men's and women's tournaments. He also did play-by-play for Red Bull New York on MSG Network for several years.
In addition to soccer and a few other sports, Dellacamera is a veteran NHL announcer. He is currently the television play-by-play voice of the Atlanta Thrashers, and previously served as one of ESPN's many play-by-play commentators.
Dellacamera was the first host of ESPN's PressPass, in which he was the "referee" to analysts Tommy Smyth and Eddie Mighten. The show airs on ESPN's African, Pacific Rim, and Middle East channels, in addition to ESPN 360. Dellacamera has been replaced by Derek Rae, and Mighten has been replaced by Janusz Michallik.
[edit] Memorable calls from Dellacamera
- "Drives it, far side. Headed by Wambach, and Wambach has scored! USA leads!"-JP made this call after Abby Wambach scored in extra-time against Brazil in the Women's Soccer Gold Medal Game on a header from a corner kick in Athens at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
- "Wolff against Howard...SAVED: TIM HOWARD!" - JP made this call after Tim Howard of the MetroStars saved a penalty kick against Josh Wolff of the Chicago Fire on July 13, 2002 in a league game, which went into over time. Howard captained the sqaud, but the MetroStars eventually lost the game 3–2.
- "Altidore...He's going to have a go...and...HE SCORES! His first professional goal!"- JP made this call after 16-year-old Jozy Altidore scored against the Columbus Crew on September 16, 2006.
- "He fires the puck along THOSE boards!" - JP says this a lot during Thrashers games.
