Dave O'Brien is an American sportscaster who currently broadcasts various events for ESPN television and Westwood One radio. The Quincy, Massachusetts native now joins Joe Castiglione on Boston Red Sox radio broadcasts.
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Early career
Before his work with the Florida Marlins (from the team's inaugural year in 1993 through 2001 including the Marlins 1st World Series win in 1997), O'Brien was the radio play-by-play man for the Atlanta Braves. He also called college football and basketball games for Georgia and Miami from 1987-1992, garnering the Georgia Associated Press' "Best Sports Play-by-Play" accolade in 1988 and 1991.[1]
Other baseball commentatory
He has provided commentary for MLB's international coverage of the World Series since 2004. O'Brien was television voice of the New York Mets on WPIX-TV from 2003 through 2005. He won the Achievements in Radio (A.I.R.) award for Best Play-by-Play for his call of Mark McGwire's 59th home run in 1998.[2]
Prior to the 2005 season, O'Brien was denied permission by ESPN to join the Chicago Cubs' broadcast team.[3][4]
ESPN
O'Brien has called play-by-play for ESPN since 2002, handling MLB, the NBA, college basketball, and soccer (including Major League Soccer's MLS Primetime Thursday and United States men's national soccer team telecasts).
2006 FIFA World Cup
O'Brien joined Marcelo Balboa on the primary broadcast team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup coverage on ESPN and ABC Sports, despite having no experience calling soccer matches prior to that year. Because The Walt Disney Company, owner of both television outlets, retained control over on-air talent, the appointment of O'Brien as the main play-by-play voice was made over the objections of Soccer United Marketing, who wanted JP Dellacamera to continue in that role. Disney stated that their broadcast strategy was intended, in voice and style, to target the vast majority of Americans who do not follow the sport on a regular basis. Mispronunciation and incorrect addressing of names, misuse of soccer terminology, and lack of insight into tactics and history plagued the telecasts, resulting in heavy criticism[5] from English-speaking soccer fans, many of whom ended up watching the games on Univision instead.[6]
Notable games broadcast by O'Brien
In 2007, O'Brien called play-by-play for an ESPN broadcast of a game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres, in which Barry Bonds tied the major league all-time home run record with his 755th home run. More notably, he called the August 7, 2007, game between the Giants and the Washington Nationals in which Bonds hit his 756th home run, breaking the record that was held by Hank Aaron for more than 33 years.
O'Brien is also well known for calling the thrilling triple-overtime college basketball epic between Oklahoma State and Texas on January 16, 2007. He called the game on ESPN2 alongside Rick Majerus. Oklahoma State prevailed and won that game 105-103.
Notes
- ^ "Dave O'Brien". RLR Associates Limited. http://www.rlrassociates.net/talent_baseball_dave_obrian.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
- ^ ESPN MediaZone - A Resource for Media Professionals
- ^ Daily Herald
- ^ [1]
- ^ Sports Media Watch presents the ten worst personnel moves of the 2000s. #5: Dave O'Brien calls the World Cup (2006, ESPN)
- ^ Fatsis, Stefan. "Fans Say ESPN's World Cup Coverage Deserves Penalty," The Wall Street Journal, Wednesday, July 5, 2006.
References
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