Wayne Larrivee
Encyclopedia
Wayne Larrivee is an American sportscaster
, who is the radio play-by-play voice of the Green Bay Packers
and football and basketball play-by-play voice for the Big Ten Network.
and attended Emerson College
in Boston
, where he graduated with a degree in mass communications.
Before joining the Packers, Larrivee called games for the Chicago Bears
for 14 seasons. He also was the television play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Bulls
during WGN-TV
(Channel 9) games for 17 seasons. At various times he has also called games for the Chicago Cubs
, Kansas City Chiefs
, Kansas City Kings
, Iowa Hawkeyes
football, Missouri Tigers
basketball, and Big Ten
football and basketball for ESPN
Regional. He has also called NFL
and NCAA Basketball Tournament games for Westwood One
.
, and is syndicated to stations throughout Wisconsin
and Northern Illinois
and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Larrivee also does sportscasts for WTMJ when the station's regular sports anchors for their morning and afternoon shows are on vacation.
On April 23, 2000, Larrivee substituted for Al Albert as WTTV's play-by-play announcer during the Indiana Pacers' 88-85 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
On July 18, 2007, Larrivee was named the #2 play-by-play announcer for football games on the Big Ten Network. Larrivee works the telecasts with former Northwestern
and Chicago Bears
defensive back
Chris Martin. Thom Brennaman
was named the lead announcer on the same date.
On May 6, 2008, it was announced that Larrivee would no longer be the WGN-TV
play-by-play man for their Chicago Bulls telecasts.
Another well known catch-phrase of Larrivee's is "Ring It Up!", used typically as emphasis for a three-point basket made, and, of most recent note, for the buzzer-beating overtime 3-point basket on the Westwood One
radio network broadcast of the first round contest between Western Kentucky University
and Drake University
in the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
, who is the radio play-by-play voice of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and football and basketball play-by-play voice for the Big Ten Network.
Early life and career
Larrivee was born in Lee, MassachusettsLee, Massachusetts
Lee is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, metropolitan statistical area. The population was 5,943 which was determined in the 2010 census. Lee, which includes the villages of South and East Lee, is part of the Berkshires resort...
and attended Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, where he graduated with a degree in mass communications.
Before joining the Packers, Larrivee called games for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
for 14 seasons. He also was the television play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
during WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
(Channel 9) games for 17 seasons. At various times he has also called games for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, Kansas City Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
football, Missouri Tigers
Missouri Tigers men's basketball
The Missouri Tigers men's basketball team represents the University of Missouri in the Big 12 Conference. The Tigers are located in Columbia, Missouri. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2011. The Missouri Tigers men's basketball team plays its home games at...
basketball, and Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
football and basketball for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
Regional. He has also called NFL
NFL on Westwood One
The NFL on Westwood One is the brand name given to weekly National Football League games carried on the radio over the Dial Global Radio Network...
and NCAA Basketball Tournament games for Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
.
Other broadcast assignments
In addition to his Packers radio work, Larrivee hosts the team-produced Inside Lambeau television program which previews upcoming games and airs every week on several Wisconsin television stations. He also does a daily sports commentary segment called The Back Page, which originates from Packers flagship WTMJ-AM (620) in MilwaukeeMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, and is syndicated to stations throughout Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois is a region generally covering the northern third of the U.S. state of Illinois.-Economics:Northern Illinois is dominated by the metropolitan areas of Chicago, Rockford, and the Quad Cities, which contain a majority of Illinois' population and economic activity, including...
and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Larrivee also does sportscasts for WTMJ when the station's regular sports anchors for their morning and afternoon shows are on vacation.
On April 23, 2000, Larrivee substituted for Al Albert as WTTV's play-by-play announcer during the Indiana Pacers' 88-85 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
On July 18, 2007, Larrivee was named the #2 play-by-play announcer for football games on the Big Ten Network. Larrivee works the telecasts with former Northwestern
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
Chris Martin. Thom Brennaman
Thom Brennaman
Thomas Wade "Thom" Brennaman is an American sportscaster, and the son of current Cincinnati Reds radio sportscaster Marty Brennaman.-Broadcasting career:...
was named the lead announcer on the same date.
On May 6, 2008, it was announced that Larrivee would no longer be the WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
play-by-play man for their Chicago Bulls telecasts.
Trademarks
At crucial moments at the end of games, Larrivee refers to a clinching point as "The Dagger", which is perhaps one step under the proverbial "nail in the coffin." For example, after the big play, he will say, "and there is your dagger!" This 'catch phrase' has become synonymous with Larrivee and it is believed that he is the announcer that has led a surge in other announcers' using the phrase as well. An incorrect 'dagger' has never been called, though some have been called early and opposing teams have made valiant comebacks before falling short at times.Another well known catch-phrase of Larrivee's is "Ring It Up!", used typically as emphasis for a three-point basket made, and, of most recent note, for the buzzer-beating overtime 3-point basket on the Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
radio network broadcast of the first round contest between Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
and Drake University
Drake University
Drake University is a private, co-educational university located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The institution offers a number of undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and pharmacy. Today, Drake is one of the twenty-five oldest law schools in the country....
in the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
External links
- Larrivee's Bio at WTMJ-AMWTMJ (AM)WTMJ is a radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin broadcasting at 620 AM. It is a 50,000-watt station airing a format of news, talk and sports. WTMJ is owned by Journal Broadcast Group, which also owns the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and sister station WLWK-FM....
- The Back Page Audio Archive (hosted on WTMJ-AM's site)