For Celtics fans, the team of Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn have been broadcasting games for what it seems like forever. They actually began as the tandem broadcasting Providence College games in 1980 for WPRI-TV, then a season later, moved to calling Boston Celtics games on a pay per view venture called Prism. It actually aired on Channel 27 throughout New England, but the signal was scrambled so you needed a converter box to see the games. A bizarre concept to many now, but that was how pay per view was born.
Eventually, Prism went to cable and turned into SportsChannel New England, which begat Fox SportsNet New England which was eventually sold to Comcast and became Comcast SportsNet New England. Mike and Tommy at first called a handful of home games, then calling all Celtics home games in the 1980’s, then in the late 1990’s, becoming the exclusive caller of all of the games on cable. They’ve called the glory years with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. They were also there to call the lean years after the death of Reggie Lewis and the Rick Pitino downtrodden era. And of course, Mike and Tommy are chronicling the current era featuring Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.
This week, Comcast SportsNet New England will honor Gorman and Heinsohn at TD Garden before Wednesday’s game against Indiana and then on Friday with a half-hour special. Heinsohn is seen as a keeper of Celtics green as he’s quite homerish, but Gorman is always there to temper it with a very good nuts and bolts call.
Here’s the Comcast SportsNet press release.
COMCAST SPORTSNET AND BOSTON CELTICS TO CELEBRATE MIKE GORMAN AND TOMMY HEINSOHN WEEK
Celtics to Honor Tandem During Pre-Game on Wednesday and Comcast SportsNet to Debut Mike and Tommy Special on Friday
BURLINGTON, MA – Tradition. No NBA team is more synonymous with the word tradition than the Boston Celtics. From the legendary players who have worn Celtics green to the 17 NBA Championship banners that line the rafters, the Boston Celtics have been blessed with a memorable history.
For the past 30 seasons, a generation of Celtics fans across New England and beyond have experienced that tradition through the calls of Comcast SportsNet’s Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn. As the longest continuously broadcasting tandem in American sports, Mike and Tommy have called more than 1,700 Celtics games and some of the greatest moments from the 80’s Big 3 to today’s future Hall of Famers.
This week, the year-long celebration of Mike and Tommy’s 30 seasons continues as the Boston Celtics will honor the tandem with a special pre-game ceremony before tip off of the Celtics vs. Pacers game on Wednesday, March 16. During the pre-game ceremony, Celtics CEO and Co-owner Wyc Grousbeck and Celtics Captain Paul Pierce will present commemorative Celtics jerseys with the number “30” to Mike and Tommy on center court. Comcast SportsNet will have live coverage of the presentation and special features throughout its telecast.
On Friday at 7:30 p.m., Comcast SportsNet will debut 30 Seasons of Mike & Tommy, a special retrospective on Mike and Tommy’s broadcast career. 30 Seasons of Mike & Tommy will relive their best highlights and signature calls; include a candid sit-down in which Mike and Tommy interview each other; and tributes from celebrities, players and NBA dignitaries. The special will also feature segments on their beginning, the Garden, the 90’s, Tommy vs. the referees, Tommy Points, “I love Walter,” “Got It,” and their 1000th game.
“Mike and Tommy deserve every bit of acclaim for their three decades of work calling Boston Celtics basketball. It is a phenomenal achievement, and we are honored to be the home of Mike and Tommy,” said Bill Bridgen, Comcast SportsNet executive vice president and general manager.
Mike Gorman grew up in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood steeped in the tradition of the Celtics championship teams of the 1960s. After serving as a naval aviator, Mike joined Tommy on Providence College basketball games in 1980. A year later when Red Auerbach asked Tommy Heinsohn who should join Tommy calling the Celtics games on cable TV his immediate choice was Mike.
Tommy has been a member of the Boston Celtics family for more than 50 years and has touched every one of the Boston Celtics’ 17 NBA titles. Many remember Tommy’s play on the court and his coaching from the bench, yet Tommy’s legend has grown ever greater with the unabashed passion he demonstrates for the Celtics with every “Tommy Point” and every big call.
Comcast SportsNet reaches more than 4 million households in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Comcast SportsNet’s programming includes the Boston Celtics, SportsNet Central, New England Revolution, Connecticut Sun, Sports Tonight, Celtics Now, Sports Sunday, Quick Slants, The Baseball Show and New England Tailgate. Comcast SportsNet’s partnership with the 17-time NBA Champion Boston Celtics is the longest team-regional sports network relationship in New England and the fourth longest in professional sports. Comcast SportsNet New England is owned and managed by Comcast Sports Group. Visit www.csnne.com for more information.
And that is it.
