Mark Champion is an American radio sportscaster who is the current primary radio play-by-play voice of the Detroit Pistons, a position he has served in since 2001. When the Pistons are on national television, however, George Blaha (usually the TV play-by-play man for Fox Sports Detroit) takes his place.
Born in Muncie, Indiana, Champion served as a local sports reporter on Tampa-area radio and television stations in the 1970s. In 1979, he became the radio play-by-play announcer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After a decade-long stint at Tampa Bay, Champion moved to the Detroit area in 1989, calling games for the Detroit Lions (1989–2004), Detroit Pistons (2001–present), Detroit Fury (2001–2004), and Michigan State Spartans men's basketball. In 2004, Champion was the recipient of the prestigious Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting, awarded by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.
Champion (or rather, his voice) is perhaps best recognized for the post-Super Bowl television commercials he does for Walt Disney World each year. The ads, which have aired since 1987, feature an offscreen Champion telling the game's MVP, "_____, you've just won the Super Bowl. What are you going to do next?" To which the player invariably replies, "I'm going to Disney World!".
Mark Champion in 2010 entered his 17th season as radio play-by-play voice of the Detroit Pistons. He has also worked with Westwood One as a national radio voice for NFL games and NCAA men's basketball tournament games. Champion was an anchor for CBS Radio coverage of the 1992, 1994, and 1998 Winter Olympics, and has been an announcer for the Masters, Ryder Cup, and PGA Championship.
Champion was the voice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ten seasons and for sixteen years lead voice of the Detroit Lions. He called every run ever made by Hall Of Fame running back Barry Sanders. Champion was sports director at WWJ in Detroit and was part of the Bill Bonds Show on WXYT. He has been honored by the National Sportscasters Association and is a recipient of the Ty Tyson Award handed out by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. Champion currently resides in Michigan with his wife, Pam and has three children, two stepchildren and two grandchildren.
Read more about Mark Champion: Catchphrases
Famous quotes containing the words mark and/or champion:
“The gap between ideals and actualities, between dreams and achievements, the gap that can spur strong men to increased exertions, but can break the spirit of others—this gap is the most conspicuous, continuous land mark in American history. It is conspicuous and continuous not because Americans achieve little, but because they dream grandly. The gap is a standing reproach to Americans; but it marks them off as a special and singularly admirable community among the world’s peoples.”
—George F. Will (b. 1941)
“What a terrible thing has happened to us all! To you there, to us here, to all everywhere. Peace who was becoming bright-eyed, now sits in the shadow of death; her handsome champion has been killed as he walked by her very side. Her gallant boy is dead. What a cruel, foul, and most unnatural murder! We mourn here with you, poor, sad American people.”
—Sean O’Casey (1884–1964)