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:
“It is a mark of many famous people that they cannot part with their brightest hour.”
—Lillian Hellman (1905–1984)
“But now Miss America, World’s champion woman, you take your promenading self down into the cobalt blue waters of the Caribbean and see what happens. You meet a lot of darkish men who make vociferous love to you, but otherwise pay you no mid.”
—Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960)