Dave O'Brien

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.

Early career

Before his work with the Florida Marlins (from the team's inaugural year in 1993 through 2001), 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.

Other baseball commentatory

He has provided commentary for MLB's international coverage of the World Series since . 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 .

Prior to the season, O'Brien was denied permission by ESPN to join the Chicago Cubs' broadcast team.

ESPN

O'Brien has called play-by-play for ESPN since 2002, handling MLB, the NBA, ESPN 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 teamed up with former U.S. national soccer team captain Marcelo Balboa for the 2006 World Cup as the play-by play man on the ESPN and ABC Sports' primary announcing team. O'Brien and Balboa called the most prominent games of the tournament with their commentary generating controversy for several reasons, notably some questionable statements made on-air. ESPN and ABC 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. In 2007, Balboa was replaced on ESPN's soccer coverage. For 2008, ESPN put O'Brien solely on its baseball coverage "so that he will miss fewer Red Sox games", with JP Dellacamera taking over soccer duties.

Notable games broadcast by O'Brien

In , 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 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

References

• USA Today article in which O'Brien answers criticism
• Slate.com article