John Ireland (sportscaster)
John Ireland | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Alexander Ireland Jr. July 15, 1957 |
| Sports commentary career | |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Genres | |
| Sport | Los Angeles Lakers |
John Alexander Ireland Jr. (born July 15, 1963)[1] is an American sportscaster based in Southern California, who is currently the radio play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[2]
Early life
[edit]Ireland was born in Newport Beach, California to Myrna and John Ireland and was raised in the neighborhood Corona del Mar, Newport Beach.
Radio career
[edit]Since 2011, Ireland has been employed as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers.[3][4] He also hosts (along with Steve Mason) a Monday-Friday sports talk show on KSPN-AM radio, from 12:55pm to 3:55pm.[4]
Previously, Ireland hosted shows at XTRA-AM in San Diego, KLAC-AM in Los Angeles, and nationally on the Fox Sports Radio network. From 1997 to 2000, Mason and Ireland hosted a live TV/Radio simulcast on the Fox Sports West cable network.
Prior to being named the Lakers announcer, he did part-time play-by-play and sideline work for the Los Angeles Clippers, as well as UCLA football and basketball.
Television career
[edit]From 1995 through 2012, Ireland was employed as a sports anchor/reporter by KCBS/KCAL-TV, the Viacom-owned duopoly in Los Angeles. From 2002 to 2010, he worked as the sideline reporter for all Los Angeles Lakers broadcasts on KCAL-TV.[5]
Previously, he worked as a sportscaster at KTVE-TV in Monroe, Louisiana; KBMT-TV in Beaumont, Texas; and KUSI-TV in San Diego, California. In San Diego, he won two Emmy awards for best sportscast.[2]
Education
[edit]Ireland is a graduate of Corona del Mar High School, in Newport Beach, California, Class of 1975.[6] In high school, he was a member of the basketball team and wrote for Trident Magazine.
He received a bachelor's degree in history from UCLA in 1985,[2], on what he laughingly describes as the "10-year plan," and was the sports director of the campus radio station, KLA-AM.[7] He is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
References
[edit]- ^ "Mason & Ireland - HR 2: Letter to the Editor". ESPN. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ a b c "John Ireland". CBS Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 2012-03-09.
- ^ Medina, Mark (June 21, 2011). "Lakers name Bill Macdonald and John Ireland as team's play-by-play announcers for 2011-2012 season". LA Times. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- ^ a b Lev, Michael (December 12, 2013). "Lev: John Ireland's best call is channeling Chick". OC Register.
- ^ Hoffarth, Tom (January 20, 2011). "MEDIA: L.A.'S BEST/WORST TV PERSONALITIES: Maggio brings what KCBS/KCAL is looking for". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- ^ Szabo, Matt (August 7, 2007). "IRELAND:Former Sea King no paper boy". Daily Pilot. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018.
- ^ Lee, Jordan (February 11, 2015). "Q&A: Lakers radio host, UCLA alumnus discusses his beginnings in the industry". Daily Bruin. Retrieved June 11, 2018.