Paul Allen (sports commentator)

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Paul Allen
Born (1966-01-06) January 6, 1966 (age 58)
Alma materPasadena City College
Sports commentary career
TeamMinnesota Vikings (2002–present)
GenrePlay-by-play
SportNFL football
EmployerKFAN (1998–present)

Paul Allen (born January 6, 1966[1][2]) is a sports commentator who has called play-by-play for the Minnesota Vikings since 2002. He is the voice of the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network and for horse racing at Canterbury Park. Allen has worked for Twin Cities radio station KFAN, where he currently hosts a morning sports radio show, since 1998.[3][4]

Biography[edit]

Allen previously called horse races at different locations throughout the United States until he came to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota in 1995.[5] Allen was both criticized and praised by Vikings fans for "ripping" into Brett Favre after he threw an interception in the 2009 NFC Championship game against the New Orleans Saints that ultimately kept them out of Super Bowl XLIV.[6][7] He uses personally coined phrases like "Minnesota Moving Company" (offensive line) and "Minneapolis Miracle," the play where the Vikings beat the New Orleans Saints with a last play touchdown in the playoffs on January 14, 2018. Allen is known for his emotional calls, such as the aforementioned 2009 NFC Championship, the 2003 Vikings' regular season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, and the 2015 Wild Card Playoff game between the Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks.

Allen is a devout Christian and does a podcast called Faith and Goal. He also speaks at churches and leads chapels every summer at the Dean Kutz Memorial Chapel on the property of Canterbury Park.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Minnesota Vikings". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
  2. ^ Allen, Paul (2017-01-05). "Birthday dinner tonight. Birthday tomorrow.[...]". @paonthemic. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
  3. ^ Graff, Chad. "Where the voice of the Vikings was born: Paul Allen's bond with Canterbury Park". The Athletic. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  4. ^ "'Boom!' Clear your cards, it's time for Paul Allen Vikings game bingo". Twin Cities. 2018-11-24. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  5. ^ Seroka, Scott (19 November 2000). "About Dr. Mani H. Zadeh". Kare11 – NBC Affiliate. Retrieved 4 October 2012.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Warren, Paul (25 January 2010). "Paul Allen Rips Favre During Broadcast". Off The Record. Archived from the original on 28 January 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  7. ^ Rosenthal, Gregg (25 January 2010). "Vikings radio voice lets Favre have it". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  8. ^ Paul Allen [@PAOnTheMic] (January 15, 2018). "Minneapolis Miracle. That's all I can say. Diggs. From 61. Nobody ever has seen anything like that. I can't breathe. I feel like I can fly. We r off to Philadelphia to play to get into the Super Bowl. #skol" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links[edit]