Marv Albert (born Marv Philip Aufrichtig June 12, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American television and radio sportscaster, honored for his work as a member in the Basketball Hall of Fame. His catchphrase is an emphatic, "Yes!"
For over thirty years, Albert was the voice of the New York Knicks on radio and television before being let go by the chairman of the MSG Network and Cablevision after Albert criticized the Knicks poor play on-air in 2004. Albert continues to be a play-by-play announcer for NBA games on TNT. He is also the play-by-play voice of the Westwood One radio network's coverage of Monday Night Football.
He became the focus of a media frenzy in 1997 when he went on trial on felony charges of forcible sodomy. He later pled guilty to misdemeanor assault charges. [1]
As a consequence for the controversy, NBC, whom Albert worked for over 20 years fired him shortly after during play-by-play for the 1997 NBA Finals. Other NBC duties that Albert held were play-by-play announcing for the NFL, college basketball, boxing, NHL all-star games, and hosting Major League Baseball studio and pre-game shows.
Fortunately for Albert, NBC brought him back less than two years later and in 2001, he was back as the main play-by-play man for NBA telecasts. Bob Costas took over for Albert on the basketball side in the 1997-1998 season before stepping down after the 2000 NBA Finals.
Marv's son, Kenny, is also a sports commentator, as he calls baseball and American football for Fox and is NBC's commentator for women's ice hockey at the Winter Olympics.