CHRIS BERMAN

'Christopher (Boomer) James Berman' (born May 10, 1955, in Greenwich, Connecticut) is a sportscaster, who anchors ''SportsCenter'', ''Monday Night Countdown'', ''Sunday NFL Countdown'', ''Baseball Tonight'', ''U.S. Open golf'', and other programming on ESPN. He joined ESPN a month after its founding and has been with the network since. Berman also goes by his alter ego, 'The Swami' when making prognostications on ''Sunday NFL Countdown''. He is the new host of Monday Night Countdown, replacing previous host Stuart Scott. He also has appeared on ESPN football video games.

Contents

''"You're with me, leather"''

Honors

In other media

Bermanisms

Team/location-specific phrases

Player-specific phrases

Other catch phrases

External links

''"You're with me, leather"''

Main articles: You're with me, leather

Honors

★ National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association National Sportscaster of the Year (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001)

★ American Sportscasters Association Sportscaster of the Year (1995 through 1997)

★ ''The Cable Guide'' Best Cable Sportscaster 1987, 1988, 1990

★ 1997 "TV's Most Fascinating Stars" from ''People''

★ 2001 Maxwell Football Club's Reds Bagnell Award

★ 2007 Honorary Degree Brown University. Mr. Berman is a member of the class of 1977 and will receive an honorary degree as part of the 239th Commencement Ceremonies

In other media

★ Berman lent his voice to the videogame ''ESPN NFL 2K5'' and hosts the pregame show. As a hidden feature, Berman appears as a free agent quarterback in season mode, and also has his own team in the game, the Bristol Swamis, named after Bristol, Connecticut, where ESPN headquarters are located and his nickname, "the Swami".

★ Berman appeared in the remake of ''The Longest Yard'' with Adam Sandler in 2005. He played himself as the play-by-play announcer of prison football game. Berman also appeared as himself in Necessary Roughness in 1991, ''Little Big League'' in 1994, and ''Eddie'' and ''Kingpin'' in 1996, as well as the 1995 Hootie and the Blowfish video for the single, "Only Wanna Be With You".

★ Berman has cameoed on various episodes of ''Even Stevens'' as a SportsCenter anchor.

★ During a segment of the "Chase the cheese" event on an episode of Sesame Street, Berman voiced the sports announcer.

★ Chris Berman once spelled the word "cyberspace" S-I-B-E-R-S-P-A-C-E

Bermanisms

Team/location-specific phrases

★ ''"Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills!"''

★ ''"The J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets"'' - referring to the stadium chant popularized by New York Jets fan Edward "Fireman Ed" Anzalone

★ ''"The New York Football Giants"'' - term used to differentiate the NFL Giants before the baseball New York Giants moved to San Francisco, and also the legal corporate name of the team

★ ''"Da Raid-ahs!"'' - reference to Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis' and famous announcer Howard Cosell's Brooklyn accent

★ ''"The frozen tundra of Lambeau Field"'' - mimicking the voice of NFL Films announcer John Facenda

★ ''"The NFC Norris Division."'' - The NFC North division (formerly NFC Central), after the NHL's old Norris Division which included teams from similar cities as the NFL teams and similar championship success.

★ ''"Da Geee-Men!"'' - referring to the New York Giants or San Francisco Giants, depending on which sport he is covering.

★ ''"Seabags!"''- referring to the Seattle Seahawks

★ ''"The Can-A-Di-An Foot-Ball League"'' - referring to the CFL

★ ''"San Diego Super Chargers!"'' - singing the San Diego Chargers' fight song.

★ ''"The Big Sombrero"'' - Nickname for the old Houlihan's Stadium, former home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

★ ''"The New Sombrero"'' - Nickname for Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

★ ''"The Big Ketchup Bottle"'' - Nickname for Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers

★ ''"Know All and Tell All at Alltel"'' - Referring to the impressive home record of the Jacksonville Jaguars at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium formerly Alltel Stadium

★ ''The Homer Dome"'' - Nickname for the Metrodome, home of the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Twins (probably the source of the nickname)

★ ''Daddies''- San Diego Padres.

★ ''Beer Makers''- Milwaukee Brewers.

★ ''The Chefs'' -Kansas City Chiefs - in reference to the 1981 season in which Berman stated that the Chiefs were not playing in a manner fitting of the name Chiefs. Berman later made a deal with former Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt that if the Chiefs had a winning record the following season, Berman would never refer to them as the Chefs again.

★ ''The Big Crab Cake'' - Nickname for M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens

Player-specific phrases

★ "Out of the Batcave" Wayne, refrence to Reggie Wayne

★ ''"Aaron My Lips Are Sele"'' Aaron Sele

★ ''"Starvin' Marvin Harrison"'' Marvin Harrison (reference to South Park character)

★ ''"Bert Be Home Blyleven"'' - Used to describe Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins pitcher Bert Blyleven. Referring to "be home by eleven."

★ ''"He-di-he-di-he-di-he"'' - used in highlights of erstwhile New York Giants receiver Chris Calloway, who shares a surname with Cab Calloway, composer of "Minnie the Moocher". Typically, Berman would sing the phrase while (Tom Jackson would sing the song's refrain, "Ho-di-ho-di-ho-di-ho".

★ ''"Tiki-Bear"'' referring to now retired New York Giant Tiki Barber.

★ ''"Mar-shall, Mar-shall, Mar-shall!"'' - used in highlights of Marshall Faulk, a play on Jan Brady's line about her sister, ''"Marcia, Marcia, Marcia"'', in the television show, ''The Brady Bunch'' as well as Marshall University's run of football championships in their first four years of their second stint in the Mid-American Conference (1997-2000).

★ ''"The Brady Bunch!"''- referring to the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots

★ ''"Curtis My Favorite Martin"''- used for Curtis Martin of the New York Jets, a reference to the television show ''My Favorite Martian''

★ ''"Do I make you Randy Johnson"''- used for Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks, a reference to Austin Powers

★ ''"All he does is catch touchdowns"''- on touchdown plays by Cris Carter, quoting former coach Buddy Ryan's criticism of Carter

★ ''"Look at that little Meggett run!"'' - used to describe the diminutive Dave Meggett, a play on the controversial Howard Cosell line, "Look at that little monkey run"; used again in the 2005 movie ''The Longest Yard''.

★ ''"Primetime, Primetime, Primetime"'' - referring to Deion Sanders by his nickname.

★ ''"Say it ain't Sosa!"'' - used when Sammy Sosa hits a home run

★ ''"Jake daylight come, and you gotta Delhomme"'' - used for Carolina Panthers' quarterback Jake Delhomme (a reference to "The Banana Boat Song" by Harry Belafonte).

★ ''"T.J. you say HoushmandZAYdah, I say HoushmandZAHdah, I say [whatever Houshmandzadeh accomplishes]"'' - used for wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh as his commonly mispronounced name.

★ ''"David "Green" Akers"'' - used for place kicker David Akers of the Philadelphia Eagles in reference to the 1960s television show ''Green Acres''.

★ ''Julio "Won't you take me on a sea" Cruz- In reference to former Seattle Mariner Julio Cruz.

★ ''"Then the Rams go to...The Marshall Plan!!!"'' - used when the St. Louis Rams call a play designed for Marshall Faulk that results in a big play or a touchdown. Referring to George Marshall's plan for Europe after World War II

★ ''"Jonathan Viiiiilllllmaaaaaa!!!"'' - a play on Wilma Flintstone; used for Jonathan Vilma, a linebacker for the New York Jets.

★ ''"Mike "You're in good hands with" Alstott"'' - Used when Mike Alstott gets a touchdown, alluding to the Allstate slogan.

★ ''"Lito, ohhh ohhh ohh ohaa"'' referring to Lito Sheppard of the Philadelphia Eagles when he intercepts a pass, in reference to the Boz Scaggs song ''Lido Shuffle''.

★ ''"'Werewolves of' London Fletcher"'' - Used when London Fletcher (now Fletcher-Baker) makes a defensive play on the ball, in reference to the Warren Zevon song "Werewolves of London" freqently adding the lyrics from the song "He's havin' a piña colada at Trader Vic's".

★ ''"John Carney...Sheila McRae...goodnight everybody!"'' - Used anytime placekicker John Carney kicks a game-winning field goal, a reference to actor Art Carney from the closing segment of ''The Jackie Gleason Show''.

★ ''Joseph "Live and Let" Addai'' referring to Joseph Addai, and the Paul McCartney song "Live and Let Die".

★ "Mike Cat Scratch Fever Nugent" referring to Mike Nugent, New York Jets placekicker, and legendary musician Ted Nugent.

★ "Rob My Bironas" referring to Rob Bironas, Tennessee Titans placekicker, and "My Sharona" by The Knack.

★ "Heath Bar Evans" referring to Heath Evans, New England Patriots runningback, and the chocolate candy bar, Heath Bar.

★ "Famous" Amos Zereoue - a play on Famous Amos cookies.

★ Eric "Sleeping With" Bienemy - a play on the movie ''Sleeping With The Enemy''.

★ "Well-dressed" Amani Toomer - referring to the expensive designer brand Armani.

★ "The Bay of Pigs" - referring to the times when both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers were terrible and played each other. (Actually, late ESPN NFL personality Pete Axthelm coined it, but Berman continued to use it after Axthelm's death in 1991.)

★ "Shaun McDonald had a farm" referring to a wide receiver on the Rams.

★ "''Rudi, Rudi, Rudi Johnson''-used for Rudi Johnson of the Bengals in reference to Rudy Ruettiger, the Notre Dame walk-on player whose story was the basis of the 1993 movie ''Rudy''.

★ ''Da da da da da..da da..Here's Carson'' - used for Carson Palmer, in reference to ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson''.

★ ''Josh Tears of McCown'' - QB from the Raiders, in reference to the 1967 song "The Tears of a Clown" by The Miracles.

★ ''Hey, you, get off of Mike Cloud'' - used for RB Mike Cloud, in reference to the 1965 song "Get Off of My Cloud" by The Rolling Stones.

★ ''See me...Feely...Kicky...Goody (or Missy)''- used for kicker Jay Feely when he makes or misses a big kick, in reference to a line in the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" by The Who

★ ''Tatum/Mike for whom the Bell tolls''- used for the Broncos running backs Tatum and Mike Bell, in reference to the novel/movie/film ''For Whom the Bell Tolls''.

★ ''Ken use the force Lucas''- used for Panthers defensive back Ken Lucas, a play off of a ''Star Wars'' line.

★ ''Warrick well Dunn''- used for Falcons running back Warrick Dunn.

★ ''Omare..O O O O''- used for Saints kicker Olindo Mare, a play off of the famous Italian song, "Volare".

★ ''Jeremiah was a bullfrog Trotter''- used for Jeremiah Trotter, a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, referring to a lyric from the 1971 song "Joy to the World" recorded by Three Dog Night.

★ ''57 varieties of Hines Ward''- used for Hines Ward of the Steelers, a pun on the Heinz ketchup slogan.

★ ''Mark Strawberry Fields''- the one-time linebacker of the Carolina Panthers, in reference to the 1967 song "Strawberry Fields Forever" by The Beatles.

★ ''José can you see Canseco''- the infamous former A's and D-Rays player.

★ When referring to Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, he will often hum the tune to "If I Only Had A Brain" from ''The Wizard of Oz''. This is a reference to the Scarecrow character played by Ray Bolger, with whom Marc (at least phonetically) shares a surname.

★ ''Bernard "innocent until proven" Gilkey''- referring to the former journeyman Major League outfielder.

★ ''He could .. eat .. all .. the .. dots''- a reference to Pacman Jones, when normally Berman would say "He could .. go .. all .. the .. way."

★ ''Reggie 'Stately Wayne Manor' - a reference to Reggie Wayne, a play off of Batman's mansion Wayne Manor.

★ "Flowers for Algernon" - used for Alge Crumpler, a tight end for the Atlanta Falcons.

★ "Cedric 'On Broadway' Benson" - used for the Chicago Bears running back in reference to George Benson, who recorded the most well-known version of the song ''On Broadway''.

★ "''Alf Landon Johnson''" - reference to a Cincinnati Bengals linebacker about 1936 Presidential candidate Alf Landon.

★ ''Bob "Sister" Christian, "He's Motorin"'' - used when Bob Christian has the football, in reference to the song "Sister Christian" by the band Night Ranger in which the word "Motorin" is part of the chorus.

★ "''David "Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey's" Kircus''", a reference to a famous circus.

★ "''Scott Supercalifragilisticexpiali Brosius''", in reference to the famous phrase from ''Mary Poppins''.

★ "''Grand mama!''" - Used to refer to Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson (football), a nickname used on former NBA player Larry Johnson (basketball).

★ ''Jerome "The bus buh buh buh"'' - Used to refer to retired Steelers running back Jerome Bettis.

★ "''"Richotet" Reche Caldwell''" - What he calls New England Patriots Reche Caldwell.

★ "''Laurence "Bony" Maroney''" - What he calls New England Patriots Halfback Laurence Maroney. Usually punctuated with the song lyrics, "I gotta girl named Boney Maroney."

★ "''Jeff "Dream" Weaver''" - What he calls pitcher Jeff Weaver in reference to the song by Gary Wright.

★ "''Alexander "If loving you is wrong, I don't want to be" Wright - used to refer to former Cowboys WR Alexander Wright.

★ ''Samari 'Shake, Rattle, and' Rolle'' - Used for Ravens CB Samari Rolle.

★ "''Temple Beth-El Johnson''" - What he calls former New England Patriots KR/WR Bethel Johnson.

★ "Reuben Droughns goes on...and on...and on..." - used whenever newly acquired New York Giants RB Reuben Droughns breaks a large gain. Refers to when someone "drones" in speech.

★ "Justin ''Durant Durant'' - Hungry Like the Wolf" - Used when the Jaguars selected linebacker Justin Durant in the 2007 NFL Draft. Reference to the song by Duran Duran.

★ "Bengie 'Don't call me Yadier' Molina" - When talking about San Francisco Giants catcher Bengie Molina because of Bengie having two brothers in baseball, also catchers.

★ "John 'I am not a' Kruk"-Talking about former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman John Kruk, in reference to former US president Richard Nixon's famous line after the Watergate scandal.

★ "It's a Sellers market" - When referring to Washington Redskins fullback Mike Sellers.

★ "Albert 'Winnie-the-Pujols'" when he announced St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols at the 2007 Home Run Derby.

★ "Generalissimo Julio Franco" used when talking about nutrion-nut and diligent infielder Julio Franco

★ Barry "U.S" Bonds - used for San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds in reference to singer Gary U.S. Bonds.

★ Hideki Ir-Ra-Boo-Yah!"- whenever someone hit a homer off former yankee pitcher Hideki Irabu.

★ Todd "Which Hand Do You" Frohwirth-- in reference to the former Major League pitcher.

★ When talking about former Buffalo Sabres' teammates, Alexei Zhitnik and Richard Shmelik: "What does your Zhitnik Shmelik?"

★ Craig "Matinee at the" Biggio

★ Mike "pepperoni" Piazza

★ C.C."Splish Splash I was takin" Sabathia

★ Olmedo "Do this, do that, can't you read the" Sáenz, during the Giants-Dodgers game August 2, 2007

★ Ryan "Mom I can't palm a basketball, I wish I had" Langerhans

★ Eric "Taco" Bell

★ 'Fettucini' Alfredo Griffin for the former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop.

★ John Mayberry 'RFD) for the former Toronto Blues Jays DH in reference to the long time Andy Griffith Show where Griffith was the sherrif of Mayberry.

★ "Jeff Conine the Barbarian" in reference to 1B and DH Jeff Conine and the Arnold Schwarzenegger movies

★ "Tejada they come, Tejada they fall" in reference to Baltimore Orioles Shortstop Miguel Tejada

★ "Parsley Sage Rosenfels and Thyme" referring to then Miami Dolphins quarterback Sage Rosenfels while recalling the Simon and Garfunkel song, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

★ Octavio "Shh" Dotel, currently a pitcher for the Kansas City Royals

★ Karl "The Truth" Williams (former Tampa Bay Buccaneer WR) Appropriation of the nickname of Carl Williams

★ Wally "Absorbine" Joyner (former Angels 1B) - reference to Absorbine, Jr.

Other catch phrases

★ "He could...go...all...the...way" - whenever a football player runs a long distance for a touchdown. This phrase is done in imitation of the late Howard Cosell,who popularized the phrase on the "Halftime Highlights" section of the original "Monday Night Football" broadcasts.

★ "He's rumblin', bumblin', stumblin'" - whenever a larger, heavier football player runs for a touchdown.

★ "Back, back, back, back, back, back...GONE!" - as a home run ball is in the air

★ "WHOOP!" - whenever a blooper or a juke occurs during a game.

★ "FUM-BLE!" - whenever a fumble occurs in a football game.

★ "DOINK!" - whenever a field goal attempt hits the goal posts.

★ "Tick, Tick! Tick, Tick" - when linking consecutive plays of a two-minute drill, alluding to the team's fighting the clock.

★ "WHAT!?" - whenever a football player makes a nice move to avoid a tackle.

★ "To the right, to the left, up, down, TOUCHDOWN!" - a Berman cheer for a particularly spectacular touchdown.

★ "He could...go... all... the... w-w-w-w, OH! Just shy at the 1 yard-line." Used a lot on Half-Time and Post-Game shows on plays that get close to a TD

External links

★ Chris Berman's bio at ABCSports.com

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