Bill Macatee
Encyclopedia
Bill Macatee is an American sports broadcaster.
, and grew up in El Paso, Texas
. In 1978, he earned a bachelor of science degree in speech from Lamar University
in Beaumont, Texas
. Soon thereafter, he was hired as Sports Director by Bill Paradoski at KBMT 12 in Beaumont, Texas.
, which made him the youngest network sportscaster in the industry. With NBC Sports
, he covered a wide range of events including Wimbledon
, the Super Bowl
, the Rose Bowl and the World Series
. Additionally, Macatee served as the sports correspondent for the Today Show and anchor for NBC News at Sunrise
and Sunday Today. He also co-anchored the syndicated show USA Today on TV.
on the USA Network
. His other duties have included play-by-play for the U.S. Open
Tennis Championship, the French Open at Roland Garros
, boxing, figure skating, and other sports specials. Macatee also anchors CBS
' coverage of the LPGA
and Champions Tour
and in addition to serving as a tower announcer for The Masters and PGA Championship
substitutes for Jim Nantz
during other PGA events. Macatee is also CBS's studio anchor for the U.S. Open Tennis Championship, serves as an announcer for CBS' NFL coverage
, and hosts the French Open tennis tournament on The Tennis Channel.
In 2006, Macatee anchored USA Network's coverage of the Winter Olympics
.
Macatee was the play by play announcer on CBS' "Clash of Champions" bowling telecast that aired on May 10–11, 2008. He teamed with color analyst Nelson Burton Jr.
and sideline reporter Lynn Swann
. The broadcast marked bowling's return to network television for the first time since 1999 when CBS carried it.
.
Today, he resides in Newport Beach, California
, with his daughter, Caitlin.
Early life and career
Macatee was born in Rome, New YorkRome, New York
Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but...
, and grew up in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
. In 1978, he earned a bachelor of science degree in speech from Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
in Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
. Soon thereafter, he was hired as Sports Director by Bill Paradoski at KBMT 12 in Beaumont, Texas.
NBC Sports
In 1982, Macatee, then 26, began his sports broadcasting career with NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, which made him the youngest network sportscaster in the industry. With NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
, he covered a wide range of events including Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
, the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
, the Rose Bowl and the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. Additionally, Macatee served as the sports correspondent for the Today Show and anchor for NBC News at Sunrise
NBC News at Sunrise
NBC News at Sunrise was an early morning news program produced by NBC News from 1983 to 1999. The program featured the top news headlines of the morning, sports and weather reports, and business segments. Many of the program's anchors also appeared on The Today Show...
and Sunday Today. He also co-anchored the syndicated show USA Today on TV.
Career since 1990
From 1990 until 2006, he anchored coverage of the PGA TourPGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
on the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
. His other duties have included play-by-play for the U.S. Open
U.S. Open (tennis)
The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881...
Tennis Championship, the French Open at Roland Garros
Stade Roland Garros
Le Stade de Roland Garros is a tennis venue located in Paris, France. It hosts the French Open tennis tournament , a Grand Slam event played annually in May and June. The facility was constructed in 1928 to host France's first defense of the Davis Cup...
, boxing, figure skating, and other sports specials. Macatee also anchors CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
' coverage of the LPGA
LPGA
The LPGA, in full the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is an American organization for female professional golfers. The organization, whose headquarters is in Daytona Beach, Florida, is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite female golfers from...
and Champions Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
and in addition to serving as a tower announcer for The Masters and PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
substitutes for Jim Nantz
Jim Nantz
James William Nantz, III is an American sportscaster, known primarily for his work with CBS Sports television.-Early life:...
during other PGA events. Macatee is also CBS's studio anchor for the U.S. Open Tennis Championship, serves as an announcer for CBS' NFL coverage
NFL on CBS
The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
, and hosts the French Open tennis tournament on The Tennis Channel.
In 2006, Macatee anchored USA Network's coverage of the Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
.
Macatee was the play by play announcer on CBS' "Clash of Champions" bowling telecast that aired on May 10–11, 2008. He teamed with color analyst Nelson Burton Jr.
Nelson Burton Jr.
Nelson "Bo" Burton, Jr. is a professional ten-pin bowler and former longtime analyst for the Professional Bowlers Tour on ABC Television. He is the son of Nelson Burton, Sr., who himself was a successful bowler in his day, competing with the likes of Glenn Allison and Billy Welu...
and sideline reporter Lynn Swann
Lynn Swann
-Collegiate:Swann attended the University of Southern California, where he was an All-American on the Trojans football team. He played under legendary coach John McKay, including the 1972 undefeated and national championship season. McKay said of Swann, "He has speed, soft hands, and grace." He...
. The broadcast marked bowling's return to network television for the first time since 1999 when CBS carried it.
Personal life
Macatee was once married to actress/model India AllenIndia Allen
India Allen is an American actress and model. Allen appeared as a centerfold in the December 1987 issue of Playboy magazine and was subsequently named Playmate of the Year in 1988....
.
Today, he resides in Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
, with his daughter, Caitlin.