Bob Rathbun
Encyclopedia
Bob Rathbun is a sports television announcer. He has been the announcer for the Atlanta Hawks
basketball games on FSN South since 1996. He is currently partnered with Dominique Wilkins
. In addition, Rathbun also serves as the play-by-play announcer for Southeastern Conference
football
games on FSN South and Atlantic Coast Conference
college basketball
games for Raycom Sports
.
Rathbun served as the play-by-play announcer on Atlanta Braves
baseball games on Fox Sports Net
(formerly SportsSouth) from 1997 to 2006.
Rathbun began his career as sports director for WSTP
Radio in Salisbury, North Carolina
, in 1973.
He has previously done broadcast work for both the Washington Bullets and Baltimore Orioles
. His baseball experience includes play-by-play gigs with Tidewater Tides, Detroit Tigers
and the Richmond Braves
.
After being named Virginia Sportscaster of the Year six separate times, he was awarded the same honor in Georgia in 1998. In 2008, he was named to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
.
Rathbun is a 1976 graduate of Catawba College
in Salisbury, North Carolina
and was inducted in the schools Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, and a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1988.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
basketball games on FSN South since 1996. He is currently partnered with Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins
Jacques Dominique Wilkins is a retired American professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA...
. In addition, Rathbun also serves as the play-by-play announcer for Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
games on FSN South and Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
games for Raycom Sports
Raycom Sports
Raycom Sports is an American syndicator of sports television programs. It is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and owned and operated by Raycom Media.-Founding:...
.
Rathbun served as the play-by-play announcer on Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
baseball games on Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
(formerly SportsSouth) from 1997 to 2006.
Rathbun began his career as sports director for WSTP
WSTP
WSTP is a radio station licensed to and serving the area of Salisbury, North Carolina, USA. The station broadcasts a News Talk format. The station is owned by Rowan Media Inc.. Programming includes: G. Gordon Liddy, Dr...
Radio in Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
, in 1973.
He has previously done broadcast work for both the Washington Bullets and Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. His baseball experience includes play-by-play gigs with Tidewater Tides, Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
and the Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
.
After being named Virginia Sportscaster of the Year six separate times, he was awarded the same honor in Georgia in 1998. In 2008, he was named to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a sports hall of fame located in Portsmouth, Virginia. Founded in 1972, it moved to its current location in 2005...
.
Rathbun is a 1976 graduate of Catawba College
Catawba College
Catawba College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in Salisbury, North Carolina, USA. Founded in 1851 by the North Carolina Classis of the Reformed Church in Newton, the college adopted its name from its county of origin, Catawba County, before moving to its current home of Salisbury...
in Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
and was inducted in the schools Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, and a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1988.
Trivia
- Rathbun called the first ever ArenaBowlArenaBowlThe ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
telecast, while at ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, with Lee CorsoLee CorsoLeland "Lee" Corso is a sports broadcaster and football analyst for ESPN. He has been featured on ESPN's College GameDay program since its inception and he appeared annually as a commentator in EA Sports' NCAA Football through NCAA Football 11...
.
External links
- http://www.nba.com/hawks/general_info/Bob_Rathbun-44653-33.html