Dave Sims
Encyclopedia
Dave Sims is an American sportscaster. He currently is the television play-by-play commentator for the Seattle Mariners
, the radio play-by-play man for Sunday Night Football on Westwood One
, and the host of Basketball and Beyond with Coach K on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Sims was also the television play-by-play host for the UFL on Versus
.
and attended Bethany College
in West Virginia
, where he played catcher
and majored in mass communications. He began his career as a sportswriter for the New York Daily News
. In radio, Sims became the host of WNBC's
"SportsNight" in the mid-80s (replacing Jack Spector), a five-hour nightly sports call-in show that was a precursor to the all-sports talk format of WFAN
. He went on to cohost the midday show with Ed Coleman on New York
's Sports Radio 66 WFAN on in the early 1990s, the show being nicknamed "Coleman and the Soul Man". He then became a weekend sports anchor at WCBS-TV
in New York
.
In 1991
, Sims joined ESPN
as a play-by-play announcer for college basketball
, and added college football
in 1998
. He primarily called Big East contests on the ESPN Plus
regional network.
In addition to his Sunday Night Football radio gig, Sims also calls college basketball for Westwood One, with his most notable call to date being the George Mason-UConn regional final in 2006 (where #11 seed George Mason upset top-seed Connecticut to become the second #11 seed in history to reach the Final Four
).
Prior to taking the permanent play-by-play position on Sunday Night Football, Sims was the #2 broadcaster for Westwood One's Sunday afternoon NFL doubleheader. He replaced Joel Meyers on the Sunday Night Football game in 2006.
While working in other sports, he occasionally provided Major League Baseball
play-by-play for ESPN
and did an internet radio show for MLB.com
. In , he took the opportunity to return to baseball full-time as part of the Seattle Mariners
television broadcast. One of the few African-American broadcasters in the sport, he is also perhaps the only one of that group not to have played in the major leagues.
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, the radio play-by-play man for Sunday Night Football on Westwood One
NFL on Westwood One
The NFL on Westwood One is the brand name given to weekly National Football League games carried on the radio over the Dial Global Radio Network...
, and the host of Basketball and Beyond with Coach K on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Sims was also the television play-by-play host for the UFL on Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
.
Biography
Dave Sims grew up in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
and attended Bethany College
Bethany College (West Virginia)
Bethany College is a private liberal arts college located in Bethany, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1840, Bethany is the oldest institution of Higher Education in West Virginia.-Location:...
in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, where he played catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and majored in mass communications. He began his career as a sportswriter for the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
. In radio, Sims became the host of WNBC's
WNBC (AM)
WNBC was a radio station that operated in New York City from 1922 to 1988. For most of its history, it was the flagship station of the NBC Radio Network...
"SportsNight" in the mid-80s (replacing Jack Spector), a five-hour nightly sports call-in show that was a precursor to the all-sports talk format of WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
. He went on to cohost the midday show with Ed Coleman on New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Sports Radio 66 WFAN on in the early 1990s, the show being nicknamed "Coleman and the Soul Man". He then became a weekend sports anchor at WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV, channel 2, is the flagship station of the CBS television network, located in New York City. The station's studios are located within the CBS Broadcast Center and its transmitter is atop the Empire State Building, both in Midtown Manhattan....
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In 1991
1991 in sports
1991 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg** Women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria-American football:...
, Sims joined ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment 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....
as a play-by-play announcer for 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....
, and added college 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...
in 1998
1998 in sports
1998 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Katja Seizinger, Germany-American football:...
. He primarily called Big East contests on the ESPN Plus
ESPN Plus
ESPN Plus, the popular name of ESPN Regional Television, is an American television program syndicator. ERT is based along with sister network ESPNU in Charlotte, North Carolina...
regional network.
In addition to his Sunday Night Football radio gig, Sims also calls college basketball for Westwood One, with his most notable call to date being the George Mason-UConn regional final in 2006 (where #11 seed George Mason upset top-seed Connecticut to become the second #11 seed in history to reach the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
).
Prior to taking the permanent play-by-play position on Sunday Night Football, Sims was the #2 broadcaster for Westwood One's Sunday afternoon NFL doubleheader. He replaced Joel Meyers on the Sunday Night Football game in 2006.
While working in other sports, he occasionally provided Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
play-by-play for ESPN
ESPN Major League Baseball
ESPN Major League Baseball is a promotion of Major League Baseball on ESPN and ESPN2, with simulcasts on ESPNHD or ESPN2HD. ESPN's MLB coverage debuted on April 9, 1990 with three Opening Day telecasts. ESPN Major League Baseball is guaranteed to remain on air until 2013.The title is derived from...
and did an internet radio show for MLB.com
MLB.com
MLB.com is the official site of Major League Baseball and is overseen by Major League Baseball Advanced Media, L.P. . MLB.com is a source of baseball-related information, including baseball news, statistics, and sports columns...
. In , he took the opportunity to return to baseball full-time as part of the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
television broadcast. One of the few African-American broadcasters in the sport, he is also perhaps the only one of that group not to have played in the major leagues.