Mike Rice (basketball announcer)
Encyclopedia
Mike Rice is a National Basketball Association
color commentator
, one half of the Portland Trail Blazers
' television broadcasting team. A former player and coach, Rice holds the distinction of being the only broadcaster ever ejected from an NBA game.
, Rice earned an All-American honorable mention selection his senior year, leading his Dukes to the NIT tournament. Although the NBA was calling and the Detroit Pistons
selected him in the eighth round of the 1962 NBA Draft
, Rice decided that his skills could be better utilized from an educational standpoint and opted for a career in coaching.
and twice being named Eastern Eight Coach of the Year.
Rice then moved to Youngstown State University
, where he coached for five years, from 1982–83 through 1986–87. During this period the Penguins twice finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference
, peaking with a high of 19 victories in the 1984–85 season. The team amassed 75 wins against 67 losses during the Mike Rice years.
During his final season at Youngstown State, Rice was instrumental in reviving the Greater YSU Holiday Classic basketball tournament, an event which continued annually through the 1991–92 season.
as a college basketball analyst. Rice worked games as primary analyst for the Western Athletic Conference
. From 1989 he also worked with SportsChannel America
as its primary analyst for World Basketball League
broadcasts.
Rice moved to the team-owned broadcasting operations of the Portland Trail Blazers
in 1991. Rice was chosen by long time voice of the Blazers Bill Schonely
following a four person tryout at the Blazers' 1991 Slam 'n' Jam held at Civic Stadium
, organized by Blazer team president Marshall Glickman. Rice bested former Oregon State University
guard Mark Radford
, ex-Blazers assistant coach Jack McKinney
, and retired NBA referee Earl Strom
in the tryout, which gave each a quarter of the game to work alongside Schonely.
While Rice started as part of the radio team, since the 2006–07 season he has worked with play-by-play announcer Mike Barrett
providing color commentary for the television broadcast.
Known affectionately as "The Wild One," Rice has been referred to by journalist Kerry Eggers as "part basketball expert, part entertainer, 100 percent character." Echoing these sentiments, Blazer television producer Scott Zachary has likened him to a "favorite uncle" and publicly pronounced him "a goofy dude".
Rice himself acknowledges a propensity for blurting out sentiments that more circumspect announcers would tend to internally filter. "I don’t give a damn about a lot of things. Later on, I think back, 'Now why’d I do that?'" he has said. This tendency to be what former broadcast partner Eddie Doucette
has characterized as a "loose cannon," combined with his unabashed "homerism," has made Rice a figure of some controversy.
Rice's outspoken demeanor resulted in one of the events for which he is best known, his 1994 ejection from an NBA game while working a radio broadcast. As Rice tells the story:
Rice added that he subsequently wrote an article for Rip City magazine charging Javie with an abuse of power. "I think he...read that and we have not talked since," he noted in a 2009 interview.
, and a son, Mike Rice, Jr., who was the head basketball coach at Robert Morris University
. On May 6, 2010, Rice, Jr. was introduced as the head basketball coach at Rutgers University
.
Despite nine surgeries on his right knee, Rice remains an avid golf
er, sporting a 6 handicap. He brings his golf clubs whenever he travels with the team and plays whenever possible. He also plays tennis
several times a week.
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
, one half of the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
' television broadcasting team. A former player and coach, Rice holds the distinction of being the only broadcaster ever ejected from an NBA game.
Playing career
A basketball player at Duquesne UniversityDuquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
, Rice earned an All-American honorable mention selection his senior year, leading his Dukes to the NIT tournament. Although the NBA was calling and the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
selected him in the eighth round of the 1962 NBA Draft
1962 NBA Draft
The 1962 NBA Draft was the 16th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 26, 1962 before to the 1962–63 season. In this draft, nine NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college...
, Rice decided that his skills could be better utilized from an educational standpoint and opted for a career in coaching.
Coaching career
Rice coached for 13 years at the high school level, posting a career record of 245–71, before moving to college coaching in 1977 when he accepted a position as an assistant coach at Duquesne. He was named the head coach of Duquesne for the 1978–79 season and over his four-year tenure he amassed a record of 62–49, garnering two berths in the National Invitation TournamentNational Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
and twice being named Eastern Eight Coach of the Year.
Rice then moved to Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
, where he coached for five years, from 1982–83 through 1986–87. During this period the Penguins twice finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
, peaking with a high of 19 victories in the 1984–85 season. The team amassed 75 wins against 67 losses during the Mike Rice years.
During his final season at Youngstown State, Rice was instrumental in reviving the Greater YSU Holiday Classic basketball tournament, an event which continued annually through the 1991–92 season.
Broadcasting career
Rice moved from coaching to broadcasting for the 1987–88 season when he took a job working for ESPNESPN
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 college basketball analyst. Rice worked games as primary analyst for the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
. From 1989 he also worked with SportsChannel America
SportsChannel America
SportsChannel America was a cable television network operated by Cablevision. It was the country's first regional sports network, and thus an important ancestor to many of the United States' regional sports outlets, especially Fox Sports Net and Comcast SportsNet. SportsChannel New York was the...
as its primary analyst for World Basketball League
World Basketball League
World Basketball League was a minor professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. It was founded as the International Basketball Association in November 1987, before changing its name prior to the 1988 season. One of the major differences between it and other leagues was that it...
broadcasts.
Rice moved to the team-owned broadcasting operations of the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
in 1991. Rice was chosen by long time voice of the Blazers Bill Schonely
Bill Schonely
Bill Schonely , nicknamed "The Schonz", is an American sports broadcaster who was the first play-by-play announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers. A native of Pennsylvania, he worked in radio in Louisiana and Seattle before settling in Portland, Oregon...
following a four person tryout at the Blazers' 1991 Slam 'n' Jam held at Civic Stadium
PGE Park
Jeld-Wen Field is an outdoor sports stadium located in Portland, Oregon, United States that is used primarily for soccer and American football...
, organized by Blazer team president Marshall Glickman. Rice bested former Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
guard Mark Radford
Mark Radford
Mark Jeffrey Radford is an American former National Basketball Association player who played from 1981–1983. He played in college for Oregon State University, and was drafted in the third round of the 1981 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics...
, ex-Blazers assistant coach Jack McKinney
Jack McKinney (basketball)
Jack McKinney is a former college and professional basketball coach. He has served as head coach for three NBA teams--the Los Angeles Lakers, the Indiana Pacers, and the Kansas City Kings...
, and retired NBA referee Earl Strom
Earl Strom
Earl "Yogi" Strom was a professional basketball referee for 29 years in the National Basketball Association and for three years in the American Basketball Association . Strom is credited as the greatest referee in the history of the NBA and was known for his flamboyant style and ability to...
in the tryout, which gave each a quarter of the game to work alongside Schonely.
While Rice started as part of the radio team, since the 2006–07 season he has worked with play-by-play announcer Mike Barrett
Mike Barrett (sportscaster)
Mike Barrett , widely known as "MB", is the television play-by-play announcer for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association.-Early years:...
providing color commentary for the television broadcast.
Known affectionately as "The Wild One," Rice has been referred to by journalist Kerry Eggers as "part basketball expert, part entertainer, 100 percent character." Echoing these sentiments, Blazer television producer Scott Zachary has likened him to a "favorite uncle" and publicly pronounced him "a goofy dude".
Rice himself acknowledges a propensity for blurting out sentiments that more circumspect announcers would tend to internally filter. "I don’t give a damn about a lot of things. Later on, I think back, 'Now why’d I do that?'" he has said. This tendency to be what former broadcast partner Eddie Doucette
Eddie Doucette
Eddie Doucette is the president of Doucette Promotions Inc. He is a former television and radio announcer. He was the original radio voice of the Milwaukee Bucks where he broadcast games for 16 years. He also broadcast games for Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Portland...
has characterized as a "loose cannon," combined with his unabashed "homerism," has made Rice a figure of some controversy.
Rice's outspoken demeanor resulted in one of the events for which he is best known, his 1994 ejection from an NBA game while working a radio broadcast. As Rice tells the story:
"At the time, Steve JavieSteve JavieSteve Javie is a retired American professional basketball referee who refereed in the National Basketball Association from the 1986–87 NBA season to the 2010–11 season. As of the beginning of the 2006–07 NBA season, Javie has officiated 1,264 regular season, 190 playoff, and 18 NBA Finals games...
, the official, was a young official. That previous week he had kicked out a mascot, a fan, and kicked somebody else out, a trainer or something like that. He was on a roll that week, he had made a call, and I looked on the monitor and saw it was a bad call on Cliff RobinsonClifford R. RobinsonClifford "Cliff" Ralph Robinson is a former American professional basketball player, formerly of the National Basketball Association.-Highlights:...
. I kind of put my hands like that [two hands waived at the official] and he ran over. Cliff thought he was going to call a technicalTechnical foulIn basketball, a technical foul is any infraction of the rules penalized as a foul which does not involve physical contact during the course of play between players on the court, or is a foul by a non-player. The most common technical foul is for unsportsmanlike conduct...
on him, because Cliff was standing there doing the same thing. He ran by Cliff and that's when he kicked me out of the game — the rest is history."
Rice added that he subsequently wrote an article for Rip City magazine charging Javie with an abuse of power. "I think he...read that and we have not talked since," he noted in a 2009 interview.
Family and hobbies
Rice's wife Kathy is a former Duquesne basketball player. The couple have two daughters, Susan and Stephanie, both graduates of Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, and a son, Mike Rice, Jr., who was the head basketball coach at Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
. On May 6, 2010, Rice, Jr. was introduced as the head basketball coach at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
.
Despite nine surgeries on his right knee, Rice remains an avid golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er, sporting a 6 handicap. He brings his golf clubs whenever he travels with the team and plays whenever possible. He also plays tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
several times a week.
External links
- Kerry Eggers, "Wild Rice: Mike Rice has kept Blazer broadcasts lively for 15 years," The Portland Tribune, March 15, 2005. Retrieved October 6, 2009.