Sam Nover
Encyclopedia
Sam Nover is a retired American sportscaster
. He worked at WIIC-TV / WPXI-TV
in Pittsburgh from 1970 until his retirement in 2001 as the Sports Director and principal Sports Anchor. Nover also did National Football League
play-by-play for NBC Sports
from the late 1970s until the late 1980s. His color commentator partners included Bob Trumpy, Len Dawson, and Paul McGuire. He also did play-by-play on television for the Pittsburgh Steelers
during the preseason from the late 1980s until the late 1990s.
Nover was also the voice of the Pittsburgh Maulers
of the United States Football League
in their one year of existence, and was the voice of the Don King
Radio Network for its short period of existence. Nover had the distinction and privilege to do the blow-by-blow of the Heavyweight title fight between Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks with Hall of Fame announcer Don Dunphy as his color commentator. Nover is best remembered for having the last sitdown interview with Roberto Clemente
shortly before Clemente's death in 1972.
Nover also did television play-by-play for the Pittsburgh Penguins
in the 1970s. He left the local station in 1980 and signed a contract with NBC Network Sports with the main intention of working as Boxing Commentator at the Moscow Olympics, but was denied the opportunity when the United States boycotted the games. He returned to his old job at WPXI-TV in 1982. His nearly 30 years of Sportscasting service at the same station, is still the longest in Pittsburgh history.
Nover currently lives half of the year in Pittsburgh and the other half in West Palm Beach, Florida. He has two married daughters, Dana and Molly. Dana lives in Pittsburgh with her husband Tim and their two sons, Jackson and Hudson. Molly is the Beauty Director of Women's Health Magazine, and lives in New York City with her husband, Kevin, their daughter Lilliana and son Hunter.
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
. He worked at WIIC-TV / WPXI-TV
WPXI
WPXI, channel 11, is the NBC-affiliated television station for Western Pennsylvania that is licensed to Pittsburgh. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 48 from a transmitter located on the north side of Pittsburgh. Owned by Cox Enterprises, the station has studios in the...
in Pittsburgh from 1970 until his retirement in 2001 as the Sports Director and principal Sports Anchor. Nover also did National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
play-by-play for NBC Sports
NFL on NBC
NFL on NBC is the brand given to NBC Sports coverage of National Football League games until 1998, when NBC lost the NFL American Football Conference rights to CBS...
from the late 1970s until the late 1980s. His color commentator partners included Bob Trumpy, Len Dawson, and Paul McGuire. He also did play-by-play on television for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
during the preseason from the late 1980s until the late 1990s.
Nover was also the voice of the Pittsburgh Maulers
Pittsburgh Maulers
The Pittsburgh Maulers competed in the 1984 season of the United States Football League. Their most prominent player was first pick overall in the 1984 USFL draft, running back Mike Rozier of Nebraska, who won the Heisman Trophy, collegiate football's most prestigious individual award.They were...
of the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
in their one year of existence, and was the voice of the Don King
Don King
Donald "Don" King is an American boxing promoter particularly known for his hairstyle and flamboyant personality. His career highlights include promoting "The Rumble in the Jungle" and the "Thrilla in Manila". He also had a long association with Mike Tyson...
Radio Network for its short period of existence. Nover had the distinction and privilege to do the blow-by-blow of the Heavyweight title fight between Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks with Hall of Fame announcer Don Dunphy as his color commentator. Nover is best remembered for having the last sitdown interview with Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. Clemente played his entire 18-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He was awarded the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in...
shortly before Clemente's death in 1972.
Nover also did television play-by-play for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
in the 1970s. He left the local station in 1980 and signed a contract with NBC Network Sports with the main intention of working as Boxing Commentator at the Moscow Olympics, but was denied the opportunity when the United States boycotted the games. He returned to his old job at WPXI-TV in 1982. His nearly 30 years of Sportscasting service at the same station, is still the longest in Pittsburgh history.
Nover currently lives half of the year in Pittsburgh and the other half in West Palm Beach, Florida. He has two married daughters, Dana and Molly. Dana lives in Pittsburgh with her husband Tim and their two sons, Jackson and Hudson. Molly is the Beauty Director of Women's Health Magazine, and lives in New York City with her husband, Kevin, their daughter Lilliana and son Hunter.