Tom Dore
Encyclopedia
Tom Dore is a retired American basketball player and former Comcast SportsNet
play-by-play announcer for the National Basketball Association
's Chicago Bulls
.
A native of Northlake, Illinois
, the 7'2" (218 cm) Dore played basketball
at East Leyden High School
in Franklin Park, Illinois
, where he was an All-America
honoree during the mid-1970s. Dore then played at the University of Missouri
, where he appeared in two NCAA Tournament
s and became the school's all-time leader in tournament blocked shots
. Afterwards, he played professionally in France
and New Zealand
before turning to a broadcasting
career. During the 1980s and early 1990s, he did color commentary
and play-by-play work for The University of Texas, Southern Methodist University
and the University of Missouri sports events on the radio
.
Dore joined the Chicago Bulls broadcasting crew in 1991. Dore, 6'9" (206 cm) color commentator Johnny "Red" Kerr
, and 6'11" (211 cm) color commentator Stacey King arguably formed one of the tallest broadcasting crews in sports history.
On May 6, 2008, Dore was let go by the Chicago Bulls and replaced by Neil Funk
, the former Bulls radio play-by-play man. Along with Dore leaving, the Bulls' WGN-TV
play-by-play man Wayne Larrivee
was also let go. Johnny "Red" Kerr, who did all games on Comcast SportsNet
and WGN, had his role reduced, working only pre-game and half-time shows for home games.
Dore was also the radio voice of the Arena Football League's Chicago Rush
. For two of those seasons his color man was former sports-radio "shock-jock" Mike North
.
Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet is a group of regional sports networks in the United States primarily owned by the Comcast cable television company....
play-by-play announcer for the National Basketball Association
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...
's Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
.
A native of Northlake, Illinois
Northlake, Illinois
Northlake is a city in suburban Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,878 at the 2000 census. The city's moniker is "The City of Friendly People".-Geography:...
, the 7'2" (218 cm) Dore played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
at East Leyden High School
East Leyden High School
East Leyden High School is a secondary school located in Franklin Park, Illinois which educates grades 9-12.Together with West Leyden High School in Northlake, Illinois, they serve the suburban communities in Franklin Park, Northlake, Rosemont, Schiller Park, River Grove, Melrose Park and...
in Franklin Park, Illinois
Franklin Park, Illinois
Franklin Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19,800 at the 2004 census.-Geography:Franklin Park is located at ....
, where he was an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
honoree during the mid-1970s. Dore then played at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, where he appeared in two NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
s and became the school's all-time leader in tournament blocked shots
Block (basketball)
In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot...
. Afterwards, he played professionally in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
before turning to a broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
career. During the 1980s and early 1990s, he did color commentary
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...
and play-by-play work for The University of Texas, Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
and the University of Missouri sports events on the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
.
Dore joined the Chicago Bulls broadcasting crew in 1991. Dore, 6'9" (206 cm) color commentator Johnny "Red" Kerr
Johnny Kerr
John G. “Red” Kerr was an American basketball player, coach, and color commentator. He played in the NBA from 1954 to 1966, mainly as a member of the Syracuse Nationals...
, and 6'11" (211 cm) color commentator Stacey King arguably formed one of the tallest broadcasting crews in sports history.
On May 6, 2008, Dore was let go by the Chicago Bulls and replaced by Neil Funk
Neil Funk
Neil Funk is the current television play-by-play announcer for the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls.A 1969 graduate of Syracuse University, Funk's first broadcasting job was covering high school sports for a small radio station in Danville, Illinois. He quickly moved up the ranks to...
, the former Bulls radio play-by-play man. Along with Dore leaving, the Bulls' WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
play-by-play man Wayne Larrivee
Wayne Larrivee
Wayne Larrivee is an American sportscaster, who is the radio play-by-play voice of the Green Bay Packers and football and basketball play-by-play voice for the Big Ten Network.-Early life and career:...
was also let go. Johnny "Red" Kerr, who did all games on Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet is a group of regional sports networks in the United States primarily owned by the Comcast cable television company....
and WGN, had his role reduced, working only pre-game and half-time shows for home games.
Dore was also the radio voice of the Arena Football League's Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
. For two of those seasons his color man was former sports-radio "shock-jock" Mike North
Mike North
Mike North is an American radio sports personality working for Clear Channel Communications as a weekend host on their Fox Sports Radio subsidiary. He was the co-host of the Monsters in the Morning with Dan Jiggetts on Comcast SportsNet Chicago in 2009 and was a sports talk radio show host at WSCR...
.