MSG News

  • Thursday, December 13, 2012

    MSG Network and the New York Knicks to Honor Longtime TV and Radio Analyst John Andariese

     

    New York, NY (December 13, 2012) – MSG Network and the New York Knicks will honor legendary Knicks television and radio announcer John Andariese on December 15 as the Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Known as “Johnny Hoops,” Andariese retired from the broadcasting booth before the start of the 2012-13 Knicks season.

    In MSG’s “Visa Knicks Game Night” pregame show, which starts at 7:00 p.m., MSG will run a video tribute featuring highlights from Andariese’s renowned career, after which Andariese will speak with Knicks play-by-play announcer Mike Breen.

    After the game’s first quarter, Andariese will be presented with the fifth annual Dick McGuire Knickerbocker Legacy Award, by the McGuire family, as the individual who exudes the qualities of what it means to be a Knickerbocker: Pride, Tradition & Class. Previous winners include: Dick McGuire (2009), Cal Ramsey (2010), Mike Saunders (2011) and Herb Williams (2012). MSG’s Al Trautwig will interview Andariese courtside following the presentation.

    “’Johnny Hoops’ is one of the great New York basketball personalities and was an integral part of MSG’s Knicks coverage, on both television and radio, for four decades,” said Dan Ronayne executive vice president and general manager, MSG Networks. “Many Knicks fans grew up watching or listening to John and he will always be synonymous with MSG and the New York Knicks.”

    Andariese started as a Knicks radio analyst in 1972 and served in that capacity for MSG and various Knicks radio outlets since that time. He was the Knicks radio analyst from 1998 until this season and had stints in the same role in the 1970s and 1980s. Andariese served as Knicks television analyst on MSG for twelve seasons, from 1986 to 1998. As a player in New York City, he was a standout forward and three-time All City Player for the Fordham Rams from 1956-1960 and is a member of the New York City and Fordham Basketball Halls of Fame.