UPPER MONTCLAIR – For over a half century, Marty Glickman was the pre-eminent voice of New York sports, and became arguably the most influential sports broadcaster of all time. He announced games of virtually every team, beginning as the radio announcer of the New York Knicks when they were formed in 1946. And he was right there as the New York Giants’ broadcaster with the increase of pro football’s popularity in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Throughout his long broadcasting career, Glickman would become the NBA’s first announcer for TV. He was the voice of the football Giants for 23 years, of the Knicks for 21, Yonkers Raceway for 12, the Jets for 11. Glickman did pre- and postgame shows for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Yankees for 22 years; he broadcast track meets, wrestling matches, roller derbies and rodeos, even a marbles tournament.
Yet Glickman, whose trademark call of “Swish!” became part of the sports lexicon, was almost as famous for what he did not do. As a member of the U.S. Olympic track team in the 1936 Berlin Games, Glickman was denied a chance to compete at the last minute because of Anti-Semitism.
Glickman’s remarkable career and life story is recounted in the acclaimed James Freedman documentary “Glickman,” which will be shown at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center on Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Following the film will be a discussion with Ian Eagle, a fellow Syracuse alum and one of many successful broadcasters mentored by Glickman. Eagle is well known for calling NFL games on CBS and being the voice of the Brooklyn Nets on the YES Network.
Tickets are $15. To RSVP call (973) 655-2378.
The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit sports education center located on the campus of Montclair State University. Its mission is to preserve and promote the values of respect, sportsmanship, social justice and excellence through inclusive, culturally diverse, sports-based educational programs and exhibits.
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