Spero Dedes

Spero Dedes (born February 27, 1979) is an American sportscaster. He is currently employed by CBS Sports, calling the NBA, NFL and college basketball. He is also the play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Chargers preseason telecast and NBA on TNT telecast. Prior to joining CBS, he was the radio play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers (2005-2011) and a radio and television play-by-play announcer for the New York Knicks from 2011 to 2014.

Spero Dedes
Born
Spero Dedes

(1979-02-27) February 27, 1979
Paramus, New Jersey, U.S.
OccupationSportscaster, play-by-play announcer
Years active2001–present

Early career: WFAN, AFL, YES Network, NBA TV

Dedes was born in Paramus, New Jersey. He attended Paramus High School and then graduated from Fordham University in 2001. He began his career at WFAN in New York.

In 2001 and 2002, Dedes was the radio announcer for the New Jersey Gladiators of the AFL.[1] In 2002, he was tapped as a fill-in announcer for New Jersey Nets games on the YES Network.[2]

In 2003, Dedes was hired as a studio host and play-by-play man for NBA TV. He hosted Hardwood Classics and The Insiders.[3]

National exposure: Olympics, Networks, Lakers, Super Bowl

At 24, Dedes worked the 2004 Summer Olympics for NBC Sports.[4]

In 2004, Dedes also served as a fill-in commentator of College Basketball on CBS.[5] Also in 2004, Dedes served as a fill-in commentator for the NFL on FOX.[4]

In 2005, Dedes filled in on the NFL on CBS.[6]

In 2005, Dedes got the biggest break of his career when he was hired as the radio announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers [4]

From 2006 until 2011, Dedes worked for NFL Network. His duties included studio hosting and play-by-play. In 2015, Dedes went back to his old stomping grounds by returning to NFL Network as a studio host.[7]

In 2007, Dedes served as the play-by-play man for the international feed of Super Bowl XLI by CBS Sports.[8]

Full-time at CBS and New York Knicks

In December 2009, Dedes joined CBS Sports full-time, calling regular season college basketball and the 2010 NCAA Tournament.[9][10]

For the 2010 NFL season, he was named a full-time announcer of the NFL on CBS.

In 2011, Dedes left the Lakers and became the radio voice of the New York Knicks.[11] Dedes cited the flexibility to continue his work at CBS Sports as the reason for leaving the Lakers.[12]

In addition, that fall, he became the #2 voice of the SEC on CBS behind Verne Lundquist.[13]

Dedes has also filled in for Ian Eagle on play-by-play for the New York Jets preseason network on CBS 2 New York.

As of 2017, he now calls games with Adam Archuleta as the #6 announcing team for the NFL on CBS. They were on the call for the Snow Bowl where the Buffalo Bills beat the Indianapolis Colts on December 10, 2017. He also works as the #5 announcer for the NBA on TNT as well as being the #6 announcer for CBS and Turner’s coverage of NCAA March Madness pairing with Steve Smith.

Jeremy Lin controversy

On February 17, 2012, Dedes used the phrase "Chink in the armor" on 1050 ESPN New York when referring to Knicks player Jeremy Lin, an Asian-American. While ESPN fired one employee and suspended host Max Bretos for using the same reference, Dedes was an employee of Madison Square Garden (MSG) and was not fired.[14][15][16] He apologized and was disciplined by MSG.[17]

References
  1. "NBA TV Talent: Spero Dedes". Archived from the original on 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2014-01-02.
  2. Marchand, Andrew (November 1, 2002). "THE FORDHAM FLASH: YES' DEDES GETS NETS' FILL-IN JOB – AT AGE 23". New York Post.
  3. "NBA.com - NBA TV Talent: Spero Dedes". Nba.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  4. "Lakers Announce Hiring of Spero Dedes as Radio Play-By-Play Announcer". Los Angeles Lakers. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2014-01-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "NFL on CBS: Week 2: Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans (2005)". Tv.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  7. "Spero Dedes". Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2014-01-02.
  8. Allen, Bruce (3 February 2007). "Weekend Watch – Super Bowl XLI Edition". Bostonsportsmedia.com. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  9. "CBS SPORTS' COLLEGE BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER FEATURES TOP 20 CLASH AS NO. 15 GONZAGA TAKES ON NO. 7 DUKE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ON SATURDAY, DEC. 19". Viacom CBS Express. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  10. "Spero Dedes". ViacomCBS Press Express. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  11. "Dedes named Knicks radio play-by-play man". Espn.com. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  12. "Dedes' toughest call: leaving Lakers for Knicks". Ocregister.com. 26 August 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  13. "NO. 3-RANKED ALABAMA TAKES ON NO. 12-RANKED FLORIDA IN PRIME TIME ON CBS SPORTS' COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRIPLEHEADER ON SATURDAY, OCT. 1". ViacomCBS Press Express. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  14. Boren, Cindy (February 19, 2012). "ESPN fires employee for offensive Jeremy Lin headline; "SNL" weighs in". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012.
  15. Collins, Scott (February 19, 2012). "Jeremy Lin and ESPN: Network rushes to quell furor over 'chink' comments". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012.
  16. Spar, Jerry (February 20, 2012). "Mashup: Lin accepts ESPN apology for slur". Weei.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2012.
  17. "Knicks announcer Spero Dedes disciplined for using questionable phrase while covering Jeremy Lin". SportingNews.com. February 22, 2012. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012.
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