Thursday, 16 April 2026

Marty Glickman

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Commentators 2026
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Football, Basketball & Hockey
Statistics & Accolades: National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame
American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame
Curt Gowdy Media Award
New York City Sports Hall of Fame
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
Radio Hall of Fame
New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame
Marty Glickman was scheduled to represent the United States in Track and Field at the 1936 Olympics, but was pulled at the last minute; a decision likely caused by the United States delegation to offend the anti-semitic German leader, Adolph Hitler. Rather than let that define him, the multi-sport athlete from the University of Syracuse used his other gift, his voice, to become a bigger name than he would have ever been as an Olympian.

With a crisp, made-for-radio voice, Glickman was first hired to narrate sports newsreels for Paramount News, but by the mid-50s, he became the definitive voice of New York sports. Glickman was the original voice of the New York Knicks (1946-70), had a lengthy run with the New York Giants (1948-71), and was often behind the microphone for New York Rangers broadcasts.

Glickman is credited with much of the lexicon of basketball terms, and he could paint a picture with words as good as anyone. What also made Glickman special was how he mentored other broadcasters, as the cadence and style of Marv Albert and Ian Eagle was owed to Glickman.

He also had a lengthy run broadcasting games for the New York Jets, and when HBO entered the sports sphere, Glickman became its first sports director.

We are proud to nominate Marty Glickman for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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