OUR BROADCASTERS
Sports USA’s Broadcasters are the best in the industry, with professional experience across every aspect of the game, and an unrivaled dedication to their craft.
NFL
PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCERS
LARRY KAHN
Larry Kahn, the founder of Sports USA is the network’s primary NFL play-by-play broadcaster. A sportscaster with more than four decades of experience, and recipient of the prestigious Los Angeles Press Club Award for best sports reporting, Kahn was previously the radio voice of the USC Trojans. He has called the Rose Bowl, College World Series, and also served as a play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
JOHN AHLERS
John Ahlers joined Sports USA in 2012 . He has been the television play-by-play voice of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks since 2002. Prior to the Ducks, Ahlers held similar positions with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the International Hockey League’s Detroit Vipers, and Michigan State. He has received three Emmy awards for Best Live Sports Broadcasts, and was named the IHL Broadcaster of the Year in 1995.
JOSH APPEL
Josh Appel joined Sports USA in 2017 as an NFL and college football play-by-play announcer. Josh was the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Jim Nantz Award, given to the most outstanding collegiate sports broadcaster in the nation while he was a student at the University of South Florida. Appel spent the 2016 season as the play-by-play voice of Florida International University Football and basketball. In 2021 Appel became the public address announcer for the Miami Marlins Baseball team.
ELI GOLD
Eli Gold joined Sports USA in 2003. The longest tenured play-by-play broadcaster in the SEC, Eli has been the voice of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide since 1988 Eli is a five-time “Alabama Sportscaster of the Year” as voted by his peers in the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. He was inducted into the State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 and the University of Alabama Hall of Fame in 2016.
BOB FITZGERALD
One of the most recognizable sports personalities in the Bay Area, Bob Fitzgerald is the television play-by-play announcer for the Golden State Warriors on CSN Bay Area. Fitzgerald has received six Emmy nominations for “Best On-Camera” and was awarded the Emmy for “Best On-Camera, Play-by-Play Sports” for Northern California in 2007 and 2014.
NFL
ANALYSTS
James White
Three time Super Bowl champion RB James White joins Sports USA as an NFL analyst for the 2022 NFL season. White, a 2014 4th round pick from Wisconsin spent his entire eight year NFL career with the New England Patriots and was selected to the team’s All-Dynasty and 2010’s All-Decade Team. James White holds 3 Super Bowl records from the Patriots come from behind win over the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, including: 20 points scored, 14 receptions, & 3 touchdowns. In 2018 White set a Patriots franchise record by a running back for receptions and receiving yards.
BRANDON NOBLE
Brandon Noble joined Sports USA in 2017 as an NFL & College Football analyst. As a player Brandon was a three year starter at defensive tackle for Joe Paterno at Penn State. He spent the next nine years in the NFL, playing for San Francisco, Dallas, & Washington. Noble resides in Philadelphia with his wife and three kids.
STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI
Stephen Gostkowski joined Sports USA as an NFL color analyst in 2022. Gostkowski, the all time scoring leader in Patriots history spent 14 seasons in New England before retiring in 2020 as a Tennessee Titan. The New England Patriots drafted Gostkowski in the 4th round of the 2006 NFL draft out of Memphis. He finished his NFL playing career with three Super Bowl Championships & four Pro Bowl appearances.
DOUG PLANK
Doug Plank joined Sports USA in 2004. Plank played college football at Ohio State in the early 1970’s under legendary coach Woody Hayes, participating in three consecutive Rose Bowls before going to the NFL. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1975, Plank was their staring safety for eight seasons. The famous “46 Defense”, created by Buddy Ryan, was named for Plank’s jersey number and his aggressive style of play. Plank briefly put his broadcasting career on hold in 2008 to return to the sidelines as an assistant coach for Ohio State and the New York Jets, before returning to Sports USA in 2011.
MARK CARRIER
Mark Carrier, a two time All-American at USC and the Jim Thorpe award winner as the nation’s top defensive back joined Sports USA in 2016. Drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears in 1990, he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of Year and went on to play 11 seasons with the Bears, Lions, and Redskins. Carrier was a 3-time Pro Bowler. After his playing career, he coached in the NFL for 10 seasons with the Ravens, Jets, & Bengals.
GIOVANI BERNARD
Giovani Bernard joined Sports USA in 2023 as an NFL analyst. Bernard, a running back from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent 8 seasons there before finishing his playing career in two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bernard finished his NFL career with 22 rushing touchdowns, 14 receiving touchdowns, and over 6,700 total yards.
ALEX MACK
Alex Mack joined Sports USA in 2022 as an NFL analyst. Mack spent 13 seasons in the NFL as a starting Center for the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers. Mack started in all 196 NFL games he played in, including Super Bowl LI. Alex Mack was selected 21st overall in the 2009 NFL draft out of the University of California, Berkeley.
ROB Ninkovich
Rob Ninkovich, an 11 year NFL veteran was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2006. He is best known for his eight seasons as a linebacker with the New England Patriots. Ninkovich was a member of the 2014 Patriots that won Super Bowl XLIX and the 2016 team that made the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, a 34-28 overtime victory in Super Bowl LI over the Atlanta Falcons.
NHL
Play-by-Play Announcers
JOHN AHLERS
John Ahlers joined Sports USA in 2012 . He has been the television play-by-play voice of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks since 2002. Prior to the Ducks, Ahlers held similar positions with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the International Hockey League’s Detroit Vipers, and Michigan State. He has received three Emmy awards for Best Live Sports Broadcasts, and was named the IHL Broadcaster of the Year in 1995.
JOHN FORSLUND
John Forslund joined Sports USA in 2022 as an NHL play by play broadcaster. Forslund, the television play-by-play announcer for the Seattle Kraken spent 25 season with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes in addition to ESPN, Versus, & most recently NBC Sports. John Forslund is a two time North Carolina Sportscaster of the year recipient.
PAT FOLEY
Hall of Fame announcer Pat Foley joined Sports USA to call the 2023 Winter Classic and 2024 NHL Stadium Series games. Foley spent 39 years behind the microphone calling games for the Chicago Blackhawks. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame. Pat Foley is also a five time Emmy Award winner.
NHL
ANALYSTS
JOE MICHELETTI
Joe Micheletti joined Sports USA in 2021 as an NHL color analyst. Micheletti, a former defensemen, was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1974. He played professionally in both the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association, and also as a member of the United States 1982 Ice Hockey World Championship team. As a broadcaster, Micheletti has broadcasted NHL games for Fox, ABC/ESPN, & NBC. He also part of the broadcast crew for the 1994 & 1998 Winter Olympic games.
BRIAN HAYWARD
Brian Hayward joined Sports USA in 2021 as an NHL game analyst. Hayward has also been the television analyst for the Anaheim Ducks since its inception in 1993 and has called numerous games for NBC, ESPN, & CBC. As a player, Brian Hayward spent 11 seasons in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, & San Jose Sharks . Brian Hayward is a three time winner of the coveted William M. Jennings Trophy (1987-89), given to a goaltender allowing the fewest goals over the course of the regular season.
JIM FOX
Jim Fox joined Sports USA’s coverage of the National Hockey League in 2021. Fox spent nine seasons in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings. After his playing career ended, Fox moved into the broadcast booth as the Kings television color analyst, a position he has held since 1990.
BILLY JAFFE
Billy Jaffe joined Sports USA in 2022 as an NHL rinkside reporter for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jaffe is part of NESN's coverage of the Boston Bruins as well as a reporter for NHL Network. He was formerly a color analyst for the New York Islanders on MSG Plus, as well as a color analyst and reporter for nationally televised hockey games on Versus.
NICK OLCZYK
Nick Olczyk joined Sports USA in 2022 as an analyst & rink side reporter. Olczyk is a broadcaster for the Seattle Kraken and previously worked with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Indy Fuel of the ECHL, and as a producer for the NHL on TNT and NBC Sports Chicago.
Eddie Olczyk
Eddie Olczyk joins Sports USA for the 2024 NHL Stadium Series broadcasts alongside his son Nick & former Blackhawks Hall of Fame broadcast partner Pat Foley. Olczyk is a part of the TNT’s lead NHL broadcast team, the Seattle Kraken’s broadcast team, & is an analyst for NBC’s coverage of horse racing's Triple Crown. As a player, Olczyk spent 20 seasons in the NHL with seven teams. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and two time Emmy award winner for his television work with the Blackhawks.
DARREN ELIOT
Darren Eliot joined Sports USA in 2022 as a color analyst for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Eliot, the current Vice President of Hockey Programming and Facility Operations for the Vegas Golden Knights spent 5 seasons in the NHL (1984-1989) as a goaltender for the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, & Buffalo Sabres. He also represented Team Canada at the 1984 Winter Olympics.
SCOTTIE UPSHALL
Scotttie Upshall joined Sports USA in 2022 as a rinkside reporter for its coverage of the Western Conference Final. Drafted 6th overall by the Nashville Predators in 2002, Upshall played 15 season in the NHL before retiring in 2020. He currently co-hosts the popular “Mission Curfew” podcast discussing the latest NHL news & events plus stories from his playing career.
STUDIO HOST
ROB BRENDER
Rob Brender has spent the last 25 years in sports broadcasting covering the NFL, MLB, NHL and college athletics for a variety of outlets. For the last eight years he’s worked as a host, anchor and reporter for SiriusXM Sports. That includes seven years covering the Rams and Chargers for SiriusXM NFL Radio’s The Sunday Drive. He also currently hosts a weekly show for Washington Capitals Radio and was recently the host for the Jim Fox podcast for the LA Kings. Brender was previously a digital reporter for SportNet New York covering the Mets. He also spent several years doing radio play-by-play for Long Beach State basketball and UC Irvine basketball as well as in Minor League Baseball for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and Billings Mustangs.
CONTRIBUTOR
TED SOBEL
Ted Sobel has been with Sports USA since 2006. Sobel's contributions include NCAA football sideline reporter, NFL & NHL studio host, & much more. Sobel is a three time Golden Mike winner, the author of "Touching Greatness," & has covered many of the world's top sporting events including: The Super Bowl, World Series, Final Fours, Olympics, & the Triple Crown.