Andrew Catalon (born September 7, 1980)[1] is an American sportscaster. He has announced NFL on CBS, PGA Tour on CBS, College Basketball on CBS, and NCAA March Madness. He has done play-by-play alongside Tiki Barber and Matt Ryan on National Football League (NFL) telecasts since 2023.[2]

Early life and education

Catalon grew up in the Short Hills section of Millburn, New Jersey and graduated in 1997 from Millburn High School.[3] He attended the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, graduating in 2001.[4][5] At Syracuse, he worked for the WAER-FM.[6]

Career

Catalon was the sports director at WVNY until its news department was shuttered in September 2003 due to financial troubles. He joined WNYT as the weekend sports anchor three months later in December.[7] He eventually was the station's primary sports anchor until his requested demotion to part-time status was granted in December 2012. By then, he had play-by-play basketball assignments with the UConn Huskies women's team for SNY and the Mountain West Conference on CBS Sports Network.[8] He also freelanced at WFAN before joining CBS Sports Network on a full-time basis after his departure from WNYT on July 19, 2013.[9] Catalon served as a tennis play-by-play announcer for the 2016 Olympic Games and has called the Masters Tournament and PGA Championship in golf.[10]

On March 22, 2014, Catalon was announcing an NCAA Tournament game of Gonzaga against Oklahoma State. In order to get back into the game, Oklahoma State was intentionally fouling Gonzaga's Przemek Karnowski, a poor free throw shooter. Catalon called this strategy "hack a polack", to which his broadcasting partner Mike Gminski, who is of Polish descent, immediately said "Easy now." Catalon had to apologize on air for his use of a racial slur and to Karnowski personally.[11] Karnowski tweeted that he appreciated the apology.[12]

In 2022, he was inducted into Syracuse University's WAER Hall of Fame.[13][14]

Personal life

Catalon lives in New Jersey with his wife, Jessica Layton, who is a news reporter for MSNBC. They have a son, CJ.[15]

References

  1. ^ @voicesofsports (September 7, 2019). "Happy Birthday to Andrew Catalon,..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Connors, Greg. "Former Bill James Lofton joins CBS's NFL lineup as networks announce broadcast teams," The Buffalo (NY) News, Tuesday, August 15, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  3. ^ "MHS grads reflect on London Summer Games", The Item of Millburn and Short Hills, August 23, 2012. Accessed February 15, 2020. "Millburn High School graduates Andrew Catalon, Peter J. Costanzo III and Zachary Horn have returned to the United States following an exciting few weeks. Catalon (Class of 1997), Costanzo (Class of 2010) and Horn (Class of 1996) all were involved in NBC's coverage of the Olympic Summer Games from London."
  4. ^ Pfisterer, Dominick (September 30, 2020). "'01 Andrew Catalon talks the start of NFL". Newhouse Sports Media Center. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  5. ^ Dougherty, Pete (10 March 2016). "Sports media: Carter Blackburn keeps Syracuse connection going for NCAA Tournament". Times Union. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  6. ^ Stockton, Dick (28 March 2019). "What is the Greatest Enemy for a Sports Broadcaster?". Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  7. ^ Rosen, Jill. "Old Story, New Twist," American Journalism Review, December/January 2004. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  8. ^ Dougherty, Pete. "Catalon demoted at WNYT, after he asked for it," Times Union (Albany, NY), Monday, December 10, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  9. ^ Dougherty, Pete. "Catalon resigns WNYT post to join CBS Sports Network," Times Union (Albany, NY), Thursday, June 6, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  10. ^ "Andrew Catalon". NBC Sports Group Press Box. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  11. ^ "March Madness 2014: Polish slur prompts apology from CBS' Andrew Catalon, an SU grad". Syracuse Post-Standard. AP. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  12. ^ "CBS broadcaster calls Gonzaga player a 'Polack'". USA Today. Associated Press. March 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  13. ^ "@waer883 is proud to announce that WAER alumni…". Twitter. WAER Syracuse Public Media. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  14. ^ Schotts, Ken (21 September 2022). "The Parting Schotts Podcast: Catalon receives prestigious honor; Union women's hockey preview; Shinder on high school football". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  15. ^ "Andrew Catalon Play-by-Play Announcer". Viacom CBS Press Express. Retrieved February 13, 2020.

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