Gary Bender

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Gary Bender

Gary Bender is an American sportscaster.

Bender began his broadcasting career calling games of the University of Kansas' football and basketball programs in the 1960s. He was the play-by-play announcer for the 1981 NBA Finals along with color commentators Rick Barry and Bill Russell, both members of the Hall of Fame.

In 1982 and 1983, he called NCAA college basketball games for CBS Sports, including the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Both championship games he called were memorable:

On March 29, 1982, Michael Jordan hit a jump shot with 17 seconds remaining to give North Carolina a 63-62 lead over Georgetown, but the Tar Heels were not assured of victory until James Worthy stole the inbounds pass from Fred Brown.
On April 4, 1983, Lorenzo Charles scored on a slam dunk to give North Carolina State a 54-53 upset win over Houston. Bender said, "[Dereck] Whittenburg, and..." then his voice trailed off as Charles grabbed the ball. Partner Billy Packer then intoned, "They won it...on the dunk!"

On October 27, 1987, Bender called the Monday Night Football game between the Denver Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings. That game had been scheduled for October 26, but when the Minnesota Twins (who shares the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome with the Vikings) played Game 7 of the World Series that day, the football game was moved to Monday. In 1988, Bender did play-by-play for the American League Championship Series alongside Baseball Hall of Famers Joe Morgan and Reggie Jackson.

He also called Sunday night games for TNT from 1992 to 1994.

Today, Bender is the television play-by-play announcer on Fox Sports Net (FSN-Arizona) for the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns, he works alongside former Suns star Dan Majerle. He also announced college football games for ABC Sports, where he formerly worked alongside Ed Cunningham. In 2006, he was named as the play-by-play announcer for the Versus network's coverage of Mountain West Conference football, where he will be partnered with former NFL player Glenn Parker.

Bender is also author of the biography Call of the Game, in which he shares his life story, tips on how to become a better broadcaster, and his Christian testimony.

In the first five months of 2001, Bender presided as host of the nationally syndicated Focus on the Family radio show after the resignation of previous host Mike Trout (1985-2000) because of an extramaritial affair. Bender was replaced on a full-time basis by Focus vice president of broadcasting John Fuller.

His son, Trey Bender, is also a sportscaster.