Neil Funk

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Neil Funk is the current television play-by-play announcer for the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls.

A 1969 graduate of Syracuse University, Funk's first broadcasting job was covering high school sports for a small radio station in Danville, Illinois. He quickly moved up the ranks to acquire a job with the Philadelphia 76ers' WIBG-radio broadcasting crew in 1976. He later broadcast games for the Kansas City Kings and New Jersey Nets, winning an Emmy Award in 1989. He joined the Chicago Bulls as a radio play-by-play announcer in 1991. On May 6, 2008, it was announced that Funk would replace Tom Dore as the play-by-play man for Chicago Bulls games on television.^[1]

Funk is known for using his signature phrase "Ka-Boom!" whenever a Bulls player hits a crucial basket, particularly three-point field goals. He is also well known for his dramatic call "Bang, down the well it goes!"

A typical sampling of Funk's play-by-play call: "Dennis inbounds to Scottie, who brings the ball up. Scottie across the timeline with Stockton on HIM. Scottie left side for Michael. Michael backing Russell, backing, backing now swings it down to Luc. Over to Scottie with 10 on the 24. Scottie to Steve Kerr for three--KA-boom!"