Sam Rosen (sportscaster)
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Sam Rosen (born April 4, 1948 in Ulm, Germany) is the primary play-by-play announcer for the New York Rangers (NHL) games on MSG. From 1982–84, he was the studio host on Ranger broadcasts, but was promoted to play-by-play in 1984, succeeding Jim Gordon, who had been the Rangers' TV voice since 1973. Rosen's first partner was ex-Bruin and Ranger star Phil Esposito. Starting in 1986–87, when Esposito left to become Rangers General Manager, Rosen was paired with former Rangers goaltender John Davidson. The team would last 20 years together until Davidson left for a management position with the St. Louis Blues (hockey). It was the second-longest partnership in U.S. sportscasting history. Beginning with the 2006–07 NHL season, Sam partnered with Joe Micheletti. Sam also called postseason NHL games for ESPN in 1988, where he was reunited with former Ranger partner, Phil Esposito.
Sam also handles play-by-play for NHL Radio, a partnership between the NHL and Westwood One. He has called the Stanley Cup Finals on radio for many years, as well as the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympic Men's Hockey Tournaments.
Rosen is also a play-by-play announcer for The NFL on FOX. Currently, he broadcasts with Tim Ryan.
On June 14, 1994, he called the decisive Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, between the Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden. While the rest of the country watched the game on ESPN, New Yorkers could only see the game on MSG. The Rangers won that game and ended a 54-year Stanley Cup drought. At the final horn, Rosen shouted, "The waiting is over--the New York Rangers are the Stanley Cup Champions! And this one will last a lifetime!" It is still the highest-rated broadcast of any kind in the network's history, and the last major league championship event in North America not to air exclusively on national television.
His trademark, "It's a power play goal!!!" started in 1984, when he was known for rather subdued commentary. John Davidson, following Phil Esposito as color commentator, is quoted as saying, "Sam, make it colorful, really colorful!" When the Rangers scored on a powerplay in November of 1984, Sam jumped out of his announcer's seat and joyfully exclaimed, "It's a powerplay goal!" Davidson erupted into laughter and Sam said, "Is that good enough for you?" From then on, it became a sarcastic trademark of Rosen's.
Sam's son, Matt Rosen, is the pregame radio host of the Phoenix Coyotes.
Sam's son, Garett, is a certified public accountant and lawyer working for Citigroup in New York City.
Sam was an accomplished athlete in his youth, serving as the Captain of the Stuyvesant High School baseball team in 1964 as well as the starting catcher.
