Michigan State University Athletics
MSU Announces Spartan Basketball Radio Announcers
10/17/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 17, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State University Athletics Department announced on Tuesday that George Blaha will serve as the lead play-by-play announcer on the Spartan Sports Network for men's basketball during the 2000-01 season. Blaha will work a split schedule during the regular season with Josh Lewin. Former Spartan basketball coach Gus Ganakas will handle the color commentary on all broadcasts for the 15th-straight year.
"George Blaha has been the voice of Spartan football for over 20 years and we are ecstatic that he will become a fixture in our basketball broadcasts," said MSU athletics director Dr. Clarence Underwood. "With Blaha and Josh Lewin we are adding two nationally recognized names that bring legitimacy to our broadcasts. They, along with Gus Ganakas, will give our team the excellent coverage they deserve."
Blaha has served as the play-by-play announcer for Michigan State football for the past 23 years. He is also in his 25th season as the lead broadcaster for the NBA's Detroit Pistons, calling games for UPN-TV 50, WWJ Radio and the Pistons Radio and TV Networks.
"Who could turn down Tom Izzo," said Blaha. "It will be a privilege to work with one of the great college coaches anywhere and be a part of a world class Spartan program."
Lewin recently completed his third season as the play-by-play voice of the Detroit Tigers regionally on Fox Sports Net. Since 1996, he has been a play-by-play announcer for the Fox Saturday Baseball Game of the Week. He has also served as the play-by-play voice for the Chicago Cubs in 1997, working with Steve Stone and Harry Caray on WGN-TV, and the Baltimore Orioles on WBAL Radio. Lewin has gained basketball experience covering the University of Detroit, Oakland University, Mid-American Conference and MHSAA championships on Fox Sports Net. He also has experience broadcasting hockey and football. As an undergraduate at Northwestern, Lewin broadcast Wildcat football and basketball games.
"I am excited to be joining a nationally recognized program like Michigan State basketball," said Lewin. "It is a first class program and I look forward to bringing my talents to the broadcast."
"For over a generation, George Blaha's name has meant basketball across the state of Michigan," added Will Tieman of the Spartan Sports Network. "To be able to add him to our Spartan Basketball Broadcast is as good as it gets. Adding Josh Lewin to our team gives the Spartan Sports Network an incredibly strong one-two punch."
