ESPN 25 Special - Boomer Nicknames Segment

Chris 'Boomer' Berman has famously made nicknames on ESPN hilites a signature voiceover for this beloved broadcaster and colleague. In the fall of 1985, new ESPN News Director Jack 'The Ripper' Gallivan abruptly banned Chris' nicknames and all hell broke loose. Here is that cover story and a very special Boomer Nickname music video by Rapper Remedy produced by ESPN Classic's Eric Smith, with very special appearances by Hall of Famers George Brett, Frank Robinson, Dennis Eckersley and Bert Blyleven plus MLB All-Stars Mark McGuire and John Kruk. Iconic ESPN announcers George Grande, Tim Brando, Sal Marciano and Charlie Steiner plus Director Calvin Haywood and Producers Tom Reilly, Bob Pronovost and News Director Kirk Varner also share their memories of the nickname controversy. Special footage of Warren Sapp in Raiders attire shot in South Florida and Boomer on location at Wrigley Field where he was calling a Cubs game . The ESPN Silver Anniversary Special was shot on location at the Bristol Campus and directed by Joseph Maar who somehow, along with the ESPN Creative Services and Tech Directors arranged to have all the satellite dishes light up at night, a true spectacle for the celebration of 25 years of ESPN (1979-2204)