Jim Lampley is a Hall of Fame sportscaster whose career spans over five decades, marked by versatility and innovation in sports broadcasting. He began his national television career in 1974 as ABC's first sideline reporter for college football, a role that set a precedent in sports coverage. Lampley's tenure at ABC included coverage of Major League Baseball, the Indianapolis 500, and the Olympics, among others. He later worked with CBS, NBC, and Turner Sports, covering a wide array of events including the NFL, Wimbledon, and a record 14 Olympic Games, the most by any American broadcaster.
Lampley's most iconic role was as the lead blow-by-blow announcer for HBO's World Championship Boxing from 1988 until the network ceased boxing coverage in 2018. His voice became synonymous with some of boxing's most memorable moments, including George Foreman's 1994 victory over Michael Moorer, where Lampley's exclamation "It happened!" became legendary. In 2015, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Beyond broadcasting, Lampley has contributed to journalism education at the University of North Carolina and authored a memoir titled It Happened, reflecting on his extensive career.
