Gary Bender (born March 12, 1946) is an American sportscaster and television broadcaster who has worked for major networks including CBS, ABC, ESPN, and regional sports networks. He is known for his play‑by‑play commentary of National Football League (NFL) games, National Basketball Association (NBA) contests, and Major League Baseball (MLB) broadcasts, as well as his roles as a studio host and analyst.
Early life and education
Gary Bender was born in Dayton, Ohio. He attended Sinclair Community College before transferring to the University of Dayton, where he earned a bachelor's degree in communications. During his college years, Bender began working at local radio stations, gaining experience in sports reporting and play‑by‑play announcing.
Broadcasting career
Early career
Bender’s professional broadcasting career began in the late 1960s with a sports director position at WRFC in Dayton. He subsequently moved to television, serving as a sports anchor and reporter for KTLA in Los Angeles during the early 1970s.
National network work
In 1974, Bender joined the CBS Sports team, becoming one of the network’s primary NFL play‑by‑play announcers. He partnered with several notable color commentators, including Johnny Morris and Tom Brookshier, covering regular‑season and playoff games throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. Bender also contributed to CBS’s NBA coverage and provided commentary for MLB games, including the World Series.
In the mid‑1980s, Bender transitioned to ABC, where he served as play‑by‑play announcer for the network’s NBA broadcasts and hosted studio shows such as “ABC’s Wide World of Sports.” During this period, he also covered college football and the Olympics for the network.
Cable and regional sports
Bender joined ESPN in the early 1990s, where he anchored “SportsCenter” and called games for the NBA, NFL, and college sports. He later worked for the Fox Sports regional network (now Bally Sports) covering the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, and Minnesota Timberwolves. In addition to play‑by‑play duties, Bender hosted pre‑game and post‑game analysis programs.
Later career
From the 2000s onward, Bender took on occasional assignments for various networks, including broadcasting the NBA’s “All‑Star Weekend” events and serving as a commentator for college football bowl games. He has also contributed to radio broadcasts and provided voice‑over work for sports documentaries.
Personal life
Gary Bender is married and has two children. He resides in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. Bender is involved in charitable activities related to youth sports and has served on the board of several community organizations.
Recognition and legacy
Bender’s career, spanning more than five decades, has earned him multiple accolades, including regional Emmy Awards for sports broadcasting. Colleagues have cited his clear, authoritative delivery and adaptability across multiple sports as hallmarks of his professional reputation. While not inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame, he remains a respected figure in American sports media.
