May 29, 2003
 

Don Criqui Named Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award Winner

Canton, OH – Don Criqui, CBS Sports’ popular play-by-play announcer, is the 2003 recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Pete Rozelle Radio and Television Award.  The award given annually by the Hall of Fame recognizes “longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football.”

Criqui, who rejoined CBS Sports as a part of the network’s National Football League broadcast team in 1998, previously worked for CBS Sports for 12 years.  Prior to rejoining the network, he spent 19 years working for NBC Sports.

Criqui first joined CBS Sports as a play-by-play announcer and was partnered with Hall of Fame players Frank Gifford, Norm Van Brocklin, and Sonny Jurgensen on NFL broadcasts.  He also handled play-by-play duties for CBS Sports’ coverage of the NBA and college basketball, track and field, horse racing, figure skating, gymnastics, and swimming and diving.

A native of Buffalo, New York, Criqui’s first professional assignment was working as sports director for WSBT-TV South Bend, Ind.  Eventually, he moved to New York and began working for WCBS-TV.  In 1979, he joined NBC Sports as a football play-by-play announcer. 

In 1992 the versatile Criqui served as host of NBC/Cablevision’s pay-per-view coverage of the Summer Olympics from Barcelona.  In addition, he has called Notre Dame football, NBA, golf, auto racing, and the Orange Bowl 14 times.  He has also hosted Wimbledon and World Cup soccer and called play-by-play for NBC Radio’s coverage of the NFL and Super Bowl XX and XXI.  In 1988, he called the swimming events for NBC’s coverage of the Seoul Olympics.

In addition to his network television work, Criqui is also widely known for his role on two of America’s most popular radio programs, Rambling with Gambling for 19 years on WOR (New York) and for the past 18 years with Imus in the Morning.  Criqui has also been heard nationally on the Westwood Radio Network’s Don Criqui on Sports and has served as a  co-host on King World’s Inside Edition Weekend for nine years. 

Previous Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award winners include Bill McPhail, 1989; Lindsey Nelson, 1990; Ed Sabol, 1991; Chris Schenkel, 1992; Curt Gowdy, 1993; Pat Summerall, 1994; Frank Gifford, 1995; Jack Buck, 1996; Charlie Jones, 1997; Val Pinchbeck, 1998, Dick Enberg, 1999; Ray Scott, 2000; Roone Arledge, 2001; and John Madden, 2002.