Craig Minervini is an American sports broadcaster who is the studio host for Bally Sports Florida's Miami Marlins and Florida Panthers broadcasts.
Early life[edit]
Minervini grew up on Long Island. He attended Commack High School South and co-starred in a school play with Rosie O'Donnell.[1] While attending Syracuse University, he was a broadcaster for the Syracuse Chiefs and finished third place in a Marv Albert sound-alike contest at Madison Square Garden.[1][2]
Wrestling[edit]
After from Syracuse in 1985, Minervini joined the World Wrestling Federation as an announcer.[3] He used the name Craig DeGeorge, borrowing his mother's maiden name.[3][4] He later worked for Herb Abrams' UWF.[5]
Sports broadcasting[edit]
From 1989 to 1995, Minervini was a sports anchor at WPBF in West Palm Beach, Florida.[6] In 1995 he called Roller Hockey International and junior hockey games for ESPN.[7] In 1995, he joined WTVJ in Miami. In 2000, he called two Notre Dame football games on NBC as a fill-in for Tom Hammond.[1][8] The following year he called the XFL's Sunday afternoon games on TNN.[1] In 2003 he became the studio host for Fox Sports Net Florida's Florida Marlins and Florida Panthers telecasts.[9] In 2010 he called United Football League games on Versus alongside Doug Flutie.[10] In 2015, Minervini returned to Panthers broadcasts after a three-season absence.[11]
Personal life[edit]
Minervini's mother, Tina DeGeorge, was a painter.[4] His brother, Richie Minervini, is a stand-up comic who owned the East Side Comedy Club in New York City.[1] He was married to Martha Sugalski, a news reporter he met while they both worked at WPBF.[1][12]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f Jicha, Tom (February 3, 2001). "Minervini no joke as he goes national with XFL". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ Kramer, Lindsay (January 13, 2016). "What other Syracuse Chiefs broadcasters have worked in major league baseball?". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ a b WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment New Edition. DK Publishing. 2020. p. 78. ISBN 9780744035100. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ a b Frias, Carlos (August 25, 2011). "Paintings offered healing after 9/11". Palm Beach Post.
- ^ "Interview with WWE and XFL alum Craig DeGeorge Minervini". Miami Herald. March 20, 2001. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ "Bob Murphy's 'Folksy Style' Influenced Minervini". The Palm Beach Post. August 8, 2004.
- ^ Elmore, Charles (June 30, 1995). "Minervini, WPBF-25 parting ways". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ "A big goal scored: Craig Minervini is living his dream as a big-time sportscaster". South Florida Sun Sentinel. February 7, 2010.
- ^ Sarni, Jim (August 8, 2003). "Minervini Adds Panthers to his Lineup". South Florida Sun - Sentinel. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ Jicha, Tom (September 13, 2010). "Minervini to Call UFL Games on Versus". South Florida Sun - Sentinel.
- ^ Fialkov, Harvey (August 29, 2015). "Panthers Minervini returning for pre- and post-game TV". South Florida Sun - Sentinel.
- ^ "WFTV anchor Martha Sugalski sued for divorce by husband". Orlando Sentinel. August 22, 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2023.