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

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

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

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

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

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jicha, Tom (February 3, 2001). "Minervini no joke as he goes national with XFL". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  2. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (January 13, 2016). "What other Syracuse Chiefs broadcasters have worked in major league baseball?". Syracuse.com. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  3. 1 2 WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment New Edition. DK Publishing. 2020. p. 78. ISBN 9780744035100. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 Frias, Carlos (August 25, 2011). "Paintings offered healing after 9/11". Palm Beach Post.
  5. ↑ "Interview with WWE and XFL alum Craig DeGeorge Minervini". Miami Herald. March 20, 2001. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Bob Murphy's 'Folksy Style' Influenced Minervini". The Palm Beach Post. August 8, 2004.
  7. ↑ Elmore, Charles (June 30, 1995). "Minervini, WPBF-25 parting ways". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "A big goal scored: Craig Minervini is living his dream as a big-time sportscaster". South Florida Sun Sentinel. February 7, 2010.
  9. ↑ Sarni, Jim (August 8, 2003). "Minervini Adds Panthers to his Lineup". South Florida Sun - Sentinel. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  10. ↑ Jicha, Tom (September 13, 2010). "Minervini to Call UFL Games on Versus". South Florida Sun - Sentinel.
  11. ↑ Fialkov, Harvey (August 29, 2015). "Panthers Minervini returning for pre- and post-game TV". South Florida Sun - Sentinel.
  12. ↑ "WFTV anchor Martha Sugalski sued for divorce by husband". Orlando Sentinel. August 22, 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
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