Matt Vasgersian

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Matt Vasgersian (born 1967) is an American sportscaster and television host, known for his versatility and humor.

Vasgersian started his media career as a child actor. A member of the Screen Actors Guild at age seven, he appeared in an episode of The Streets of San Francisco and the movie The Candidate. A native Californian of Armenian decent, Vasgersian graduated from the University of Southern California. In 1991 he began his career as a sportscaster with the Chicago Cubs Class A affiliate in Huntington, West Virginia on radio station WKEE-AM 800. He moved up the minor league baseball ranks over the next several years, working for various clubs in a number of different organizations, ending with the AAA Tucson Toros in 1996. He reached the majors as the television play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1997, and moved to the TV booth of the San Diego Padres in 2002. He has agreed to a one-year extension of his contract with Channel 4 San Diego for the 2007 season, according to Callofthegame.com.

Vasgersian is the voice of MLB '06: The Show for PlayStation 2 and PSP. In addition to his work on MLB '06, Vasgersian was the "host" for several PS1 Sony sports titles in the late 90's. Since the 2006 season, Vasgersian has been a regular on the NFL on FOX as a lower-tier play-by-play announcer, teaming with J.C. Pearson. In previous years, he had done select games for the network.

Vasgersian first gained national prominence doing play-by-play for the doomed XFL football league in 2001. He has hosted several TV shows, including Sports Geniuses (2000), World Series of Blackjack (2004), Celebrity Blackjack (2004), the National Heads-Up Poker Championship on NBC and the first season grand final of Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament. He has also emceed various sports specials and other programs, such as the International World Championships of Rock Paper Scissors (2004). Vasgersian has also worked on an Ultimate Fighting Championship broadcast, filling in for Mike Goldberg, the usual announcer. Goldberg was working on Fox Sports Net's college football telecast on the night of UFC 56, so Vagersian provided play-by-play alongside regular color commentator Joe Rogan.

During a May 10, 2006 San Diego Padres broadcast on Channel 4 San Diego, Vasgersian was on the receiving end of a bizarre guest appearance by Cy Young Award winning pitcher Rick Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe dropped by the booth late in the game and was welcomed by Vasgersian and fellow announcer Mark "Mud" Grant. After exchanging pleasantries, Sutcliffe rambled on about George Clooney's work in Sudan's Darfur conflict and then asked Vasgersian: "Matty, what are you still doing here in San Diego?... ...everybody on Earth has been trying to steal you -- the Dodgers, the Cubs, ESPN. What are you still doing here?" Eventually, Sutcliffe's microphone was turned off. Various websites have characterized this incident as "Sutcliffe's drunken meltdown."

Vasgersian is quick-witted and always ready with a pop-culture reference. He has been criticized for too much showmanship in his announcing, but he has also been praised for a fresh take on sports broadcasting.

[edit] External links

• Biographical note on Matt Vasgersian
• NBC biography