After more than two decades as the radio voice of UCLA football and basketball, four-time Golden Mike Award winner and Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association Hall-of-Fame member Chris Roberts has announced his retirement following the 2014-15 season.
Roberts, who was recently honored in January of 2013 with the the broadcasters association Chick Hearn Award for best "play-by-play," has broadcast more NCAA Division I games on Los Angeles radio dating back to 1982 than anyone. With his final season in 2014-15, Roberts will equal Fred Hessler's mark for the longest tenured play-by-play man in UCLA history.
"You will find no better Bruin than Chris Roberts," said UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero. "Whether the game is close down the stretch or the Bruins are running away with it, his joy and enthusiasm never wavers. Many of us have sat by the radio living and dying with his every word, never more so than over a certain 4.8 seconds in 1995. And we know all is right in the world when we hear him exclaim 'Touchdown U-C-L-A.' There are so many fond memories that span his truly remarkable career, and we are all excited that we get one final season to honor Chris for everything he has meant to UCLA Athletics."
First signing on for the Bruins in the fall of 1992, Roberts has served as the voice of UCLA football at the program's last 15 bowl games, including Rose Bowl appearances on Jan. 1, 1994 and Jan. 1, 1999. He has also broadcast UCLA men's basketball games in 18 trips to the NCAA Tournament during his tenure, most notably calling the Bruins' memorable run to the 1995 NCAA Tournament Championship that culminated in an 89-78 title-game victory over Arkansas at the Kingdome in Seattle.
The author of two books, "Stadium Stories: UCLA Bruins" and "UCLA Football Vault," which he co-wrote with Bill Bennett, Roberts is an eight-time nominee for the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association's Play-by-Play Broadcaster of the Year Award and a voter for both the Heisman Trophy and the John R. Wooden Award.
"I cannot put into words what it has meant to be the 'Voice of UCLA' for all these years," said Roberts. "The Bruins have played a major role in my life for the past two-plus decades and hopefully my broadcasts have reflected this. Our athletes, coaches and administrators here in Westwood are first-class, and it has been an absolute delight providing the soundtrack for some of their greatest accomplishments. All athletes would love the chance to go out on top, and with both UCLA Football and Basketball poised to do great things in 2014-15, as a broadcaster, I am in the envious position of actually having that very opportunity."
Roberts, who will be honored throughout the 2014-15 season at both the Rose Bowl and Pauley Pavilion, will also receive season tickets for life to both football and men’s basketball games in recognition of his 23 years of excellence behind the mike at UCLA. Prior to that, however, Bruin fans will be able to listen to Roberts one final season beginning this fall as he calls all the action on AM570 Fox Sports Los Angeles from the Terry Donahue Pavilion at the Rose Bowl alongside Matt Stevens and Wayne Cook and courtside at Pauley Pavilion with Tracy Murray.
