Spero Dedes


Spero Dedes is an American sportscaster. He is currently employed by CBS Sports, calling the NFL, NBA and college basketball. He is also the play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Chargers preseason telecast. Prior to joining CBS, he was the radio play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers and a radio and television play-by-play announcer for the New York Knicks from 2011 to 2014.

Early career: WFAN, AFL, YES Network, NBA TV

Dedes was born in Paramus, New Jersey. He attended Paramus High School and then graduated from Fordham University in 2001. He began his career at WFAN in New York.
In 2001 and 2002, Dedes was the radio announcer for the New Jersey Gladiators of the AFL. In 2002, he was tapped as a fill-in announcer for New Jersey Nets games on the YES Network.
In 2003, Dedes was hired as a studio host and play-by-play man for NBA TV. He hosted Hardwood Classics and The Insiders.

National exposure: Olympics, Networks, Lakers, Super Bowl

At 24, Dedes worked the 2004 Summer Olympics for NBC Sports.
In 2004, Dedes also served as a fill-in commentator of College Basketball on CBS. Also in 2004, Dedes served as a fill-in commentator for the NFL on FOX.
In 2005, Dedes filled in on the NFL on CBS.
In 2005, Dedes got the biggest break of his career when he was hired as the radio announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers
From 2006 until 2011, Dedes worked for NFL Network. His duties included studio hosting and play-by-play. In 2015, Dedes went back to his old stomping grounds by returning to NFL Network as a studio host.
In 2007, Dedes served as the play-by-play man for the international feed of Super Bowl XLI by CBS Sports.

Full-time at CBS and New York Knicks

In December 2009, Dedes joined CBS Sports full-time, calling regular season college basketball and the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
For the 2010 NFL season, he was named a full-time announcer of the NFL on CBS.
In 2011, Dedes left the Lakers and became the radio voice of the New York Knicks. Dedes cited the flexibility to continue his work at CBS Sports as the reason for leaving the Lakers.
In addition, that fall, he became the #2 voice of the SEC on CBS behind Verne Lundquist.
Dedes has also filled in for Ian Eagle on play-by-play for the New York Jets preseason network on CBS 2 New York.
As of 2017, he now calls games with Adam Archuleta as the #6 announcing team for the NFL on CBS.

Jeremy Lin controversy

On February 17, 2012, Dedes used the phrase "Chink in the armor" on 1050 ESPN New York when referring to Knicks player Jeremy Lin, an Asian-American. While ESPN fired one employee and suspended another for using the same reference, Dedes was an employee of Madison Square Garden and was not fired. He apologized and was disciplined by MSG.