Ray Clay
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Ray Clay is an American public address announcer best known for his work for the Chicago Bulls organization in the 1990s.
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[edit] Chicago Bulls
A native of Berwyn, Illinois, Clay began announcing basketball games at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1980. He was hired by the Bulls, replacing longtime announcer Tommy Edwards, in 1990 and worked with them for 12 ½ seasons, during which the team won six NBA Championships. With the rising popularity of the team, Clay became known worldwide for his opening address to the fans (“Aaaaand now...the starting lineup...for your...Chicago Bulls!”) and his distinctive player introductions (e.g., “Frommmm North Carolina...at guard...6’6"...Michael Jordan!”), which were accompanied by the song "Sirius" from The Alan Parsons Project.
Clay’s fame during the height of the Bulls success led to a minor acting career. For example, he guest starred in a 1993 episode of the sitcom Married... with Children and appeared in the films Blink and He Got Game. In addition, he lent his vocal talents to several basketball video games and read the "Top Ten" on The Late Show with David Letterman in 1998.[1]
[edit] 2002 dismissal
In January 2002, Michael Jordan was scheduled to return to the United Center for the first time since leaving the Bulls in 1999. Jordan was then playing for the rival Washington Wizards, and Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti asked Clay how he was going to introduce the ex-Bull. Clay explained that he wanted to deliver his familiar introduction for Jordan, but team management had ordered him to introduce Jordan as he would any other opposing player. After the conversation went into print, the Bulls allegedly reprimanded him for his comments.[2]
Clay was suddenly fired in May of that year. The Bulls gave no official reason for Clay’s dismissal, but Clay speculated he was fired because of his disagreement with team management over Jordan’s introduction. “When you put two and two together, that’s all it could be. I can’t think of anything else I ever did wrong,” he told Mariotti.[2]
In April 2003, Clay accepted an invitation to introduce Jordan at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, where Jordan played his last game in the NBA.[3]
[edit] Current work
Clay currently works full-time as Director of Campus Recreation at UIC. He also announces games for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, who play their home games at the UIC Pavilion.
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Late Show With David Letterman #1141" http://www.tv.com/late-show-with-david-letterman/show-1141/episode/124096/summary.html.
- ^ a b Mariotti, Jay. “Tired tactics need no introduction”. Chicago Sun-Times. May 15, 2002.
- ^ Wyche, Steve. “The Air Finally Runs Out”. Washington Post. April 17, 2003.
