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Have Mike (Tirico), will travel: Four games, four sports, six days

The January sports calendar always features an abundance of great events – NFL Playoffs, the College Football Playoff National Championship, NBA games, college basketball conference matchups, etc. This week, ESPN’s Mike Tirico has had a front row seat for many of these games.

In the span of six days, Tirico is calling four major events – all in different sports. After opening the week in Houston on Saturday with the Kansas City Chiefs-Texans AFC Wild Card game, ESPN’s talented play-by-play voice is back in Texas tonight where he will call the Cleveland Cavaliers-Houston Rockets NBA doubleheader game (9:30 PM, ESPN) with Jeff Van Gundy.

In addition to pairing with ESPN’s lead NBA analyst, Tirico has worked alongside other top analysts – Jon Gruden, Todd Blackledge and Dick Vitale – during this stretch.

Tirico discusses with Front Row the challenges and rewards of his hectic work week.

The names and numbers are easiest because I have been watching the teams all season. The most difficult challenge is keeping the statistics from each sport separate. – Mike Tirico

How did you end up with this week’s schedule of NFL, NBA and college football and basketball assignments?
This is the Times Square portion of my year where all three sports I cover on a regular basis (NFL, NBA and college basketball) are still going. The move of the College Football Playoff championship game off New Year’s Day has created this logjam in the schedule the last two years.

What’s been the most difficult part of the week?
Probably preparing the proper way. The travel and hours on the air make it more difficult to watch the prior games of the teams as I normally would.

What is your favorite moment of this week?
Certainly, the end of the Maryland-Michigan game. A great finish and off the air at 11 p.m., which means I was home watching SportsCenter about 15 minutes later [Note: Tirico lives in Ann Arbor, Mich.]. A short commute home is never bad. This week it was much needed.

How are you keeping track of everything, including the names and numbers of the players on all these teams?
The names and numbers are easiest because I have been watching the teams all season. The most difficult challenge is keeping the statistics from each sport separate. I just rely on my regular preparation from game to game, work on each game a little every day and in the hours before the specific game thoroughly review the notes for that one to keep them straight.

How much have you enjoyed working alongside some of ESPN’s top analysts?
The best part of doing multiple sports is working with friends that I have gotten to know over the last 24 years at ESPN. Not only are they the best, but some of the smartest and best people to be around. Jon I get to see half the year, but the chance to work with Todd, Dickie V. and Jeff are less frequent. They are all great pros and very welcoming. It makes it very easy to drop in and make it seem like we have worked together all season.

Mike Tirico’s “Times Square” Week

DateGameNetworkCityPartner
Jan. 9NFL Wild Card Game: Chiefs vs. Texans
ESPN/ABCHoustonJon Gruden
Jan. 11College Football Playoff National Championship:
Alabama vs. Clemson
ESPN RadioGlendale, AZTodd Blackledge
Jan. 12College Basketball:
Maryland vs. Michigan
ESPNAnn Arbor, Mich.Dick Vitale
Jan. 15NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Houston RocketsESPNHoustonJeff Van Gundy
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