Tom Hammond

About Tom Hammond

Tom Hammond (born May 10, 1944 in Lexington, Kentucky) is an American sportscaster for NBC television. Hammond is one of the network's staple on-air presenters, along with Bob Costas and Dan Hicks. Hammond is also the chief play-by-play commentator for Lincoln Financial Sports (formerly Jefferson Pilot Sports) coverage of Southeastern Conference men's college basketball. He has known his color commentator on the Lincoln Financial broadcasts, Larry Conley, since junior high school. On April 25,2008, it was announced that Hammond would be the play-by-play announcer for Madden 09 along with Cris Collinsworth. Hammond is currently serving as the play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports coverage of Track and Field at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Tom's tenure at NBC began in 1984, when he was named as a co-host of the inaugural Breeders' Cup alongside Dick Enberg. It was supposed to be a one-shot deal for Hammond, but NBC execs were so impressed, he ended up getting a long-term contract.

Hammond's duties at NBC involve covering many sports. He is the main host of the network's thoroughbred racing coverage and is the network's play-by-voice for its coverage of Notre Dame football alongside commentator Pat Haden. He was also the lead play-by-play man for The AFL on NBC. Hammond is also very much involved in NBC's Olympic Games coverage. At the Summer Olympics, Hammond is the chief commentator for track and field, a position he has held since the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, where his broadcast partner that year was O.J. Simpson, who ran track at the University of Southern California. Hammond has since said that, despite the personal problems Simpson would have two years later, he and Simpson were great friends and got along well. Hammond also commentates on other track and field events shown on NBC. At the Winter Olympics, Hammond is the main commentator for figure skating and ice dancing. Hammond is sort of unique in that, unlike most of his NBC Sports colleagues, he does not live in or around the New York City area, opting to stay in his hometown of Lexington, a decision he made during his early days at NBC. Hammond isn't alone in this; despite being a New York native himself, Costas lives in St. Louis.