Don Poier
Encyclopedia
Don Poier was a sports play-by-play announcer who called telecasts of Pac-10 football and basketball games and was the radio and television voice for the Vancouver and Memphis Grizzlies
.
, northeast of Seattle, Poier was a three-sport standout in baseball
, basketball
, and football
at Snohomish High School, were he played first base, forward, and punter/quarterback/tight end/defensive back. He starred on Dick Armstrong's first league-champion football team in 1968,
earning all-state honors as a DB.
After playing basketball
for on the freshmen team at Washington State
, Poier transferred to Pacific Lutheran
near Tacoma,
where he played defensive end
on the football
team in 1972-73 for another legendary coach, Frosty Westering
.
he was the sports director at KING-TV
(NBC), and later worked at KCPQ
(Fox
) and Prime Sports Northwest.
In 1995, Poier moved to the professional ranks, joining the Vancouver Grizzlies
during their first year in the NBA
. Before that, the only professional games he had called was in baseball, as a broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners
in the 1981 season. He and former NBA player and sportscaster Bob Elliott
gained national recognition by lending their voices to EA Sports
' NBA Live Series
video games from 1999 through 2003. After doing radio play-by-play for every Grizzlies game during his tenure in Vancouver and Memphis, he was promoted to television play-by-play for the 2004–05 season.
in his Denver hotel room before the Grizzlies' game against the Nuggets. The Grizzlies decided to play the game in spite of Poier's sudden death, and lost by a final score of 92–82.
The media center at FedExForum
, the Grizzlies' home arena in Memphis, has been named in honor of Poier.
In addition, a memorial banner hangs from the ceiling at every Grizzlies home game.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
.
Early life
Born in SnohomishSnohomish, Washington
Snohomish is a city in Snohomish County founded by the british, Washington, United States. The population was 9,098 at the 2010 census. The mayor of Snohomish is Karen Guzak, and the City Manager is Larry Bauman...
, northeast of Seattle, Poier was a three-sport standout in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Snohomish High School, were he played first base, forward, and punter/quarterback/tight end/defensive back. He starred on Dick Armstrong's first league-champion football team in 1968,
earning all-state honors as a DB.
After playing basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for on the freshmen team at Washington State
Washington State Cougars
The Washington State Cougars are the athletic teams at Washington State University; the term applies to any of the school's varsity teams. Washington State University is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, which participates in the NCAA Division I...
, Poier transferred to Pacific Lutheran
Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University is located in Parkland, a suburb of Tacoma, Washington. In September 2009, PLU had a student population of 3,582 and approximately 280 full-time faculty...
near Tacoma,
where he played defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
on the football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
team in 1972-73 for another legendary coach, Frosty Westering
Frosty Westering
Forrest "Frosty" Westering born is a former American football coach. He served as the head coach at Parsons College , Lea College , and Pacific Lutheran University...
.
Career
Poier spent more than 20 years of his broadcasting career in Seattle, announcing regional basketball and football games in the Pac-10 and hydroplane boat races. In the 1980s1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
he was the sports director at KING-TV
KING-TV
KING-TV, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Seattle, Washington, affiliated with the NBC network. Owned by Belo Corporation, it broadcasts on UHF digital channel 48. Its offices and broadcasting center are located just east of Seattle Center...
(NBC), and later worked at KCPQ
KCPQ
KCPQ, channel 13, is the Fox television affiliate licensed to Tacoma, Washington serving the Seattle/Tacoma television market, owned by the Tribune Company...
(Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
) and Prime Sports Northwest.
In 1995, Poier moved to the professional ranks, joining the Vancouver Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
during their first year in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. Before that, the only professional games he had called was in baseball, as a broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in the 1981 season. He and former NBA player and sportscaster Bob Elliott
Bob Elliott (basketball)
Robert Alan Elliott is a former University of Arizona basketball player and multiple record holder, current business professional and entrepreneur, American television sportscaster, former NBA professional basketball player and current Head-Chairmen of the Retired NBA Players Association...
gained national recognition by lending their voices to EA Sports
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
' NBA Live Series
NBA Live series
The NBA Elite is series of basketball video games, published by EA Sports. There has not been any entry in the series on a home console since 2009. In November 2010, development of the franchise was moved from EA Canada studio to Florida-based Tiburon studio...
video games from 1999 through 2003. After doing radio play-by-play for every Grizzlies game during his tenure in Vancouver and Memphis, he was promoted to television play-by-play for the 2004–05 season.
Death
On January 21, 2005, Poier was found dead of an apparent heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in his Denver hotel room before the Grizzlies' game against the Nuggets. The Grizzlies decided to play the game in spite of Poier's sudden death, and lost by a final score of 92–82.
The media center at FedExForum
FedExForum
The FedEx Forum is an arena located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. It is the home of the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of the University of Memphis, both of whom previously played home games at the Pyramid Arena...
, the Grizzlies' home arena in Memphis, has been named in honor of Poier.
In addition, a memorial banner hangs from the ceiling at every Grizzlies home game.