Neil Everett
Encyclopedia
Neil Everett Morfitt, known professionally as Neil Everett, is a sportscaster for the ESPN
cable network. He is co-anchor of the West Coast edition of SportsCenter
.
, and raised in Spokane, Washington
, Everett attended Willamette University
but graduated from the University of Oregon
. He was initiated as a member of Beta Theta Pi
fraternity at Willamette and transferred that membership to the University of Oregon. He started out in broadcasting at a radio station in Florence, Oregon
. However he left the media field and moved to Hawaii
, where he worked 15 years as an athletic administrator at Hawaii Pacific University
. He returned to broadcasting as a sports director and reporter for KITV
, Honolulu's ABC
affiliate.
In 2000, Everett interviewed with ESPN on the recommendation of a friend, and was hired by the network as a sports anchor. In March 2009, he relocated to California
to anchor the late-night Los Angeles
edition of SportsCenter
, which debuted on April 6, 2009. His co-anchor on the program is Stan Verrett
.
. He also uses "Howzit" (Hawaiian slang for "How's it going?") to start each show and "Recognize the WAC!" in reference to the University of Hawaii Warriors, who play in the Western Athletic Conference
.
Everett closes each show's introductory summary by shouting the words "Right now!" He also makes references to Spokane and Gonzaga University
(located in Spokane), as well as references to the University of Oregon (his alma mater). He uses the catchphrase, "Bartender, Jack!" (as in Jack Daniels
), in reference to home runs in baseball highlights. He often refers to The Grateful Dead lyrics, such as quoting "Tennessee, Tennessee, there ain't no place I'd rather be" -- a verse in the song Tennessee Jed -- when referring to the University of Tennessee Volunteers sports teams. He also frequently uses the verse from the Grateful Dead song, St. Stephen, "One man gathers what another man spills." He also makes numerous references to The Big Lebowski
, a movie set in his current town of Los Angeles
, with references such as "The Dude abides" and "careful man, there's a beverage here" and " Mark it eight Dude" during Top Ten Plays. Also as of the 2010 Oregon Ducks Football season he gives a shout out to "Supwitchugirl" and their smash hit "I Love My Ducks (Return of The Quack)" by singing the chorus.
During a Top 10 Interview with Justin Timberlake
in April 2009, Everett jokingly referred to Barry Melrose
as his "man crush".
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
cable network. He is co-anchor of the West Coast edition of SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
.
Biography
Born in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, and raised in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, Everett attended Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
but graduated from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. He was initiated as a member of Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
fraternity at Willamette and transferred that membership to the University of Oregon. He started out in broadcasting at a radio station in Florence, Oregon
Florence, Oregon
Florence is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 8,466.-History:The Florence area was originally inhabited by the Siuslaw tribe of Native Americans. Some state that the city was named for state senator A. B...
. However he left the media field and moved to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, where he worked 15 years as an athletic administrator at Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University, also known as HPU, is a private, Nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Honolulu, Hawaii and Kaneohe, Hawaii. HPU founded in 1965 as Hawaii Pacific College by Paul C.T. Loo, Eureka Forbes, Elizabeth W...
. He returned to broadcasting as a sports director and reporter for KITV
KITV
KITV is the American Broadcasting Company television station affiliate licensed to Honolulu, Hawaii. Based in Honolulu and broadcasting on digital channel 40, displayed as channel 4 the station is owned by Hearst Television and operates several satellites and translators on all the major Hawaiian...
, Honolulu's ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate.
In 2000, Everett interviewed with ESPN on the recommendation of a friend, and was hired by the network as a sports anchor. In March 2009, he relocated to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to anchor the late-night Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
edition of SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
, which debuted on April 6, 2009. His co-anchor on the program is Stan Verrett
Stan Verrett
Stan Verrett is an anchor on the ESPN and ESPNEWS networks in the United States. Most of Verrett's appearances are on SportsCenter at 11 p.m or 1 a.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday...
.
Broadcasting style
During his tenure as a SportsCenter anchor, Everett has added Hawaiian surfing sayings and other state references to the show's famous repertoire of catchphrases. When noting the time of an event, he will often use the Hawaii-Aleutian Time ZoneHawaii-Aleutian time zone
The Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone observes Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time , by subtracting ten hours from Coordinated Universal Time . The clock time in this zone is based on the mean solar time of the 150th meridian west of the Greenwich Observatory....
. He also uses "Howzit" (Hawaiian slang for "How's it going?") to start each show and "Recognize the WAC!" in reference to the University of Hawaii Warriors, who play in the Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
.
Everett closes each show's introductory summary by shouting the words "Right now!" He also makes references to Spokane and Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
(located in Spokane), as well as references to the University of Oregon (his alma mater). He uses the catchphrase, "Bartender, Jack!" (as in Jack Daniels
Jack Daniel's
Jack Daniel's is a brand of sour mash Tennessee whiskey that is among the world's best-selling liquors. It is known for its square bottles and black label. As of November, 2007, one blogger was claiming that it was the best-selling whiskey in the world. It is produced in Lynchburg, Tennessee by...
), in reference to home runs in baseball highlights. He often refers to The Grateful Dead lyrics, such as quoting "Tennessee, Tennessee, there ain't no place I'd rather be" -- a verse in the song Tennessee Jed -- when referring to the University of Tennessee Volunteers sports teams. He also frequently uses the verse from the Grateful Dead song, St. Stephen, "One man gathers what another man spills." He also makes numerous references to The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski is a 1998 comedy film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Jeff Bridges stars as Jeff Lebowski, an unemployed Los Angeles slacker and avid bowler, who is referred to as "The Dude". After a case of mistaken identity, The Dude is introduced to a millionaire also named...
, a movie set in his current town of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, with references such as "The Dude abides" and "careful man, there's a beverage here" and " Mark it eight Dude" during Top Ten Plays. Also as of the 2010 Oregon Ducks Football season he gives a shout out to "Supwitchugirl" and their smash hit "I Love My Ducks (Return of The Quack)" by singing the chorus.
During a Top 10 Interview with Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
in April 2009, Everett jokingly referred to Barry Melrose
Barry Melrose
Barry James Melrose is a former player and head coach in the National Hockey League, as well as a current commentator and hockey analyst for ESPN.-Playing career:...
as his "man crush".