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The YES Network (Yankees Entertainment & Sports, LLC) and the New Jersey Nets announced last week that legendary sportscaster Marv Albert has signed a multi-year agreement to handle play-by-play duties for the Nets beginning in the 2005-2006 NBA season. Bruce Ratner, principal owner of the Nets, and Tracy Dolgin, YES Network President and CEO, made the announcement.

Marv Albert will call 50 Nets games on YES next season, as well as host a 13-episode, to-be-determined show beginning in September 2005. He will also make promotional appearances on behalf of the Nets organization and YES Network.

"I am thrilled for the opportunity to work with the Nets and the YES Network since I have such great respect for Bruce Ratner, Tracy Dolgin and John Filippelli, and look forward to a long, successful relationship," said Albert.

"Marv Albert is known for his unique style, passion and honesty, which has distinguished him as one of the best basketball announcers of our time," said Ratner. "His experience and knowledge of the game, as well as his roots in the metro area, will give our fans a respected and familiar voice. We are thrilled that he will be calling Nets games for YES for years to come, and we thank YES for helping to make this happen."

"Marv Albert is one of the all-time legendary voices in play-by-play sports. He'll bring excellent, award-winning experience to our Nets telecasts," said Dolgin. "We thank Bruce and the Nets ownership group for working hand-in-hand with us to bring Marv back to metropolitan area professional basketball on a regular basis."

Albert, a renowned broadcaster for more than 30 years, currently is the voice of the NBA on TNT and the voice of Monday Night Football on Westwood One Radio/CBS Radio Sports. Previously he has served as the play-by-play announcer for the New York Knicks and New York Rangers on Madison Square Garden Network (MSG), and worked for NBC Sports for over 20 years, serving as the primary play-by-play voice for the NBA on NBC, along with play-by-play announcing for NFL football, college basketball, boxing, NHL All-Star games, and Major League Baseball studio and pre-game shows. Prior to joining NBC, Albert spent four years as the radio voice of the New York Giants at WNEW-AM, New York, and 13 years as the sports anchor for Ch. 4/WNBC-TV. Albert has won six Cable Ace Awards for Outstanding Play-By-Play Announcer, five national sports Emmy Awards, three New York Emmy Awards in the Outstanding On-Camera Personality category, and was named New York State Sportscaster of the Year an unprecedented 20 times. In 1997, he was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors given to sports journalists.

Added John Filippelli, YES President of Production and Programming: "It's an honor to welcome Marv Albert to YES and our Nets telecasts. The word legend is sometimes used a little too lightly in our business, but in this case the description truly applies. Marv adds to what is an already deep and talented line-up of announcers and reinforces our commitment to dedication and quality."

Albert attended Syracuse University from 1960 to 1963, and graduated from New York University in 1965. His brother, Al, is the play-by-play announcer for the Indiana Pacers, and brother, Steve, is the boxing voice for Showtime. His son, Kenny, is one of MSG's voices for the New York Rangers' games on radio as well as a play-by-play announcer for Fox's NFL coverage. Albert has three other children: Denise (a producer at ABC's "Good Morning America"), Brian (a reporter at New York 1) and Jackie (a pastry chef). He resides in New York with his wife, Heather.