Races, Games, and Olympic Dreams: A Sportscaster's Life

by Tom Hammond, Mark Story, Bob Costas Narrated by Danny Campbell

Overview

In sports, not all the long shots who succeed are athletes. In 1984, Tom Hammond, a forty-year-old sportscaster who had primarily worked in Kentucky and the Southeast, got an unlikely opportunity to appear on the NBC Sports telecast of the inaugural Breeders' Cup. Assigned to report from the stall area on what was supposed to be a single broadcast, Hammond performed so well that an NBC executive offered him a chance to call NFL games on the spot. That broadcast launched Hammond's thirty-four-year career with NBC Sports and his rise to the top levels of American television sportscasting. Along with cowriter Mark Story, Hammond pulls back the curtain to reveal how a Kentucky native who started out reading horse racing results on Lexington radio went on to broadcast from thirteen Olympic Games.



While covering Thoroughbred racing for NBC, Hammond broadcast sixteen Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes races and eleven runnings of the Belmont Stakes, including American Pharoah's historic 2015 Triple Crown victory. Hammond offers glimpses into his time as the play-by-play voice for Notre Dame football, calling NBA and NFL games, and his long-running stint announcing Southeastern Conference men's basketball for the league's syndicated TV package. Races, Games, and Olympic Dreams is an intimate and gripping look at Hammond's experiences.

Editorial Reviews

Alex Flanagan

This is the story behind one of the most iconic voices in sports, and a chance to go behind the scenes of a legendary sports broadcasting career.

Kenny Rice

I've had the honor of working with one of the great broadcasters for two decades and a cherished friend for forty years. Enjoy a special journey as Tom shares his remarkable life and extraordinary career.

Dan Issel

Tom Hammond is the most talented, professional, humble sportscaster to ever sit behind a microphone. His story will certainly entertain you.

Gary Stevens

Every show with Tom Hammond was a treat. "Big Daddy" always kept the train on the tracks.

Lenny Shulman

That Hammond reached star status as a national broadcaster and as one of NBC's main voices at more than a dozen Olympic Games is a sign that nice guys can also finish first. A feel-good story that readers will love.

Bill Walton

Tom Hammond's Races, Games and Olympic Dreams is a better than perfect capstone to his incredible life and spectacular career. This yet again masterpiece from this intergalactic treasure will take you on the trip of your life, and transport you to places, and teach you things that you have no idea even exist. Tom is my hero, mentor, shining star, friend, and the reason I believe that tomorrow can be better. As Tom's potted plant and prop, I've lived a vicarious and blessed life on the bright side of the road, through his knowledge, curiosity, class, dignity, and professionalism. Tom is a brilliant, radiant, creative, and spiritual force of nature, like few, if any other—ever. His passion, skill, experience, intelligence, talent, patience, discipline, and fabulous sense of humanity, truth and justice combine to create a powerfully magnetic life that attracts goodness, and the best that the world has to offer. Tom is a unique, visionary, and unparalleled narrator and storyteller; as well as a magnificent stage performer. He has seen and done it all. I'm the luckiest guy in the world in that Tom has allowed me to cling on to his space ship, and to try to grow, like a barnacle, in the hope that one day, somehow, some way, I can absorb enough to become a tiny fraction of the human being that Tom Hammond has proven to be throughout his life. Thank you Tom, for my life, this book, and the chance to be a small part of your glorious universe.

Sandra Bezic

While sharing the booth with Tom for over twenty years, I witnessed firsthand his flawless timing and understated genius as he so perfectly framed some of the greatest moments of Olympic figure skating.

Ato Boldon

I never understood why artists would describe each other as 'generous' until I met Tom Hammond. I was very fortunate to be able to learn from the best. Tom's had an amazing career, and his personal and professional memories are told in this book as eloquently as he has called any Olympic endeavor. I'm proud to call him a mentor and a friend.

Joe Cox

Absolutely fascinating. This book is a winner.

Cris Collinsworth

Tom is truly one of the finest human beings I have ever known. But I'm a little afraid to read this book because nobody can bust my chops like Tom Hammond.

Donna Brothers

Tom never ceases to amaze me with the stories; so many sports, countries, people, and experiences...and he remembers every detail. He sets the scene and paints the picture like a master at work.

Lewis Johnson

Looking back on almost thirty years of my career, my professional and personal relationship with Tom Hammond is by far the most significant and meaningful to me—from our first World Outdoor Track and Field Championships together in Seville, Spain, in 1999, to our first Summer Olympic Games, where I sat right next to Tom as a sprint analyst in the track and field booth in Sydney, Australia, in 2000. At those Games he taught me, by example, the critical skills of storytelling, writing, and when to simply shut up, like in the iconic women's 400 meter final when Australia's Cathy Freeman won gold, a moment that rocked 112,000 at Stadium Australia, her own Aboriginal people, and indeed the entire continent. Those are lessons I still employ today, across all sports broadcasts.

Mike Battaglia

Tom Hammond has covered numerous major sporting events both in the US and abroad for over three decades. Everyone has a story and Tom Hammond is the best story teller I have ever met. Enjoy.

Larry Conley

Tom Hammond is the best sports announcer I have ever known.

Pat Haden

Tom Hammond has had a storied broadcasting career, covering virtually every great event, bringing his audience a fron- row seat. His insightful storytelling is a real joy to behold.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940193314820
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	10/07/2025
Edition description:	Unabridged

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