Randy Rosenbloom Bids Farewell to L.A. After a Remarkable 55-Year Broadcasting Career
Randy Rosenbloom, a prominent figure in Los Angeles sports broadcasting, is embarking on a significant life transition. Next Sunday, he and his wife will bid farewell to their North Hollywood home, a family residence since 1952, as they drive 3,300 miles to their new location in Greenville, South Carolina.
“I’ll probably break down when I walk out,” Rosenbloom shared, reflecting on the emotional weight of this move.
A graduate of North Hollywood High School in 1969, Rosenbloom’s broadcasting career began in 1971, when he called Hart basketball games for NBC Cable Newhall at the modest rate of $10 per game. This marked the start of a remarkable journey in sports media.
“I never knew if I overachieved or underachieved. I just did what I loved,” he said, underscoring his passion for the profession.
Throughout his career, Rosenbloom has collaborated with renowned commentators such as John Wooden, Jerry Tarkanian, and Jim Harrick while providing play-by-play for college basketball games. He called volleyball matches at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games and has worked more than 100 championship high school events. Notably, he was the voice of the inaugural Reebok Bowl in 1994, where Bishop Amat defeated Sylmar, 35-14.
Reflecting on that event, he noted, “There were about 5,000, 6,000 people there, and I remember thinking nobody watched the game. We ended up with a 5.7 TV rating on Channel 13 in Los Angeles, which is higher than most Lakers games.”
Rosenbloom’s extensive interview roster includes NFL legends like Gale Sayers and Johnny Unitas, as well as boxing icons Robert Duran, Thomas Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard. He has called games alongside baseball greats such as Steve Garvey and Doug DeCinces, and witnessed Bret Saberhagen’s no-hitter during the 1982 City Section championship at Dodger Stadium.
In addition to lending his voice to Fresno State and UNLV football and basketball, Rosenbloom has been involved in various sports, from bowl games to Little League. He served as the public address announcer for basketball during the 1984 Olympic Games, featuring Michael Jordan as a standout athlete.
Rosenbloom’s career has been characterized by a willingness to tackle both large events and smaller games alike. “I loved everything,” he expressed.
Among his many memorable moments, one incident stands out from a 1998 college bowl game in Montgomery, Alabama, where a tarantula crawled up his leg during the broadcast. “My color man took all the press notes, wadded them up, and hit the tarantula like swinging a bat,” he recalled, adding that he maintained his composure throughout the incident.
As he prepares for retirement from the Los Angeles market, Rosenbloom plans to continue working remotely on a radio gambling show and hopes to produce a weekly podcast via Zoom.
With a career spanning over five decades, Rosenbloom’s contributions have earned him a place in both the City Section Hall of Fame and the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He also achieved personal notoriety for throwing the shot put 51 feet, 7 ½ inches during his high school career.
As he looks forward to his new chapter in South Carolina, where he will be closer to his grandchildren, he quipped, “I better watch out for tarantulas. They seem to like me.”
