Sam Nover


Sam Nover was an American sportscaster.

Broadcasting career

From 1964-1968 Nover worked at Radio Stations in Charlotte, and Jackson, Michigan. In 1968, was hired as Sportscaster at WKBD-TV in Detroit, Michigan. He worked at WIIC-TV / WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh from 1970 until his retirement in 2001 as the Sports Director and principal Sports Anchor, with the exception of two years he spent full-time at NBC Sports in New York.
Nover was also the voice of the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League in their one year of existence, and was the voice of the Don King Radio Network for its short period of existence. Nover had the distinction and privilege to do the blow-by-blow of the Heavyweight title fight between Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks with Hall of Fame announcer Don Dunphy as his color commentator. Nover is best remembered for having the last sitdown interview with Roberto Clemente shortly before Clemente's death in 1972. The interview has been excerpted by almost every major television network.
Nover also did television play-by-play for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1970s.

NBC Sports

Nover left WIIC in 1980 and signed a contract with NBC Sports with the main intention of working as Boxing Commentator at the Moscow Olympics, but was denied the opportunity when the United States boycotted the games. He returned to his old job at WPXI-TV in 1982. His nearly 30 years of sportscasting service at the same station, is still the longest in Pittsburgh history.
He also worked many venues for NBC Sportsworld, including Boxing and was partnered for many years with former Lightweight Champion, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini and Alexis Arguello.
Nover also did National Football League play-by-play for NBC Sports from the late 1970s until the late 1980s. His color commentator partners included Bob Trumpy, Len Dawson, and Paul Maguire. He also did play-by-play on television for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the preseason from the late 1980s until the late 1990s.

Personal life

At the end of his life Nover lived nine months in West Palm Beach, Florida and the other three months in Pittsburgh. He has two married daughters, Dana and Molly. Dana lives in Pittsburgh with her husband Tim and their two sons, Jackson and Hudson. Molly lives in New York City with her husband, Kevin, their daughter Lilliana and son Hunter.