Just before the Los Angeles Clippers celebrate 25 years of NBA Jam with a special NBA Jam Day promotion, Shacknews took some time to talk to the voice behind the game, Tim Kitzrow. He spoke about his lengthy career, the world of voice acting, his work with NBA teams, sports game announcing, and the 'Holy Grail' of NBA Jam games.
USA TODAY: HOUSTON ROCKETS NBA JAM HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
TIM KITZROW FEATURED IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED - NBA JAM FRONTPAGE
NBA Jam Recording Sessions - 1992
Introducing DOTA JAM! VOTE TODAY! #OnFire →
The Dota Jam voice pack is in the voting phase over on Steam 🔥🔥🔥
So you may remember an arcade game from the 90’s called NBA Jam, which is easily one of the greatest multiplayer sports endeavors ever made. With its high-flying dunks and fast-scoring competition, it still can’t be beat. Well, the announcer behind that classic is now looking to bring his antics to a different kind of game -- DOTA 2?
Yep, Tim Kitzrow, who provided such energetic lines as “The nail in the coffin!” and “Boomshakalaka!”, has submitted a voiceover pack for DOTA 2, in which he delivers even more fun dialogue as enemies do battle on-screen. You can get an idea of what you’re in for in the trailer above.
Right now, the voice pack is in the voting phase over on Steam, which means that if enough people for it, it can actually become available. And we are all for that.
Here’s Kitzrow’s tweet about the pack:
In addition, Kitzrow wrote this in the DOTA Jam Announcer Pack description.
You bring the DOTES and we'll bring the JAM! Inspired by the previous community mods, we're happy to introduce the demo for Dota Jam - an announcer pack by none other than Tim Kitzrow, the voice of NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, NHL Hitz, MLB Slugfest, and Mutant Football League.
We plan on producing a fully featured announcer pack this fall, but first we need your help. Upvote the submission and feel free to suggest any lines you'd like to see in the announcer pack.
We’ll let you know if it becomes available in the game, but this could easily become one of our favorites in the world of DOTA.
BOOMSHAKALAKA: NBA JAM @ 25! CELEBRATE IN CHICAGO →
BOOMSHAKALAKA! NBA JAM's 25th Anniversary
Organized by All Star Press and VGA Gallery, Chicago, IL
August 18 - September 8, 2018
Developed by Chicago’s Midway in 1993, NBA Jam debuted at a point when fervor for professional basketball was at an all-time high. The world had watched the men’s 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team play undefeated and win by an average of over 40 points per game. In Chicago, the Bulls won their third consecutive championship and Michael Jordan was the first player in history to win three straight Finals Most Valuable Player awards and became a household name internationally. The exaggerated jumps and dunks of NBA Jam and the Marv Albert-style game calling embodied the spirit and exhilaration of this auspicious time and the use of licensed player likenesses gave a generation consumed by hoop dreams the chance to play in their hero’s shoes. On the 25th anniversary, All Star Press and VGA Gallery are delighted to look back on this iconic game, celebrate its memory, and debut a new suite of artwork by artists inspired by NBA Jam. Interviews with game creators Mark Turmell and Sal DiVita and voice actor Tim Kitzrow, and footage from the forthcoming documentary by Josh Tsui Insert Coin: Inside Midway's '90s Revolution, will be screened in the exhibition. Featured artists include: Austin Breed, Jemaine Brown, Goosenek, Jake.psd, Kwasi, Adam Lundquist, Jason Rowland, Wilfred Santiago, and Sam Thorn. Complimentary drinks will be served.
Midway project leader Mark Turmell oversaw the development for NBA Jam. It was designed by John Carlton, Sal DiVita, Tony Goskie, Jon Hey, Shawn Liptak, Jamie Rivett; produced by Ken Fedesna, Neil Nicastro, Wally Smolucha; and programmed by Matt Booty, Pat Cox, Al Lasko, John Lowes, Ray Macika, Cary Mednick, and Sheridan Oursler. It features voice acting by Kerri Hoskins, Stephen Howard, Tim Kitzrow, Todd McClearn, Willie Morris, Jr., Lorraine Olivia, and Tony Scott.
ESPN - NBA Players Dish on Favorite JAM Duos!
With "NBA Jam" celebrating its 25th anniversary this month, ESPN.com asked five NBA players about the iconic arcade game, including their favorite memory, which teams and players they played with, and which modern pairing of teammates would make the best duo in a 2018 version of the game.
1. What is your favorite 'NBA Jam' memory?
Seth Curry, Dallas Mavericks: I mean, I was young, obviously, but I just remember me and my brother used to play all the time. I think my dad was on there with [the Charlotte] Hornets. Him and LJ [Larry Johnson]. I would pick my dad and shoot half-court 3s and things like that. It's definitely a classic game.
Al Jefferson, Indiana Pacers: Didn't they have like a 4-point [hot spot] shot or something? That was always cool, to try to get a 4-point shot [in the hot spots].
DeAndre Jordan, LA Clippers: I used to play with Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. Make it rain!
Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Lakers: For me, it'd probably be the hidden characters: Bill Clinton, the mascots, different guys like that. I loved all those hidden characters.
Iman Shumpert, Sacramento Kings: Me and my bro, we used to get in a lot of fights because of "NBA Jam." I just remember I used to play with my uncle, and my uncle played video games like this: He would hold the direction pad like this [motions and puts controller on side of his hip] and play on the Sega like that. That's what I was used to.
ESPN: How the silver anniversary of NBA JAM could resurrect the franchise →
On Saturday, the LA Clippers will celebrate the 25th anniversary year of the video game classic when they host the Sacramento Kings for NBA Jam Day. Fans will be eligible to receive an NBA Jam T-shirt with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, and someone could even win an original four-player arcade machine of NBA Jam.
Tim Kitzrow, the original voice of the game, will be heard throughout the Kings-Clippers contest -- during pregame introductions and timeouts, perhaps even voicing over Griffin's memorable dunk over Jazz center Rudy Gobert in October.
"I'm certainly fond of Blake and DeAndre," Kitzrow said. "I call them the Boomshakalaka Brothers. You know, they're just two of the best in the game for those crazy poster facials.
"And for my over-the-top superlatives, like 'You be the peanut butter, and I'll bring the JAM!,' 'I can't go to work without my donuts, you bring the coffee, and I'll bring the dunkin'! Boomshakalaka!' ... I mean, all of those things, for me, I couldn't have written a better script of me working with a team that's in a great market, that's got these great power dunkers.
LA Clippers prepare for NBA JAM Day! →
Things haven’t been going especially great for the Los Angeles Clippers this season. Their first season without Chris Paul since 2010-11 has proven to be rough, as a number of the team’s core players have suffered serious injurieswhile DeAndre Jordan has found himself at the center of a myriad of trade rumors.
So basically, there’s probably a fair amount of stress that needs to be blown off in Los Angeles. And the team thinks it has the perfect way to make everyone involved a little happier, as the Clippers will dedicate an entire day to the legendary video game NBA Jam to honor 25 years since the iconic game launched.
The day will take place on Jan. 13, when Los Angeles hosts Sacramento. The best aspect of this is that the voice of NBA Jam, Tim Kitzrow, will be in attendance “calling highlights throughout the night, including a game introduction, half-time dunk show and his iconic one-liners,” per a release.
“When the Clippers asked me to be a part of NBA Jam Day and help celebrate 25 years of the game, I was like, ‘Holy OOMPA LOOMPA,'” Kitzrow, who is perpetually committed to the wonderful bit, said. “I just won the final golden ticket to the chocolate factory! NBA Jam and the Clippers, are you kidding? It’s a great fit! Like peanut butter and chocolate. Nothing says NBA Jam like “BOOMSHAKALAKA!” and nothing makes me want to scream “BOOMSHAKALAKA!” more than seeing a patented Clipper ALLY-OOP! You bring the peanut butter and I’ll bring THE JAM!’”
Ideally Jordan is still on the team, Blake Griffin is able to play by that point (even if that is unlikely), and Milos Teodosic is firing lobs all over the place. It’d be a waste of the NBA Jam guy’s talents if the Clippers don’t go full Lob City.
Boomshakalaka! Tim joins CBS Sports Radio!
GAME INFORMER INTERVIEWS TIM KITZROW
In this excerpt from The Game Informer Show podcast, Ben Hanson talks to Tim Kitzrow about the origins of "Boom-Shakalaka", voicing Rod Serling in The Twilight Zone Pinball, and why he's so excited about Mutant Football League.
LA Clippers to feature voice of NBA JAM for in game action!
In-arena game action highlights called by the legendary voice of NBA Jam, Tim Kitzrow. Tonight's matchup: Clippers v. Kings! #Boomshakalaka!
Jimmy Fallon beats Russell Westbrook in NBA JAM!
DUB JAM - WARRIORS SWEEP JAZZ! →
Disco Steph and the Dubs sweep the Jazz 4-0! Dunking Un-Believable!
Tim Kitzrow, the voice behind the iconic video game NBA Jam, offered his take on some of the top highlights of the Warriors’ most recent playoff series, a new playoff tradition for Dub Nation to enjoy. (Check out his first round recap here!)
Here is just a sampling of some classic lines from this edition of Dub Jam:
He got his degree from Dunking On U!
D-U-B stands for Dunking Unbelievable!
Do a little dance, give a little tug, GET DOWN TONIGHT!
We fully admit that just reading them doesn’t give it full justice. You need to watch the video, and probably more than once, to get the true experience.
DUB JAM! WARRIORS SWEEP THE BLAZERS
Voice of the Mutant Football League →
In the world of sports video games, one of the biggest features — aside from gameplay itself — is the presentation.
From the on-field visuals to the graphic overlays to the commentary provided throughout a game, presentation can go a long way towards keeping players engaged in a product. If it’s dry and dull, fans are going to tune out even if the gameplay is good.
For nearly three decades one man has become a mainstay when it comes to sports video game commentary. That man is Tim Kitzrow.
Kitzrow on hand for fans as the Bulls crush the Magic by 47!
Tim Kitzrow was on hand to enhance the Fan Experience. Final Score - Bulls win 122 - 75!
Top 10 Dunks! →
Tim Kitzrow — the iconic voice of the videogame NBA Jam — provided commentary for the top 10 dunks of 2013 across college and pro basketball, creating one of the most aurally pleasing highlight reels you'll ever experience. KABOOM!
Klay Thompson - He's On Fire
Klay Thompson breaks an NBA Record with 37 points in a quarter. He's on Fire!
Tim Kitzrow, Voice of NBA JAM and Tag Team headline 90s night for Washington Wizards!
John Wall and Brad Beal of the Washington Wizards.
On January 24 when the Washington Wizards host the Boston Celtics, they will be bringing Tim Kitzrow, the iconic voice of NBA Jam, and Tag Team to enhance the in game experience for fans and players with special introductions and commentary.
John Wall - A Wizard with the Ball - because of all the wonderful dunks he does!
