Name Jerry Schemmel | Education Washburn University | |
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Jerry schemmel humble hero espn feature shot by tom miller
Jerry Schemmel (born November 26, 1959) is an American sportscaster, currently employed as a radio announcer for Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies. He was formerly the play-by-play announcer for the NBA's Denver Nuggets, calling their games from 1992 to 2010, until being hired as the full-time voice of the Rockies in January 2010. Prior to that, he was a play by play announcer for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was the radio voice of Colorado State athletics during the 2009-2010 season and has been a fill-in broadcaster for the Rams each year since.
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Schemmel is also a survivor of the crash-landing of United Airlines Flight 232 on July 19, 1989. After escaping the plane, he returned to the wreckage to rescue an 11-month-old baby. His book, Chosen to Live describes the experience.
In June 2015, Schemmel competed in the Race Across America, a 3,000-mile bicycle race from Oceanside, California, to Annapolis, Maryland, as part of a two-person relay team. He and Brad Cooper won the two-person relay division, finishing in 7 days, 14 hours. Schemmel has also completed nine triathlons and three marathons.
Schemmel is a 1982 graduate of Washburn University; he earned a law degree from the same school in 1985. He played baseball at Washburn and coached there for three years. He spent a year with the Continental Basketball Association, serving as both Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner.
He is the younger brother of Jeff Schemmel, a former college track and field All-American, long-time college athletic administrator and former athletic director at San Diego State. They are natives of Madison, SD.