George Blaha is a renowned American sports broadcaster, best known for his role as the play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Pistons since the 1976-77 NBA season. Born on March 26, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, Blaha grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa, before moving to Grayling, Michigan. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Notre Dame in 1966 and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
Blaha's broadcasting career spans over five decades, during which he has called over 3,400 regular-season games and more than 260 playoff games for the Pistons. He has been the voice behind the team's five Eastern Conference Championships, five NBA Finals appearances, and all three NBA Championships (1989, 1990, and 2004). Additionally, he serves as the radio play-by-play voice for the Michigan State Spartans football team, a role he has held since 1971.
Blaha is celebrated for his iconic phrases, such as "Count that baby and a foul!" and his practice of referring to players by their first names or nicknames. He has received numerous awards, including the Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting in 2002 and induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2025, he will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Curt Gowdy Media Award
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