Big Al

Big Al's autobiography is also an invigorating chronicle about the personalities that he's had the pleasure of knowing, most memorably Wilt Chamberlain, who granted Al his final exclusive interview. Other notables who play a part in Al's story include Carmen Basilio, Chuck Bednarik, Tom Brookshier, Jim Brown, Bobby Clarke, Mort Crim, Mike Golic, Dallas Green, Alex Hannum, Wayne Hardin. Harry Kalas, Harry Litwack, Nancy Lopez, Arnold Palmer, Bernie Parent, Joe Paterno, Jack Ramsay, Buddy Ryan, Lou Saban, Dolph Shayes, Fred Shero, Mike Schmidt, Sylvester Stallone, Bobby Thomson, Leonard Tose, Dick Vermeil, Mitch Williams, and Pat Williams. It's all here as Al takes you through his many adventures in the exciting world of sports broadcasting.

The 50-year sportscasting career of Al Meltzer has ranged from his early years in Syracuse and Buffalo to the major markets of Philadelphia and Chicago. Known for his lively personality and vociferous style, Big Al has done play-by-play for a number of major league teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers and Eagles, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Buffalo Bills. He also handled Philadelphia Big 5 basketball and Temple University football as well as Syracuse Chiefs triple-A baseball, University of Buffalo football, professional soccer, auto racing, and boxing. Al appeared as himself with Sylvester Stallone in Rocky V. He has called memorable events like O.J. Simpson's record-breaking game with Buffalo, and covered numerous World Series, Super Bowls, NBA Championships, Stanley Cups, Final Fours, and many Big 5 college basketball contests played in Philadelphia's venerable Palestra. A 10-time Emmy Award winner, Al Meltzer has won just about every honor in his profession. The Philadelphia Daily News named him “Arguably, Philly's most recognizable, most popular and best sports anchor ever.” For more than 40 years, Robert S. Lyons covered professional and college sports for the Associated Press and contributed articles to numerous national publications. He is the author of Palestra Pandemonium: A History of the Big Five and On Any Given Sunday: A Life of Bert Bell, and co-author (with Ray Didinger) of The Eagles Encyclopedia. He is the former director of the La Salle University News Bureau, editor of the university's alumni magazine, and an instructor in the school's department of communications.The 50-year sportscasting career of Al Meltzer has ranged from his early years in Syracuse and Buffalo to the major markets of Philadelphia and Chicago. Known for his lively personality and vociferous style, Big Al has done play-by-play for a number of major league teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers and Eagles, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Buffalo Bills. He also handled Philadelphia Big 5 basketball and Temple University football as well as Syracuse Chiefs triple-A baseball, University of Buffalo football, professional soccer, auto racing, and boxing. Al appeared as himself with Sylvester Stallone in Rocky V. He has called memorable events like O.J. Simpson's record-breaking game with Buffalo, and covered numerous World Series, Super Bowls, NBA Championships, Stanley Cups, Final Fours, and many Big 5 college basketball contests played in Philadelphia's venerable Palestra. A 10-time Emmy Award winner, Al Meltzer has won just about every honor in his profession. The Philadelphia Daily News named him “Arguably, Philly's most recognizable, most popular and best sports anchor ever.” For more than 40 years, Robert S. Lyons covered professional and college sports for the Associated Press and contributed articles to numerous national publications. He is the author of Palestra Pandemonium: A History of the Big Five and On Any Given Sunday: A Life of Bert Bell, and co-author (with Ray Didinger) of The Eagles Encyclopedia. He is the former director of the La Salle University News Bureau, editor of the university's alumni magazine, and an instructor in the school's department of communications.