Jim Karvellas, Former New York Knicks Broadcaster, Dies

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Jim Karvellas, a longtime broadcaster of NBA games and the Cosmos soccer team, died at 71.

He died at his home on New Year's Day of complications from prostate cancer, son Chris Karvellas said.

Karvellas was known for his call of "bull's-eye" on a big basket and intoning "this is Cosmos soccer." His voice became a staple of New York sports for two decades beginning in the 1970s.

Karvellas' career began in 1962 as the voice of the Chicago Zephyrs, the city's NBA franchise before the Bulls. The Zephyrs became the Baltimore Bullets in 1964 and Karvellas, the NBA's youngest announcer, began a 16-year stint as the team's voice.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, Karvellas branched into television, covering teams throughout the Northeast, including the Cosmos and the New York Knicks. He also did national NBA broadcasts for CBS and the USA Cable Network.

Karvellas broadcast the Cosmos until their demise in 1985. The North American Soccer League team was known for such international stars as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto.

In 1969-70, he called both the Super Bowl and World Series when two Baltimore teams, the Colts and Orioles, made appearances.

In addition to his son, survivors include daughter Jamie and five grandchildren. His wife, Lorie, died in 1997.