Ian Eagle Ian Eagle ( ; born February 9 , 1969 ) is an American sports announcer nicknamed The Bird calling National Football League ( NFL ) games on CBS , Brooklyn Nets games on the YES Network and hosts " Full Court Press " , a basketball talk show with former player Kenny Smith on Sirius Satellite Radio . Other announcing experience include NCAA men ' s basketball , tennis , the Army – Navy football games , the Army - Navy basketball games , boxing , and NCAA track and field for CBS . He is a graduate of Syracuse University , where he was initiated into the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity . He is known as " Bird " or the " Birdman " . Biography . Parents . Eagle was born to entertainers Jack Eagle and Monica Maris . Jack , a former " Catskills comedian " and commercial actor , was best known for portraying " Brother Dominic " and " Mr . Cholesterol " in Xerox and Fleischmann ' s margarine television commercials respectively in the 1970s . Maris was a singer . Early career . Eagle began his career by announcing football , basketball , and lacrosse for the Syracuse Orangemen on WAER a student run radio station . While at Syracuse , he was admitted to the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity . Following his graduation in 1990 , Eagle began working for WFAN Radio in New York City as a producer . In 1992 , WFAN gave him his own show ( Bagels and Baseball ) . In 1993 , Eagle was given pregame and postgame duties for the Jets . 1994 saw Eagle ' s first year as a Nets play - by - play radio announcer . A year later , he was made a TV announcer for SportsChannel , which later became Fox Sports Net New York ( now MSG Plus ) . In 1997 , WFAN made Eagle play - by - play announcer for Jets games . Later television and radio career . Eagle joined CBS in 1998 doing announcing work for NFL and NCAA basketball . He continues to serve these roles today . In 2010 , he was promoted to the number 3 announce team on CBS for NFL , pairing with Dan Fouts . Other CBS work includes boxing , The Pilot Pen Tennis tournament , the U . S . Open ( both the late night show and daytime studio host for 2008 U . S . Open coverage ) , and the NCAA Track and Field Championships . Prior to joining the YES Network as Nets announcer in 2002 , Ian Eagle served the same role for the Nets on the MSG Network and Fox Sports Net New York . When Marv Albert joined the YES Network prior to the 2005 - 06 NBA season , the games were split between the two broadcasters , before Eagle again became the primary announcer for the Nets in the 2011 - 12 NBA season upon Albert ' s departure . During the 2010 NBA Playoffs , Eagle called two games on TNT , a likely move to promote him to calling national television broadcasts , similar to what Albert , former Minnesota Timberwolves play - by - play man Kevin Harlan and Knicks play - by - play man Mike Breen experienced . He was again called up by TNT for the 2011 NBA Playoffs , pairing with his YES colleague Mike Fratello . He also does play by play for Thursday Night Football on Westwood One . On Sirius , in addition to his daily talk show , Eagle did a weekly talk show , " The Phil Jackson Show " , with Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson . And Eagle retains his roots to WFAN , occasionally serving as a fill - in talk show host on his old station . Eagle also serves as the voice - over host of " NBA Action " and previously , " NBA Jam " . Since Eagle pronounces his first name " EYE - un " ( instead of the more common " EE - an " ) , he has often admitted that life was easier prior to the 1986 release of the movie " Iron Eagle " . In fact , many callers ( including prominent sports figures ) continue to call him " Iron Eagle " - - much to his chagrin . Personal . Eagle lives in Essex Fells , New Jersey with his wife and children .