Mike Adamle Michael David " Mike " Adamle ( October 4 , 1949 ) is a sports personality and former National Football League player . He is best known as the co - host of " American Gladiators " series for seven years . Adamle is currently a sports anchor and reporter at WMAQ - TV in Chicago , Illinois . In addition , he has previously been an anchor at other Chicago television stations , including WLS - TV from 1983 - 1989 before hosting " American Gladiators " , a first stint at WMAQ from 1998 – 2001 , and then at WBBM - TV from 2001 - 2004 before returning to Channel 5 . For much of 2008 , Adamle worked for World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ) in a variety of roles , including interviewer , play - by - play commentator , and General Manager of Raw . Biography . Mike Adamle grew up in Kent , Ohio and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1967 . His father , Tony Adamle , also found some success with the Cleveland Browns in the 1940s and 1950s . Football . Adamle played collegiate football for Northwestern University as part of their team the Wildcats . As a Wildcat , Adamle was team captain , an All - American fullback , and the Big Ten MVP in 1970 . Adamle ' s 316 rushing yards against the Wisconsin Badgers in 1969 still stands as a school record for the most rushing yards in a game . He graduated in 1971 . Afterward , he joined the National Football League , where he played for seven years . He joined the Kansas City Chiefs as a fourth round draft pick . He also played for the New York Jets and Chicago Bears . Hosting and announcing . After retiring from playing football professionally , Adamle joined NBC Sports , where he was both a studio host and sideline reporter for various events . He spent six years with NBC Sports , hosting " SportsWorld " and pre - game shows . He was also the host of " GrandStand " , which was both a pregame show for the National Football League ( NFL ) and a sports anthology series during the NFL ' s off - season . In 1984 , he was ABC ' s sideline reporter for the United States Football League . He was also the co - host of " American Gladiators " from 1989 to 1996 . In addition , he was a contender in a celebrity contenders show towards the end of the show ' s run . Adamle also co - hosted " International Gladiators " with the UK and Australian Hosts and commentated in one series alongside UK commentator John Sachs . He appeared on the fourth season premiere of " Family Matters " playing himself in a fictional episode of " American Gladiators " . After " American Gladiators " ended , he became a reporter for ESPN . Adamle ( and fellow NBC local sports anchor Fred Roggin ) were sideline reporters during the only season of XFL football in 2001 . He has also covered the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics . In the summer of 2005 , Adamle was the host of another NBC property , Bravo ' s " Battle of the Network Reality Stars " . In July 2006 , Adamle became a color commentator for the Professional Bull Riders ( PBR ) ' s Built Ford Tough Series ( another event which NBC has split rights ) . World Wrestling Entertainment ( 2008 ) . On January 27 , 2008 at the Royal Rumble , Adamle began working as an interviewer for World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ) . He then worked on " WWE Raw " as an interviewer , often making mistakes with each onscreen appearance . During his debut , he mistakenly referred to Jeff Hardy as " Jeff Harvey " . He later became ECW ' s play - by - play announcer on April 15 , replacing Joey Styles . Adamle continued to make frequent mistakes during his commentary duties on " ECW " , with former ECW owner and booker Paul Heyman and former talent Lance Storm criticizing Adamle for them . On April 29 , Adamle left a broadcast of " ECW " before the main event match , and his partner Tazz was asked to do the same . This was worked into a storyline as WWE reported that Adamle and Tazz may have left due to fan criticism of Adamle ' s commentary . The following week he cut a promo apologizing for his actions . On the July 28 episode of " Raw " , Executive Vice President Shane McMahon announced that Adamle was the new General Manager for the Raw brand . During his tenure as General Manager , he promoted a variety of high - profile matches that he dubbed as " Adamle Originals . " On the October 27 episode of " Raw " , as part of his storyline , he slapped Randy Orton after Orton insulted him personally . The following week on " Raw " , during an in - ring segment with Shane McMahon and Orton , Adamle resigned from his position as General Manager . However , even though his new character allowed him to carry a script on camera , the frequent mistakes continued . No official reason was given for Adamle ' s real life departure , however WWE announced that Adamle asked for his release and that they were reluctant . NBC 5 Chicago . Mike Adamle reads news for NBC in Chicago IL . He does sports on weekdays . Arena Football League . Adamle has been involved with the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League . He broadcasts Rush games for Comcast SportsNet Chicago and WGN . Personal life . Adamle , recently divorced from wife Kim , has two daughters , Alexandra and Svetlana . He also has stepchildren Brad and Courtney . He lives in Evanston , Illinois . Adamle has epilepsy . After work with Epilepsy Foundation , where he is currently a member of the Greater Chicago division ' s board of directors , Adamle was given their Personal Achievement Award at the 2007 Richard N . Rovner Awards Dinner . Adamle has completed two Ironman Triathlons , most recently as a sixty year old in 2009 , where he completed the race in 14 hours , 7 minutes and 39 seconds .