Gus Johnson ( sportscaster ) Biography . Education . Gus Johnson attended the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy . He graduated in 1985 . That same year , according to the winter 1997 edition of University of Detroit Jesuit ' s alumni magazine , " Highlights " , Johnson was all - league quarterback for the school ' s football team , an all - league shooting guard on the basketball team , and first baseman and catcher on the baseball team . The 1984 - 1985 University of Detroit Jesuit yearbook also notes that Johnson was a co - captain of both the football and basketball teams and most valuable player on the latter . Johnson subsequently graduated from Howard University with a degree in political science in 1990 and was a four - year letter winner on Howard ' s baseball team . Early career . Johnson called play - by - play for the NBA ' s Minnesota Timberwolves ( 1996 – 97 ) , Big East Basketball on the Big East Network , college hockey and college basketball on ESPN , and Canadian Football League games for ESPN2 . He also did some NFL games for CBS . Johnson hosted ESPN ' s " Black College Sports Today " in 1991 . After brief stints as an on - air personality with KXXV - TV in Waco , Texas , WAAY - TV in Huntsville , Alabama , and WXII - TV in Winston - Salem , North Carolina , he served as the weekend anchor for WTTG - TV in Washington , D . C . , from 1991 to 1992 . Gus also had a small cameo , as an announcer , in the 1998 film " He Got Game " . Style . Johnson is known primarily for his enthusiasm and excitement that he shares with the game . He often uses signature phrases " Oh my goodness ! " , " Rise and fire . . . Count it ! " , " Here comes the pain ! " , " From the parking lot ! " , " And the Runner . . . Bang ! " , " Pure ! " , " BAM ! " , " Cold - Blooded ! " , " What a game ! " , and " HA - HAAA " . ESPN ' s Bill Simmons frequently cites Johnson to be the " cause " of the many exciting finishes to the games he calls , calling it " the Law of Gus . " " He ' s got ' get away from the cops ' speed ! " , is also a famous quote from Johnson . Roles . Johnson called numerous sports for CBS Sports , with his most recognized role as a play - by - play announcer for CBS ' March Madness , which he worked each year from 1996 to 2011 . Johnson is particularly known for his calls at the end of several close NCAA Tournament games including the double - overtime Xavier vs Kansas State game on March 25 , 2010 . Johnson worked for the Madison Square Garden Network ( MSG ) from 1994 – 2010 , where he was the radio play - by - play and backup television play - by - play announcer of the NBA ' s New York Knicks , in addition to providing television play - by - play for MSG ' s coverage of the WNBA ' s New York Liberty . With the Knicks , he was well known for some of his calls . For example , one famous Gus line occurs after Knicks forward Al Harrington scores : " My name is Al Harrington . . . And I get Buckets ! " Perhaps Johnson ' s most famous Knicks call was his yelling and screaming during Allan Houston ' s last second shot to knock off the top - seeded Miami Heat in the first round of the 1999 playoffs , en route to an unlikely NBA Finals appearance . Johnson has also provided commentary for MSG ' s coverage of the Golden Gloves Tournament and served as host of the " Yankees ScoreCard " and " SportsDesk " , as well as the New York Rangers and Knicks " GameNight . " Beginning in 2006 , Johnson served as the pre - season TV voice for the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles . Johnson also provided play - by - play commentary for the Arena Football League ' s defunct New York Dragons . In 2008 , Johnson handled play - by - play duties for Detroit Lions pre - season games on The Detroit Lions Television Network . Johnson became lead blow - by - blow caller for " Showtime Championship Boxing " on CBS - owned Showtime , replacing longtime voice Steve Albert . Johnson is also a sports announcer for Strikeforce mixed martial arts alongside Mauro Ranallo . Johnson was widely derided for his commentary during the Kimbo Slice vs Seth Petruzelli fight , where he announced that the fight was " The most incredible victory in the history of mixed martial arts " . Johnson was also the play - by - play man alongside Bill Raftery in EA Sports " NCAA Basketball 10 " . In May 2010 , it was announced that Johnson would be the play - by - play announcer in EA Sports " Madden NFL 11 " . He is also the play - by - play announcer in " Madden NFL 12 " . Johnson is also the play - by - play announcer for the fictional football games seen in commercials for Buffalo Wild Wings , in which games are rigged and sent into overtime to allow patrons to stay longer and enjoy the experience . Johnson has also been an announcer for the Big Ten Network ' s Sunday Night basketball games since the 2008 - 2009 season , and was slated to announce 23 games for the network in the 2010 - 2011 season . Before the 2010 – 11 NBA season , it was announced that Gus Johnson was let go by MSG Network , the television flagship station for the New York Knicks . Johnson explained on February 16 , 2012 , on the Scott Ferrall Show , that he wanted to leave the Network in order to spend more time with his son . CBS released Johnson on May 5 , 2011 following a contract dispute . He was still scheduled to call a boxing match between Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao for Showtime two days later . On May 9 , 2011 , Johnson finalized a deal to call college football and NFL telecasts for Fox Sports . In 2012 , Johnson served as a radio play - by - play announcer of Major League Soccer ' s San Jose Earthquakes , working a few of the team ' s away games on radio . He is currently being groomed by Fox Sports to be its lead soccer announcer , and called his first UEFA Champions League match on February 13 , 2013 . It has been anticipated that Johnson will be Fox Sports ' lead announcer for the 2018 FIFA World Cup .