Mike Walden

Mike Walden was a prominent voice in sports broadcasting in Southern California for over 30 years.

He's the only announcer in radio and TV to serve as both the voice of the USC Trojans in football and basketball, and he later became the voice of the UCLA Bruins for both sports. He was also well known for his play-by-play work on NCAA football and basketball, including tennis telecasts for the Prime Ticket Network (now Fox Sports West). Mike did seven Rose Bowl games and called major league baseball for the Dodgers, Cardinals and Braves.

In addition to his work in sports, Mike served as sidekick ("on-scene" reporter) for the Super Dave Osborne tv comedy specials originally broadcast on Showtime. He was always introduced by studio audience members with the words: "Take it away, Mike Walden." Walden would often say "Get that thing out of here!" after a failed stunt using dangerous machinery.

He was born in 1931 and grew up in Springfield, graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in journalism. While in school, Mike worked on the Illinois Sports Network. After serving in the Air Force, he spent 10 years in Milwaukee broadcasting Wisconsin football and basketball, the Green Bay Packers and Braves. From Milwaukee he went to CBS radio in Chicago. In 1966, Mike started as the play-by-play voice for USC on KNX.

In 1970, he became sports director at KFI. He won four Golden Mike awards, an L.A. Press Club award and has served five terms as president of the Southern California Sports Broadcasting Association.