Dave Zinkoff

Who was Dave Zinkoff?

Dave Zinkoff was a sports public address announcer, memorable for his colorful and inimitable delivery. He announced for the Philadelphia Phillies at Shibe Park in the 1940s and at the Philadelphia Convention Hall for the Philadelphia Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and college boxing and wrestling teams from the 1950s to the early 1980s.

Zinkoff worked Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game at Hershey Arena on March 31, 1962.

He was famous for his pronunciation of the word "two" after a Warrior scored a basket: "Tih-ooooooooooooo". Also idiosyncratic and widely recognized was his before-game introduction of 76ers superstar Julius Erving went as follows: "From! The University Of Mazzachushetts, number six, captain of the Philadelphia 76ers, Julius... The Doctor... Errrrrrrrrrving!!" When Steve Mix scored, Zinkoff would announce, "Mix makes!". When Wilt dunked, he would cry, "DIPPER dunk!" After a score by Mel Counts, he'd say, "That COUNTS!"

On March 25, 1986, three months to the day after his death, the 76ers retired his microphone.

Dave Zinkoff was posthumously inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame on November 22, 2013.