By Evan Millstein, SDA Communications Student Assistant
Tim Healey has been calling Sun Devil Athletics in some way, shape or form for the better part of two decades. No one knows more about Arizona State's trio of football, men's basketball and baseball than "Heels" who in June won the Arizona Sports Broadcaster of the Year, given by the National Sports Media Association. We asked Tim to give us some great moments, a few tough ones and chat about the personalities he has worked with, and there some great answers. Enjoy!
FAVORITE BASKETBALL GAME
"Valentines Day of 2014 when the Sun Devils played second-ranked Arizona at home. The game was a low scoring dog fight that went into two overtimes. Trailing by five with 1:45 left in the second overtime, I said on the air that I believed the Sun Devils had run out of gas. It was at that point that senior Jermaine Marshall rallied the Devils to a scintillating 69-66 home victory over the Wildcats, making Arizona the highest-ranked opponent ASU had ever beaten at home."
ALL TIME STARTING FIVE
Eddie House
Ike Diogu
James Harden
Jeff Ayres (Pendergraph)
Carrick Felix
FAVORITE HEAD COACH TO INTERVIEW
"All of the Sun Devil coaches I worked have been good to me during their time at ASU. Rob Evans stands out because his first season as ASU's coach also happened to be my first year as the play-by-play voice of Sun Devil men's basketball. My favorite opposing coach was Mike Montgomery, as he would always make time for opponent broadcasters. I also enjoyed his sense of humor in interviews."
FAVORITE MOMENT
My favorite football moment was in October 2014, when ASU defeated the USC Trojans on the now-famous "Jael Mary" 46-yard TD pass from Mike Bercovici to Jaelen Strong on the game's final play. This is my favorite football moment because this historic play happened on the night of my milestone 200th football radio broadcast for Sun Devil Football. The Hail Mary turned the ASU season around, and came off a 63-27 loss to UCLA the previous week. My call of the "Jael Mary" is one of the more famous calls during my broadcasting career.
FAVORITE PLAYER TO INTERVIEW
My favorite player to interview was Kyle Dodd, who always enjoyed talking postgame. As a player, Kyle joked that they should change the name of the postgame show to the Kyle Dodd show. Kyle and I now work together as broadcasting partners, and have been partners for six years and counting.
SHOCKING MOMENT DURING A GAME
The most shocking moment during a game was during a Super Regional baseball game vs. Cal State Fullerton in June 2005. With the winning run on third base for Fullerton, ASU pitcher Zechry Zinicola was called for a balk when intentionally walking a batter. This was one of the strangest calls I have ever seen and still haven't seen one like it to this day.
FAVORITE OPPONENT TO PREPARE FOR
Arizona, because of the rivalry and anytime that ASU plays Arizona it is worth the price of admission. The intensity and the passion on both sides make it fun to be apart of and I don't think the ASU-UA rivalry gets as much attention on a national level as it deserves, as it would be hard to imagine any other rivalry (other than, perhaps Auburn-Alabama) where the intensity of feeling is so strong on both sides.
STAND OUT GAME
One of my stand out games happened in 2016, when sophomore pitcher Ryan Hingst threw the 10th no-hitter in Sun Devil baseball history. Broadcasting a no-hitter is one of the greatest thrills any play-by-play announcer can experience.
BEST SUN DEVIL INTERVIEW
I have had so many good relationships that it's hard for myself to single out one specific person. D.J. Foster was always great and well spoken. I always enjoyed interviewing D.J., who was the first major in-state recruit of the Todd Graham era. In baseball, I feel that it was an honor to broadcast Dustin Pedroia during his time as a Sun Devil.
MOST TALENTENED PLAYER BROADCASTED
I broadcast many talented athletes in my years at Arizona State. In football, Terrell Suggs stands out to me for his complete domination. In basketball, James Harden was the most talented player I have ever seen come through the ASU basketball program even though he was only with the Sun Devils for two years. Another player that comes to mind is Dustin Pedroia, as he is once in a generation type player, as I could tell his potential for the MLB during Pedroia's time at ASU.
HARDEST GAME TO CALL BEHIND THE MIC
The hardest game for me to call was in 2008, as ASU baseball was upset by Fresno State in a year that ASU hosted the super regional and looked like they were headed to the College World Series in Omaha. Fresno State won games two and three to go to Omaha and win the National Championship. Sadly, two weeks after the Super Regional loss to Fresno State, I lost my long-time ASU Baseball broadcast partner when Bob Eger passed away on June 24, 2008.
FAVORITE BASKETBALL SEASON TO COVER
My favorite season to cover was the 2008-2009-basketball season, when the Sun Devils won 25 games, the second-highest win total in program history. Led by Pac-10 Player-of-the-Year James Harden, ASU advanced to the Pac-10 Tournament championship game, as well as to round two of the NCAA Tournament. This team made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. I'm hopeful current ASU head coach Bobby Hurley can get the Sun Devil program back to that level.
BEST TERRITORIAL CUP VICTORY
All of ASU's victories over UA are memorable, but one that does stand out is a double-overtime win in 2010 when the Sun Devils blocked two extra points. The first blocked PAT sent the game into overtime, while the second gave ASU a memorable 30-29 victory in Tucson.
FAVORITE SUN DEVIL BASEBALL WALK-OFF
My favorite Sun Devil walk-off happened in 2005, as the Sun Devil's walked off against Nebraska in the College World Series. With two out in the last of the ninth inning, with the Sun Devils one out away from elimination, ASU's Jeff Larish belted his third home run of the game to tie the game at seven, stunning a largely pro-Nebraska crowd of nearly 24,000 at Rosenblatt Stadium. The Sun Devils won the game 8-7 in 11 innings on a walk-off RBI single by outfielder J.J. Sferra. The Sun Devils lived to pay two more games before being eliminated in 2005.
MOST CRUSHING LOSS
The most crushing ASU loss came at Oregon's McArthur Court in March 2000, in a game now known as 'The Miracle at Mac Court. The Sun Devils blew a four-point lead with six seconds left in the game. Oregon hit a quick three, which was followed by a pass that was thrown out of bounds. Oregon took advantage of the turnover and hit a buzzer beating three-pointer to win the game 76-74. This loss probably cost ASU a NCAA tournament berth.
Tim Healey has been calling Sun Devil Athletics in some way, shape or form for the better part of two decades. No one knows more about Arizona State's trio of football, men's basketball and baseball than "Heels" who in June won the Arizona Sports Broadcaster of the Year, given by the National Sports Media Association. We asked Tim to give us some great moments, a few tough ones and chat about the personalities he has worked with, and there some great answers. Enjoy!
FAVORITE BASKETBALL GAME
"Valentines Day of 2014 when the Sun Devils played second-ranked Arizona at home. The game was a low scoring dog fight that went into two overtimes. Trailing by five with 1:45 left in the second overtime, I said on the air that I believed the Sun Devils had run out of gas. It was at that point that senior Jermaine Marshall rallied the Devils to a scintillating 69-66 home victory over the Wildcats, making Arizona the highest-ranked opponent ASU had ever beaten at home."
ALL TIME STARTING FIVE
Eddie House
Ike Diogu
James Harden
Jeff Ayres (Pendergraph)
Carrick Felix
FAVORITE HEAD COACH TO INTERVIEW
"All of the Sun Devil coaches I worked have been good to me during their time at ASU. Rob Evans stands out because his first season as ASU's coach also happened to be my first year as the play-by-play voice of Sun Devil men's basketball. My favorite opposing coach was Mike Montgomery, as he would always make time for opponent broadcasters. I also enjoyed his sense of humor in interviews."
FAVORITE MOMENT
My favorite football moment was in October 2014, when ASU defeated the USC Trojans on the now-famous "Jael Mary" 46-yard TD pass from Mike Bercovici to Jaelen Strong on the game's final play. This is my favorite football moment because this historic play happened on the night of my milestone 200th football radio broadcast for Sun Devil Football. The Hail Mary turned the ASU season around, and came off a 63-27 loss to UCLA the previous week. My call of the "Jael Mary" is one of the more famous calls during my broadcasting career.
Tim Healey (JaelMary) Call from Arizona State University on Vimeo.
FAVORITE PLAYER TO INTERVIEW
My favorite player to interview was Kyle Dodd, who always enjoyed talking postgame. As a player, Kyle joked that they should change the name of the postgame show to the Kyle Dodd show. Kyle and I now work together as broadcasting partners, and have been partners for six years and counting.
SHOCKING MOMENT DURING A GAME
The most shocking moment during a game was during a Super Regional baseball game vs. Cal State Fullerton in June 2005. With the winning run on third base for Fullerton, ASU pitcher Zechry Zinicola was called for a balk when intentionally walking a batter. This was one of the strangest calls I have ever seen and still haven't seen one like it to this day.
FAVORITE OPPONENT TO PREPARE FOR
Arizona, because of the rivalry and anytime that ASU plays Arizona it is worth the price of admission. The intensity and the passion on both sides make it fun to be apart of and I don't think the ASU-UA rivalry gets as much attention on a national level as it deserves, as it would be hard to imagine any other rivalry (other than, perhaps Auburn-Alabama) where the intensity of feeling is so strong on both sides.
STAND OUT GAME
One of my stand out games happened in 2016, when sophomore pitcher Ryan Hingst threw the 10th no-hitter in Sun Devil baseball history. Broadcasting a no-hitter is one of the greatest thrills any play-by-play announcer can experience.
BEST SUN DEVIL INTERVIEW
I have had so many good relationships that it's hard for myself to single out one specific person. D.J. Foster was always great and well spoken. I always enjoyed interviewing D.J., who was the first major in-state recruit of the Todd Graham era. In baseball, I feel that it was an honor to broadcast Dustin Pedroia during his time as a Sun Devil.
MOST TALENTENED PLAYER BROADCASTED
I broadcast many talented athletes in my years at Arizona State. In football, Terrell Suggs stands out to me for his complete domination. In basketball, James Harden was the most talented player I have ever seen come through the ASU basketball program even though he was only with the Sun Devils for two years. Another player that comes to mind is Dustin Pedroia, as he is once in a generation type player, as I could tell his potential for the MLB during Pedroia's time at ASU.
HARDEST GAME TO CALL BEHIND THE MIC
The hardest game for me to call was in 2008, as ASU baseball was upset by Fresno State in a year that ASU hosted the super regional and looked like they were headed to the College World Series in Omaha. Fresno State won games two and three to go to Omaha and win the National Championship. Sadly, two weeks after the Super Regional loss to Fresno State, I lost my long-time ASU Baseball broadcast partner when Bob Eger passed away on June 24, 2008.
FAVORITE BASKETBALL SEASON TO COVER
My favorite season to cover was the 2008-2009-basketball season, when the Sun Devils won 25 games, the second-highest win total in program history. Led by Pac-10 Player-of-the-Year James Harden, ASU advanced to the Pac-10 Tournament championship game, as well as to round two of the NCAA Tournament. This team made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. I'm hopeful current ASU head coach Bobby Hurley can get the Sun Devil program back to that level.
BEST TERRITORIAL CUP VICTORY
All of ASU's victories over UA are memorable, but one that does stand out is a double-overtime win in 2010 when the Sun Devils blocked two extra points. The first blocked PAT sent the game into overtime, while the second gave ASU a memorable 30-29 victory in Tucson.
FAVORITE SUN DEVIL BASEBALL WALK-OFF
My favorite Sun Devil walk-off happened in 2005, as the Sun Devil's walked off against Nebraska in the College World Series. With two out in the last of the ninth inning, with the Sun Devils one out away from elimination, ASU's Jeff Larish belted his third home run of the game to tie the game at seven, stunning a largely pro-Nebraska crowd of nearly 24,000 at Rosenblatt Stadium. The Sun Devils won the game 8-7 in 11 innings on a walk-off RBI single by outfielder J.J. Sferra. The Sun Devils lived to pay two more games before being eliminated in 2005.
MOST CRUSHING LOSS
The most crushing ASU loss came at Oregon's McArthur Court in March 2000, in a game now known as 'The Miracle at Mac Court. The Sun Devils blew a four-point lead with six seconds left in the game. Oregon hit a quick three, which was followed by a pass that was thrown out of bounds. Oregon took advantage of the turnover and hit a buzzer beating three-pointer to win the game 76-74. This loss probably cost ASU a NCAA tournament berth.