For over two decades, Mike Breen has been a cherished voice for New York sports fans as the play-by-play commentator for the New York Knicks. On Saturday, he praised a fellow broadcaster who he believes has exemplified excellence in New York broadcasting—Sam Rosen. Ahead of the New York Rangers’ game against the Vancouver Canucks, the Rangers held a pregame celebration honoring Rosen’s illustrious career in light of his upcoming retirement at the end of the 2024-25 NHL season.
The Garden Faithful salutes Sam Rosen and he thanks #NYR fans in return –
“For every person that has stopped me and asked for a selfie or my autograph – thank you. You are my inspiration to be the best I could be.”@NYRangers | #ASaluteToSam pic.twitter.com/pgBz9AChqN
— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) March 22, 2025
Later that day, during the Knicks game against the Washington Wizards, Breen expressed his gratitude towards Rosen, commending him for “sustaining and setting” the standard for New York broadcasters over the decades. Breen remarked, “We love Sam. All of us who work here for either the Rangers or the Knicks. We consider it an honor and a privilege to work here. There is a certain pressure to uphold the standard that Sam Rosen has sustained for years. I know I speak for many at The Garden and within the sportscasting industry and NHL fans who look up to Sam. We thank him for demonstrating how it’s done and setting the bar incredibly high. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of such recognition here at Madison Square Garden.”
“We thank him for showing us how it’s done. For setting the bar so high. And I can’t think of a more fitting person to get that type of treatment here at Madison Square Garden.”
Mike Breen offered quite a tribute to Sam Rosen during the Knicks game. https://t.co/N4L5zdf8lC pic.twitter.com/8wXTd9aCbg
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 23, 2025
Walt Frazier also shared his admiration for Rosen, describing him as a “great person” who has consistently been kind and supportive. “Yeah, he is a great person,” Frazier said. “Always cordial, friendly, and complimentary. Congratulations, Sam; we will miss you.” Rosen, who has been the Rangers’ TV play-by-play voice since 1982, hopes for a farewell similar to what longtime Yankees radio voice John Sterling received last fall, expressing a desire to call the Rangers’ postseason run if they qualify.
Currently, the Rangers find themselves just outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture, trailing the Montreal Canadiens by only one point for the final Wild Card spot. However, regardless of whether he gets to call one last postseason run for the Rangers, to Mike Breen, Sam Rosen has already proven himself as an exemplary broadcaster.
