ESPN's Bob Ley to Cohost 22nd Annual B&C Hall of Fame Awards

'SportsCenter' anchor joins Michelle Beadle at annual event on Oct. 29

By B&C Staff -- Broadcasting & Cable, 9/24/2012 9:50:14 AM

ESPN SportsCenter anchor Bob Ley has been named cohost of the 22nd annual Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame ceremony, to be held Monday, Oct. 29, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.

ESPN's longest-serving commentator joins previously announced Access Hollywood correspondent Michelle Beadle as cohost of the annual black-tie event, which has honored more than 300 industry leaders since its inception.

Ley has been with ESPN since the network's third day of operation in 1979, hosting both SportsCenter and Outside the Lines since the latter's debut in 1990. A lifelong soccer fan, Ley has served as play-by-play announcer for ABC and ESPN's coverage of the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, as well as ESPN's on-site coverage of the World Cup in South Africa and the Women's World Cup in Germany.

His contributions to the sport earned him the Honorary All-America Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Ley has also hosted ESPN's NFL Draft coverage, the NCAA basketball tournament studio show and several NCAA basketball Final Fours. He has also been a play-by-play announcer for college basketball, boxing and CBA basketball.

Ley was the first anchor to cover the 1989 World Series earthquake in  San Francisco live from the site and served as the network's anchor for its first studio show following the Sept. 11 attacks. The native New Jerseyan began his career in television as a production manager and sports/public affairs director before joining ESPN.