HELLOOOOOOOOO! BONJOUUUUUR! GET THAT GAHBAGGE OUTTA HERE!
If you hear these lines echoing through your television on Saturday, congratulations, Raptors basketball is officially back to normal. After weeks of uncertainty, Toronto Raptors fans can finally breathe. That is right! Jack is back.
Armstrong confirmed Thursday night on TSN that he will return to the Raptors for his 29th season, ending the speculation that had hung over the beloved broadcaster’s future. The announcement came during an interview with TSN SportsCentre host Jay Onrait, where Armstrong delivered the news Raptors fans had been waiting for.
“I’m back, I’m excited. Looking forward to the years to come talking hoops. I’m very, very appreciative of TSN and their commitment,” Armstrong said.
He also acknowledged the fans who rallied around him when questions about his return first surfaced. “It’s a great time to be talking basketball. I want to thank the fan base for the outpouring of love and support. It means a lot to my family and me. Thank you.”
Onrait summed it up perfectly, telling Armstrong it just would not be Raptors basketball without him. For a fan base that has heard Armstrong’s voice for nearly three decades, that sentiment hits home.
Armstrong first joined the Raptors broadcast team during the 1998-99 season. Since then, he has become far more than someone calling basketball games. His energy, personality and unmistakable catchphrases have made him one of the most familiar voices in Toronto sports.
For the past 18 seasons, Armstrong has shared the booth with Matt Devlin, forming one of the NBA’s longest-running broadcast duos. Armstrong is expected to call all 41 regular-season Raptors games carried by TSN this season, along with the network’s preseason and playoff coverage.
Even better, fans will not have to wait long to hear him back in the booth. Armstrong is set to return Saturday, October 3rd, when the Raptors open their preseason schedule against the Miami Heat in Quebec City on TSN.
