Albert Will Call Games for TNT

Marv Albert will soon be returning to national NBA telecasts. He was hired Monday by Turner Sports and will make his debut on TNT on April 2, when he announces a Laker game at Phoenix.

Albert, 58, will work five other regular-season games and some playoff games.

His multiyear deal with TNT means it is unlikely he and his trademark “Yessss!” call on impressive baskets will be returning to NBC any time soon.

Albert said he and Dick Ebersol, the chairman of NBC Sports, have remained friends and had dinner a few months ago.

“He had nothing substantial [to offer], although Dick has always been encouraging,” Albert said.

Albert was fired by NBC in 1997 after pleading guilty to biting a woman during a sexual encounter in a Virginia hotel room after having earlier proclaimed his innocence.

In September, he became a weeknight anchor on the Madison Square Garden cable network’s nightly “SportsDesk” wrap-up show, and last week began doing New York Knick games on radio.

“This is another step, a big step,” Albert said.

Mike Pearl, Turner Sports’ executive producer, said he was aware there would be some criticism of the hiring but foresaw mostly positive reaction.

Asked why Albert was hired, Pearl said, “We think he is among the top play-by-play people in this business, we’re always looking for top talent to support our broadcasts, his name has been cleared by the courts, and he’s taking very good care of his personal situation.”

As for the timing, Pearl said, “I deal strictly from the production side, and from the production side, with everything that we’ve seen, obviously what we know about Marv and his abilities, where we’re at with a short season and with the playoffs coming up, this was the right time for us.”

Pearl said Albert would not work until April because Turner does only two nights a week during the NCAA tournament in March.

Albert also may work boxing for Turner along with the 2001 Goodwill Games.