As a player with Blue Demons and Ireland, northsider Timmy McCarthy earned a spot in Irish basketball’s Hall of Fame, and now the Gurranabraher man is earning plaudits and a wave of internet fame due to his enthusiastic and passion-packed commentary for RTÉ of the action at the Olympic basketball tournaments in Paris.
Fans of basketball and hurling in Cork and throughout Ireland will be familiar with Timmy’s enthusiasm behind the microphone, but his commentary of games involving LeBron James of the USA and Nikola Jokic of Serbia — the two are going to clash in an eagerly-anticipated semi-final — has earned him the tag of ‘Most Valuable Commentator’ from new fans of the sport.
“It’s my sixth Olympics now, it’s 20 years since my first one in Athens in 2004,” he told The Echo. “Before that, I was an analyst for about 14 years, sitting next to Ger Canning and Sean O’Sullivan when they were doing the men’s and women’s games.
“2004 I became the commentator and I’ve loved it, I’ve loved every minute of it since. I’ve been very fortunate to get a chance to commentate on these games — I just love commentating on sport anyway, and I love the Olympics and the entertainment basketball brings to those who are watching it.”
With over a century of caps for Ireland in basketball, as well as winning every honour with his club — then called Blue Demons, now UCC Demons — and a title-winning coach, Timmy knows his sport inside out, which obviously helps when you’re commentating.
What people on social media have been going wild for is his enthusiasm and his catchphrases, such as “boom shacka lacka”, when players score three-pointers.
When asked about the meaning of the iconic phrase, he had this explanation: “‘Boom shacka lacka’ is something that, 20 years ago, just came out of my mouth when I saw a very exciting dunk by Argentina’s Luis Scola against the Americans in the 2004 basketball semi-final in Athens.
“It just felt right, that word felt right at that point in time for that particular score, it sent the Americans out of the Olympics for the first time since the professionals came into the Games in 1992, and since then I’ve just used it.
“Those are the sort of trademarks that I use, and you know, they obviously resonate with the people watching, most of the people watching seem to enjoy them and enjoy the game.”
There’s plenty of basketball left to be played, with a mouthwatering clash between Serbia and the USA in the men’s semi-final in store with the winners to face the victors from the other last-four contest between hosts France and world champions Germany. In the women’s competition, the USA are going for their eighth successive title and look difficult if not impossible to beat.
“The USA are going for their eighth consecutive gold medal, they’re hot favourites,” said Timmy. “On any given day you might catch them, but on most days you won’t catch them.”
He’s obviously enjoying his sixth time commentating on the sport he loves at the Olympics, and the fact that the audience is enjoying it is enhancing the experience for him.
“I’m just thrilled that people are enjoying it, the feedback I’m hearing from the social media world and online is great,” he said.
“I’m very proud to be doing it, I’m from the northside of Cork city, Gurranabraher. I’ve come a long way from Gurranabraher to be commentating on my sixth Olympic Games!”
