Rece Davis
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Rece Davis (born December 14, 1965 as Laurece Davis in Muscle Shoals, Alabama), has been a journalist for ESPN since 1995. Currently, Rece works as an anchor on SportsCenter, and host of various other programs on the network. Rece is widely known for his clever remarks, which are sometimes eccentric and quirky, his ability and talent in sports broadcasting, and uncommon and unique first name. Rece is married, and has two children, a son and a daughter.
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[edit] College Life and Early Career
Rece graduated in 1988 from the University of Alabama, earning bachelor of arts degrees in both Broadcast News and Public Affairs. While a student at Alabama, Rece regularly worked as a freelance television play-by-play announcer, studio host, and radio personality in select media outlets throughout the state, all positions which were primarily unpaid internships. In 1987, Rece began working as a general assignment reporter for WCFT-TV in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
[edit] Rece's Life Before ESPN
After graduating from Alabama, Rece served until 1993 in various positions at WRBL-TV in Columbus, Georgia. At the local news network, Davis worked as a sports reporter, the lead weekend news anchor, and later as WRBL's sports director.
In 1993, Rece left Georgia for the much larger media market in Flint, Michigan. Davis began working as a sports anchor and reporter at WJRT-TV, a position where the young journalist would quickly garner the attention of ESPN.
[edit] Living a Dream: Rece's Career at ESPN
Rece left WJRT and Flint, Michigan in March of 1995 for Bristol, Connecticut. He began working for the ESPN2 program SportSmash, where he provided five-minute reports on sports news and scores. Rece hosted ESPN2's NBA 2Night in 1996 and 1997. From 1997 through 1999, Davis served as studio host of ESPN2’s weekend RPM 2Night and Sunday morning RPM 2Day programs. Rece went on to anchor the program SportsCenter, alongside a number of other ESPN Personalities. Rece can also frequently be found giving the "Extra Point" report of The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio, and from time to time as a guest host on the program.
Rece works on SportsCenter, college football and women's college basketball for the network.
Rece has commented on his work at ESPN, by saying: "I don't think of my job as being hard. I know I'm the luckiest guy around. I get to watch basketball and talk about it. When you never feel as if you go to work, it's really easy and fun to do the homework."[1]
[edit] Rece's Favorite Things
In an online interview conducted by Dave Magarity, Rece is put in the spotlight in an endeavor to gain insight into the mind of one of today's greatest television sports journalists. Rece comments on a variety of topics, including what goes on behind the scenes at ESPN, Steve Lavin's use of hair gel, favorite actors, characters, and films, and much more.
Rece on Steve Lavin's hair gel:
"Have you seen the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou”? That's why Lavin and I have problems with the gel. I'm a Dapper Dan man. He wears Fop. That Fop gets all over everything. I hate it when I have to give him a ride in my car. The head-rest looks like the back of the chair in "Coming to America" after Eriq LaSalle's character Darryl sat in it. I don't take my ride to the car wash. I call in HazMat after Lavin's been in there."[2]
Rece on his favorite actors, characters, and films:
"Ulysses Everett McGill (as portrayed by George Clooney in “O Brother Where Art Thou”) is right up there. He has an answer for everything. He's like Bilas with Lavin's obsession with his hair. I also like the Old Man (Darren McGavin) from "A Christmas Story." He reminds me of Digger, especially in the scene in which McGavin is fighting the furnace. The difference is Danny Ainge might have kept Digger from winning a major award that was better than a leg lamp. A close runner up is the Good Alien in "I Come in Peace." It was brilliantly portrayed by Jay Bilas who really captured the essence of the character."[3]
[edit] Rece-isms
Refers to the Dallas Mavericks as "The Fightin' Mark Cubans", for their eccentric owner and media personality Mark Cuban. Also refers to several college footbal teams in a similar manner after their head coach: the California Golden Bears are "Fighting Tedfords" after Jeff Tedford, the Illinois Illini are the "Fighting Zookers" after Ron Zook, and the Kansas Jayhawks are the "Fighting Manginos" after Mark Mangino.
Uses a variety of puns when highlights involve Connecticut's Rudy Gay. For example, after saying his name, Rece says things such as "Not that there's anything wrong with that", and "But we still like him anyway."
Refers to former Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Sean Casey as "The Mayor", for his local ties to the city of Pittsburgh. Casey grew up outside of Pittsburgh in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania.
“I promise you, its going to get more insightful as we go along.” Rece, begging people not to change the channel after Lou Holtz explains that each week in college football, 50% of the teams win and 50% of the teams lose.
[edit] Trivia
- His real name is Laurece (rhymes with Maurice).
- Rece was voted among the Top 50 Sexiest people surrounding college basketball in a collaborative effort at CollegeInsider.com.
- Rece was named as an outstanding alumnus in 2001 of the University of Alabama's School of Broadcast Communication.
