The famous John Tesh-composed theme of the NBA on NBC — “Roundball Rock” — is officially returning, the network said Saturday. Plus: Mike Tirico
NBC secures “Roundball Rock” for NBA return
NBC Sports announced Saturday that it will use the John Tesh-composed theme “Roundball Rock” in its coverage of the NBA, which resumes this fall. The announcement, which came in conjunction with a commercial during Saturday’s Kentucky Derby coverage celebrating the theme music, would seem to end the brief uncertainty surrounding whether NBC and Tesh would come to an agreement allowing its use.
NBC — apparently prematurely — said it planned to use “Roundball Rock” when it announced its NBA deal last summer, but that was followed by reporting by CNBC that Tesh had a high asking price and NBC was not “wedded to the theme at all costs.”
The theme music for all 12 seasons of NBC’s NBA coverage from 1990-2002, “Roundball Rock” has continued to be a semi-regular presence on sports TV in the more than two decades since NBC last aired an NBA game. NBC has repeatedly brought back the theme for Olympic basketball games — first doing so in 2008 — and Fox Sports has used it on college basketball since 2020.
Because NBC’s previous NBA tenure was relatively short, “Roundball Rock” has actually been in use on NBA games for less time than TNT’s Trevor Rabin-composed theme music (2002-25) and even ESPN/ABC’s longest-tenured theme, “Fast Break” by Non-Stop Music (2004-22).
Tirico said to be OK after leaving Derby due to nut allergy
NBC Sports host Mike Tirico had to exit the network’s coverage of Saturday’s Kentucky Derby shortly after it began due to what he later said was “a significant reaction” to a nut allergy. Tirico looked and sounded unwell during his brief period on the air and was replaced by Ahmed Fareed.
Tirico is now feeling fine, Fareed said on-air, but he did not return to the broadcast.
F1 Miami Grand Prix extended through 2041
The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix will remain on the schedule an additional decade through 2041, it was announced Friday. The race, which debuted in 2022, was previously set to run through 2031. The Miami GP is one of three American-based races. The new Las Vegas Grand Prix is only under contract through this season, though its president said in March that he expects a contract extension.
The United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, is under contract through 2026.
