by Micah Hart

Hawks radio play-by-play announcer Steve Holman has been calling Hawks games for 22 seasons now. He has seen a lot of action in that time - some highs, some lows, and a lot of rim-rocking dunks by Dominique Wilkins - that's for sure. Holman passed a milestone on March 5, when he spent his 1,500th straight game behind the microphone for the Hawks radio broadcast. 

We recently caught up to the "Voice of the Hawks" to find out some of his highlights from his time with the team.

Hawks.com: What is the best game you have called for the Hawks?

Steve Holman:  Game 5 win vs. Grant Hill and Detroit Pistons May 4, 1997... (The Hawks were down 2-1 in series and won game 4 in Detroit and game 5 at home in best of 5 series). It was special because that was the year everyone around the NBA was proclaiming Grant Hill as the next Michael or Larry of the league. We were not given a chance to win the series. I would rank Game 5 of the famous 1988 Hawks-Celtics series as my second favorite game. Everyone remembers the great battle in game 7 between Nique and Larry, but that game would never have happened if we didn't stun the Boston crowd with the Game 5 win at the Garden to go up 3-2. Game Six was on of the most raucous nights I can ever remember at the Omni. Unfortunately Danny Ainge started that game with a 3 and we lost at the buzzer on a ridiculous shot by Cliff Levingston that had no chance of going in. I thought Mike Fratello would either kill him or drop dead himself on the sidelines.

Hawks.com: What is the funniest moment you have seen?

SH: Scottie Pippen waking up my sleeping engineer and telling him "Hey, you are missing a good game" before putting the ball in play in front of my broadcast position.We had a guy named Jason back in the WSB days that was a great kid, but would tend to doze off now and then. Pippen noticed him and gave me a wink and said "watch this" before he got his attention.

Hawks: What has been your most memorable experience?

SH: Being the emcee at Dominique's number retirement ceremony after broadcasting his memorable Hawk moments throughout the years. I had the privilege to call all of Nique's milestone moments with the Hawks. Also some sad moments, like the night he tore his achilles, and the night he got traded after a memorable fourth quarter performance leading the Hawks to a comeback win over the Sonics at the Omni.

Hawks.com: What is one thing people don't know about your job?

SH: One thing people don't know is that I arrive at the game over two hours before game time. I find it amusing sometimes especially on the road when friends will call and say, "Lets meet up for dinner before the game." I guess some people think you can just show up and do the game. It doesn't work that way. There is lots of prep work to be done early in the day (stat sheet etc.) and when I arrive at the arena I spend time with the other teams broadcasters and others to find out what is happening with their team.

Hawks.com: Last question - what is the one call you'd like to make before you hang 'em up?

SH: That's easy. "The horn sounds, and the Hawks are World Champions." I would like to do it at least twice, so both of my sons could have a ring when I'm gone.

Micah Hart is the Manager of Websites for the Atlanta Hawks