Noah Eagle
Noah Eagle, sports broadcaster and voice of the Los Angeles Clippers, discovered his love for basketball and talent for public speaking in Essex Fells.
Growing up on Old Chester Road, Noah and his neighborhood friends could be found bouncing the ball and shooting hoops in his driveway. When not on the courts, Noah spent his summer swimming at Fells Brook Club and winter skating on Essex Fells Skating Pond.
Noah’s favorite part about growing up in Essex Fells was the tight-knit community. “You got the classic neighborhood feel that a lot of people crave and never really get,” Noah said. “It is about neighbors and good people. You do everything together, and you feel that sense of community. It's such a small town that you get to know everyone.”
In school, Noah remembers building powerful bonds and learning important lessons from the teachers at Essex Fells School. In fifth grade, Noah presented a biography project on Bill Gates where he dressed up like him and presented a poster-sized check to his school. After the speech, his teacher pulled him aside and told him that one day he was going to do something in public speaking.
“Anyone who is a big sports fan believes they would play in the NBA,” Noah said. “Little did I know, I was going to be about 5-foot-8 on a good day with limited athletic ability. My dad was a broadcaster, and I got to be around it, but I never thought about it as a young kid until that speech.”
Noah was introduced to broadcasting at a young age and had the unique experience of observing his legendary father, Ian Eagle, broadcaster for the NBA, NFL, and NCAA. In sixth grade, Noah tested his public speaking skills when he hosted the annual Essex Fells School Variety Show with his teacher Mrs. Buonomo.
At West Essex High School, Noah was a member of the basketball team, student council, and a writer for the sports column for Essex Fells Magazine. This is when he attended his first broadcasting camp and confirmed his future would be in sports broadcasting.
Like his parents, Noah selected Syracuse University and attended the Newhouse School of Public Communications. As a college student, Noah covered basketball, football, and lacrosse events on SU’s WAER (radio station), ACC Network, NBA Summer League, and Citrus TV. This is where he gained experience, and his love for journalism grew into a career.
All of this experience prepared him as he auditioned and was selected to step into the
role of play-by-play radio broadcaster for the Los Angeles Clippers right after graduation.
Noah still remembers the adrenaline rush of his first L.A. Clippers game three years ago. The Clippers faced off against cross-town rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, with a full crowd. Sitting and taking it all in before the game, Noah reflected on the emotional aspect of broadcasting.
“The reason a lot of people do the play-by-plays at the games is because you want to feel connected to the players and be in the environment. That is my favorite part.” Noah said.
“Then to actually call it and go through all the same emotions as the players — that’s what I got into this for. It is a feeling that is unmatched and you are always chasing each time you put the mic on.”
In working for such a decorated franchise and being so intertwined with the culture, Noah says he can “live out that dream of being in the NBA without actually playing in the NBA." He travels with the team, stays in the same hotels, and shoots around at practice.
When he was offered the opportunity to be play-by-play announcer for Nickelodeon’s coverage of the NFL Wild Card Game, it was a dream come true to combine his two favorite things, sports and entertainment.
“The broadcast was so cool because I grew up on Nickelodeon,” Noah said. “To be able to incorporate entertainment and combine it with my love for sports — that was always my dream as a broadcaster. My favorite part of the broadcast was it brings out the kid in you. I got slimed, which was another childhood dream. It was unbelievable.”
Noah jokes about releasing a hit single next but is serious about continuing to challenge himself. He plans to try something new each year so he will never get bored. The ultimate goal is to accomplish feats such as his father’s while putting his personal spin on the craft.
“My father started with the Nets when he was my age,” Noah said. “I go back and listen to some of the games, and we sound really similar. If I can be only half as good as he is, I will have a long, prosperous career. If I can take the torch from him and keep it moving, I will be proud of that.”
Noah’s advice to the kids playing pick-up games in their driveway today is to chase what makes you happy. “Chase happiness. Don’t chase anything else,” Noah said. “Chase whatever makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning. Chase the challenge. Chase what gets your heart beating.”
Today, Noah lives in Los Angeles and misses aspects of life back home in Essex Fells. To start, the Italian food from some of his favorite spots like Forte or Frank Anthony’s cannot be matched in California. After moving away to the hustle of Los Angeles, he also values the genuine people of Essex Fells.
“Interact with your neighbors,” said Noah. “Get to know people. Create friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Growing up on Old Chester Road, Noah and his neighborhood friends could be found bouncing the ball and shooting hoops in his driveway. When not on the courts, Noah spent his summer swimming at Fells Brook Club and winter skating on Essex Fells Skating Pond.
Noah’s favorite part about growing up in Essex Fells was the tight-knit community. “You got the classic neighborhood feel that a lot of people crave and never really get,” Noah said. “It is about neighbors and good people. You do everything together, and you feel that sense of community. It's such a small town that you get to know everyone.”
In school, Noah remembers building powerful bonds and learning important lessons from the teachers at Essex Fells School. In fifth grade, Noah presented a biography project on Bill Gates where he dressed up like him and presented a poster-sized check to his school. After the speech, his teacher pulled him aside and told him that one day he was going to do something in public speaking.
“Anyone who is a big sports fan believes they would play in the NBA,” Noah said. “Little did I know, I was going to be about 5-foot-8 on a good day with limited athletic ability. My dad was a broadcaster, and I got to be around it, but I never thought about it as a young kid until that speech.”
Noah was introduced to broadcasting at a young age and had the unique experience of observing his legendary father, Ian Eagle, broadcaster for the NBA, NFL, and NCAA. In sixth grade, Noah tested his public speaking skills when he hosted the annual Essex Fells School Variety Show with his teacher Mrs. Buonomo.
At West Essex High School, Noah was a member of the basketball team, student council, and a writer for the sports column for Essex Fells Magazine. This is when he attended his first broadcasting camp and confirmed his future would be in sports broadcasting.
Like his parents, Noah selected Syracuse University and attended the Newhouse School of Public Communications. As a college student, Noah covered basketball, football, and lacrosse events on SU’s WAER (radio station), ACC Network, NBA Summer League, and Citrus TV. This is where he gained experience, and his love for journalism grew into a career.
All of this experience prepared him as he auditioned and was selected to step into the
role of play-by-play radio broadcaster for the Los Angeles Clippers right after graduation.
Noah still remembers the adrenaline rush of his first L.A. Clippers game three years ago. The Clippers faced off against cross-town rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, with a full crowd. Sitting and taking it all in before the game, Noah reflected on the emotional aspect of broadcasting.
“The reason a lot of people do the play-by-plays at the games is because you want to feel connected to the players and be in the environment. That is my favorite part.” Noah said.
“Then to actually call it and go through all the same emotions as the players — that’s what I got into this for. It is a feeling that is unmatched and you are always chasing each time you put the mic on.”
In working for such a decorated franchise and being so intertwined with the culture, Noah says he can “live out that dream of being in the NBA without actually playing in the NBA." He travels with the team, stays in the same hotels, and shoots around at practice.
When he was offered the opportunity to be play-by-play announcer for Nickelodeon’s coverage of the NFL Wild Card Game, it was a dream come true to combine his two favorite things, sports and entertainment.
“The broadcast was so cool because I grew up on Nickelodeon,” Noah said. “To be able to incorporate entertainment and combine it with my love for sports — that was always my dream as a broadcaster. My favorite part of the broadcast was it brings out the kid in you. I got slimed, which was another childhood dream. It was unbelievable.”
Noah jokes about releasing a hit single next but is serious about continuing to challenge himself. He plans to try something new each year so he will never get bored. The ultimate goal is to accomplish feats such as his father’s while putting his personal spin on the craft.
“My father started with the Nets when he was my age,” Noah said. “I go back and listen to some of the games, and we sound really similar. If I can be only half as good as he is, I will have a long, prosperous career. If I can take the torch from him and keep it moving, I will be proud of that.”
Noah’s advice to the kids playing pick-up games in their driveway today is to chase what makes you happy. “Chase happiness. Don’t chase anything else,” Noah said. “Chase whatever makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning. Chase the challenge. Chase what gets your heart beating.”
Today, Noah lives in Los Angeles and misses aspects of life back home in Essex Fells. To start, the Italian food from some of his favorite spots like Forte or Frank Anthony’s cannot be matched in California. After moving away to the hustle of Los Angeles, he also values the genuine people of Essex Fells.
“Interact with your neighbors,” said Noah. “Get to know people. Create friendships that will last a lifetime.”