Throwback Friday Boom Goes The Dynamite

Brian Collins was covering the March 22, 2005 game between the Indiana Pacers and the New Jersey Nets - and it was a horrible performance. Millions of people have seen this video, but not everyone knows the story behind it, so here it is.

The Background

Collins agreed to be on Ball State University’s college newscast because the regular sportscaster was ill. The teleprompter worked, but a new prompter-operator accidentally fast-forwarded through the script. Collins improvised (admittedly, very badly) and uttered the now immortal phrase “boom goes the dynamite.”

What Happened To Brian Collins?

It wasn’t all bad for Collins, he landed a job on TV as a reporter, appeared on Tosh.0, and he was featured in a movie full of internet sensations called Rick Roll. ESPN SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt even called him to say, “If this is the worst thing that ever happens to you, life will be good.”

The reporting job ended because of budget cuts, but Collins is still in media. He’s now the Waco City Buzz Examiner for Examiner.com, a news site with contributions from citizen journalists.

Check out the legendary video that kick-started his career below.