Last call: Mike Gorman on being voice of the Celtics for 43 years

Mike Gorman has been the play-by-play announcer for the Boston Celtics for 43 years — but this season will be his last. He sits down with TODAY’s Harry Smith about the chance encounter that spurred his legendary career.

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FRIEND MIKE TO LOOK BACK AT HIS CAREER, HIS LEGACY AND THE LUCK OF THE IRISH THAT MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE. >> THE CELTICS REALLY PUSHING THE BALL IN THE PAINT. OH, NICE PASS. BROWN WITH TIME, YES! >> Reporter: THERE IS A GUY I

KNOW, A FRIEND OF MINE, BEEN DOING THE SAME JOB FOR 43 YEARS. >> OFF THE BOUNCE, PULL-UP THREE. GOT IT! >> Reporter: IT’S RARELY DULL AND SOMETIMES DOWNRIGHT EXCITING. >> THIS IS SO COOL! >> Reporter: MIKE GREW UP IN DORCHESTER, A COUPLE OF BUS

STOPS FROM THE GARDEN. >> I PROBABLY CAME TO HALF A DOZEN GAMES A YEAR WHEN I WAS LIKE 12, 13, 14 YEARS OLD. >> Reporter: SNEAKING UP THE FIRE ESCAPE. >> I NEVER PAID FOR A TICKET IN MY LIFE. >> Reporter: STILL.

>> THAT’S RIGHT. >> Reporter: LARRY, A RUNNER. GOT IT! BALL GAME’S OVER! BOSTON WINS! >> Reporter: HIS LAST SEASON STYLE INSPIRED BY FORMER CELTIC PLAYER AND COACH. THEY WORKED TOGETHER FOR 39 SEASONS. THEIR FIRST GAME GORMAN BROUGHT A PILE OF NOTES. HUDSON PUT THEM IN THE TRASH.

>> HE GOES, WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE SEE, NOT WHAT’S ON A PIECE OF PAPER. LESS IS BETTER HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY PHILOSOPHY. >> Reporter: AFTER COLLEGE, GORMAN SERVED AS A NAVAL AVIATOR. HE DREAMT OF A CAREER IN SPORTS BROADCASTING.

BUT WITH NO EXPERIENCE, HE HAD NO SHOT. >> IT WOULD BE A TOUGH STORY TO TELL. IT WAS A HUGE TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE. >> Reporter: EVERY RADIO AND TV STATION SAID NO WAY. HIS LAST SHIP GILL SANTOS COULD GIVE HIM SOME ADVICE.

IN THE WAY, THOUGH, A CHAIN LINKED FENCE AND AN UNIMPRESSED SECURITY GUARD. >> HE SAID, WHAT’S THAT? >> Reporter: THE SECURITY GUARD HAD BEEN IN THE NAVY, TOO. HE CALLED SANTOS. >> I GOT THIS GUY HERE, EXMILITARY GUY, GOOD GUY. NOW HE’S TRYING TO GET IN THE

BUSINESS. CAN YOU HELP HIM OUT? YOU CAN? SURE. >> Reporter: SOON HE WAS SELLING ADS AND DOING SPORTSCAST IN NEW ENGLAND. GORMAN’S PEOPLE, IF YOU HAVEN’T GUESSED, SOME FROM THE OLD SOD. MARCH 17th MIKE WILL BE THE HON REE AT THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE AND DINNER.

>> JOHN KENNEDY, MIKE GORMAN ON THE SAME THING. >> Reporter: YEAH, YEAH. ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY, MIKE’S MIND WILL BE ON HIS GREAT GRANDMOTHER, WHOSE HOME WAS THE FIRST STOP FOR MANY AN IRISH IMMIGRANT RIGHT OFF THE BOAT. >> I ASKED MY MOM, WHO ARE THESE

PEOPLE. SHE SAID THAT’S JUST YOUR NANA. SHE LIKES TAKING CARE OF YOU. THAT’S WHAT SHE LIKES TO DO. >> Reporter: COMPARE RAID TIME, NANA WILL BE THERE, TOO. >> THAT’S WHAT I WILL BE THINKING OF AS I WALK THE PARADE ROAD. SHE WILL BE BESIDE ME.

SHE DESERVES IT. >> Reporter: GORMAN IS A LEGEND IN BOSTON AND RESPECTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME A COUPLE SUMMERS AGO. THIS IS HIS FINAL SEASON AND EVERYBODY KNOWS. >> I FEEL LIKE WHEN I’M AT THE

GAME, PEOPLE COME UP AND SAY, GOOD LUCK TO YOU. DIFFICULT SHOT! GOT IT AT THE BUZZER? >> Reporter: DECADES OF GAMES, HIGHLIGHTS GALORE. BUT WHAT WILL HE MISS MOST? >> I’M NOT GOING TO MISS THE GAMES AND I’M NOT GOING TO MISS THE PLAYERS.

I’M GOING TO MISS JIMMY AND JACKIE, THE TWO GUYS, THE BROTHERS WHO RUN IT WITH ME. EVERY USHER I KNOW IN THE BUILDING. FANS HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL. THAT’S BEEN THE NICEST EXPERIENCE, HARRY. IT’S ALWAYS THE PEOPLE. IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPORTANT. >> UNBELIEVABLE.

AND THAT WHOLE THING, RIGHT, HE’S GOT HIS SQUADRON BASEBALL CAP IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE GUY SAYS, YEAH, I WAS IN SQUADRON BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. HE SAID, I WAS THIS CLOSE TO BEING A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER. >> ISN’T IT FUNNY HOW YOUR LIFE

CAN BE FOREVER ALTERED BY ONE TINY MOMENT. >> AND WHAT A GREAT GUY. >> HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW HIM? WHAT’S THE — >> HIS WIFE WAS A PRODUCER AT CBS SPORTS WHO WORKED WITH MY WIFE TOGETHER 35 YEARS AGO. >> OF COURSE.

>> DOING BIG EAS