Sean Coulthard

From Freepedia

Sean Coulthard (born 1966 in Amenia, New York) better known by his stage name of Michael Cole is the current play-by-play announcer for World Wrestling Entertainment's SmackDown! brand along with his partner, Tazz.

Journalism Career

Prior to becoming a WWF/WWE announcer, Coulthard was a journalist with CBS Radio. In 1993, he was sent to the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco to cover the entire 51-day shootout between members of that organization and FBI agents, resulting in the deaths of over 80 people when a fire erupted during the shootout.

In 1994, Coulthard was sent to Sarajevo, Bosnia for what was supposedly a six-week assignment covering the war-time siege by Serbian forces, but it turned out to be a nine-month stay, which would change his life. He would report daily from the city, narrowly escaping bullets and bombs. His documentary, titled Voices of Bosnia, has won several awards.

Experienced in covering tragic events, in 1995 Coulthard was sent to Oklahoma City after the bombing by Timothy McVeigh at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which took the lives of 168 people.

Coulthard also covered three presidental elections--in 1988 with Michael Dukakis, in 1992 with Bill Clinton, and in 1996 with Steve Forbes and Bob Dole.

WWF/WWE Career

He came to the WWF (now the WWE) in 1997, where he became the host of the old LiveWire show alongside Jim Cornette. He was also a backstage interviewer. From the end of 1997 to August 1999, he was the host of Monday Night RAW and when SmackDown! debuted, he was chosen to be the play-by-play announcer.

Unlike his RAW cohorts Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler, Coulthard has never wrestled a match and is rarely involved in storylines. In 2001 he was attacked by Stone Cold Steve Austin, leading his broadcast partner Tazz to defend him. In 2004, he held up a sign for John Cena during a battle rap between Cena and Kenzo Suzuki, and ended up the subject of a cruel joke of Cena's. In 2005, he was kidnapped by the "crazy" wrestler Heidenreich.

Coulthard was in the Taxi Driver parody trailer in promotion of WrestleMania 21.

Coulthard has also been praised for his work in making WWE video packages for the shows and PPVs, many of which are very sleek and well-done.