ESPN sportscaster John Saunders died at age 61 on Wednesday–his cause of death is unknown.
Many TV personalities were quick to offer their condolences for the loss of the great baritone sportscaster, including ESPN president John Skipper.
“He was one of the most significant and influential members of the ESPN family, as a colleague and mentor, and he will be sorely missed,” Skipper said. “Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this extremely difficult time.”
Here are 12 things to remember the great John Saunders by:
- He was currently working in the studio, as well as offering play-by-play programming for college football, basketball and the NHL.
- Before his broadcasting career, he was an athlete, serving as an all-star defenseman in the Montreal junior leagues.
- Saunders transferred to Ryerson Polytechnical where he played for the Rams from 1976 to 1978.
- His first big TV job was as the news director of CKNS Radio in Ontario in 1978.
- Following several other jobs, he moved to the U.S. in the early 1980s to become a sports anchor.
- He joined ESPN in 1986, hosting The Sports Reporters, a Sunday morning talk show.
- John also served as the co-host of NFL Primetime in the late 1980s.
- His hockey broadcasting was at its peak from 1992 to 2004, where he worked for ESPN’s hockey broadcasts.
- The famous 1995 World Series between the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians was covered by Saunders.
- The Sunday night edition of SportsCenter was hosted by John, beginning in 2008.
- He was a board member for The V Foundation for Cancer Research, and he had an active role in the position.
- Saunders also helped in the fight of juvenile diabetes research.
Rest in peace, John.
