11/21/24
August 10, 2016
Longtime ESPN Broadcaster John Saunders Dies: John Saunders, a familiar face on ESPN for three decades who hosted SportsCenter, The Sports Reporters and coverage of college football and basketball, has died at age 61. No cause of death is given. Saunders had a book coming out with John Bacon next spring, Playing Hurt, whose blurb states that he "confesses his constant battle with depression and how it nearly cost him his life."
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posted by BornIcon at 01:58 PM on August 10, 2016
A lot of ESPN anchors aggravated me with their antics, but Saunders was solid. He'll be missed.
posted by rcade at 02:20 PM on August 10, 2016
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posted by tommybiden at 02:27 PM on August 10, 2016
Terrible news.
posted by beaverboard at 02:28 PM on August 10, 2016
Classy guy. RIP
posted by jagsnumberone at 05:22 PM on August 10, 2016
He was one of the few on ESPN who could be called fully professional in his work. R. I. P. John Saunders.
posted by Howard_T at 08:41 PM on August 10, 2016
Definitely will miss. Great voice, great demeanor.
posted by yerfatma at 08:46 AM on August 11, 2016
Good article here by John Feinstein at The Washington Post.
I do not think there are many other ESPN personalities this type of thing could be written about, particularly lines such as "Saunders was the opposite of someone who thinks being on TV makes you really important."
posted by holden at 09:25 AM on August 11, 2016
Saunders was a great broadcaster, classy and subtle with a great sense of humor. I was a regular watcher of "The Sports Reporters" for years, in part for his steady hand. He will be missed.