ESPN this morning announced the passing of longtime host/commentator JOHN SAUNDERS. The 61-year-old joined ESPN in '86 and most recently served as host of ABC's Saturday college football studio coverage. He also had anchored "The Sports Reporters" since '01. ESPN President JOHN SKIPPER in a statement said, "John was an extraordinary talent and his friendly, informative style has been a warm welcome to sports fans for decades. ... 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." Saunders also was a founding member and served on the BOD of the V Foundation for Cancer Research (ESPN). ESPN's JAY CRAWFORD said Saunders was "smart, funny, kind, very caring, friendly almost to a fault ... but above all, supremely talented." ESPN’s BOB LEY said Saunders “filled the room" with a "buoyant personality.” Saunders handled the pressure of broadcasting live "with coolness." He also respected "everyone he came across and (offered) to lift them up." Ley: "That's what he was about” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 8/10). ESPN's STEPHEN A. SMITH: "I know how much he loved working for this network, this company … (and) I don't think anybody truly realizes what we lost today” (“First Take,” ESPN2, 8/10). ESPN's JEMELE HILL said there are "a lot of people who are on TV who have their own agenda, who are in it for themselves, but his main message ... is he wanted and accepted the role of being a mentor" (“His & Hers,” ESPN2, 8/10).
ESPN COLLEAGUES REACT: There has been an outpouring of tributes to Saunders on Twitter, including many from his fellow ESPN personalities. NFL reporter Chris Mortensen: The news of John Saunders' death could not be more crushing. We all loved him dearly. We grieve. We will miss him. Can't replace the man." NFL reporter Adam Schefter: "Sickened and saddened to hear of loss of our colleague and friend, John Saunders. What a nice man. What a great man." Stephen A. Smith: "Devastating doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling right now." ESPN Radio's Marc Kestecher: "The saddest of days. ... Always a gentleman. Pro's pro. Man's man." ESPNW's Kavitha Davidson: "John Saunders and The Sports Reporters showed me there's a place for meaningful, important, impactful sports coverage." College football announcer Adam Amin: "One of my biggest thrills was calling an ABC game and tossing back and forth to John in studio. Made it feel bigger cause he was there." Host Adnan Virk: "Proud Canadian, Toronto born, Ryerson bred John Saunders. Incredibly generous to me on and off the air. I'll miss him so much."
OTHER TWITTER REAX: Outside of ESPN circles, NBA.com's David Aldridge tweeted Saunders was a "role model, a gentleman & a first-class reporter/anchor." FoxSports.com's Stewart Mandel: "He treated an out-of-place 22-year old glorified intern with nothing but respect. A true professional. And of course watched him ever since." Fox Sports'Jason Whitlock: "John Saunders was awesome to me. Terrific human being. Terrible loss. Way too young." Sporting News' Michael McCarthy: "Gobsmacked. Great journalist. Always focused on the story; not himself." CBS' Andrew Catalon: "Always admired his professionalism and how smooth he was on-air." NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith: "A great journalist and great friend to many." NFL Network's Jeff Darlington: "Kind. Smart. Ethical. Trusting. You didn’t need to know John Saunders to be inspired by his grace." Yahoo Sports' Greg Wyshynski: "An absolute pro who proudly kept hockey in the ESPN conversation." Actor Jason Priestley: "Saddened to hear of the death of my friend John Saunders. We played hockey together for years. 61 is far too young. You will be missed."
