The sports world is with a heavy heart today as we have learned about the passing of a true pioneer in the sports broadcasting industry. ESPN’s John Saunders passed away today at the age of 61.
Saunders was Canadian-American originally from Ajax Ontario, Canada where he grew up being a hockey fan. He attended college on a Hockey scholarship at Western Michigan University from 1974 to 1976.
Saunders joined ESPN in 1986.
While being well-known as a sportscaster on ESPN, he also had stints at other broadcasting stations like CKNS Radio, CKNY-TV and ATV News. While at ESPN Saunders was a Sports Center Anchor, and on occasion he would do color commentary and play-by-play announcing for college football as well as Basketball. He also did some coverage on college basketball and the Stanley Cup finals.
He is best known for his role in the hit sports show “The Sports Reporters.”
His impact away from the broadcast table is what a lot of people really admire about him. He was such a genuine, kind-hearted person that was willing to help any and everybody that he felt like he could help. He was one of the members of the Jimmy V foundation for Cancer Research and was an advocate for juvenile diabetes.
His legacy will live on for generations to come and it will live on in the lives of the people he touched. John Saunders might be gone, but he will never be forgotten.
Twitter: @bwillsportz
BWILL MEDIA TV 