John Saunders, a sportscaster for ESPN and ABC, whose wide-ranging coverage of major championships and other events made him one of the most visible black anchors on television, has died at 61.
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He also acted as the host of several ABC sports programs, including Baseball Night In America and the network’s Saturday college football broadcasts.
Saunders was a close friend of the late N.C. State basketball coach Jim Valvano, for whom the foundation was founded after his death from cancer in 1993.
He dove into the world of news reports while still attending school and playing hockey – a planted seed that would eventually grow into a long-time career for the popular sports journalist and show host.
I remember watching The Sports Reporters on Sunday’s growing up.
How did John Saunders die? Toronto’s Leo Rautins, a Raptors broadcaster and former National Basketball Association player, tweeted on Wednesday.
“I can not exaggerate how good a guy John Saunders was, nor how talented”, tweeted longtime Boston Globe sportswriter Bob Ryan, a regular on ESPN.
The Toronto native, who grew up in Montreal, did play-by-play for the Toronto Raptors from 1995 to 2001 and worked as a sports anchor at several Canadian outlets.
Saunders was born in Canada, and received a hockey scholarship at Western Michigan University, where he played from 1974-76. Life will never be the same, Smith tweeted.
Saunders got his start as news director at CKNS Radio in Espanola, Ont., in 1978.
I think youd have a hard time finding anyone to say anything bad about John, Rautins said. He was very giving, very caring, very intelligent..
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Perhaps most importantly, John Saunders is remembered by his colleagues, friends, and family as an inspiration; an excellent person, always kind and helpful. John Saunders is survived by his wife Wanda and two daughters – Jenna and Aleah. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this extremely hard time..
