ESPN's John Saunders Has Passed Away At The Age Of 61

ESPN lost another one of their beloved employees today- John Saunders passed away at the age of 61.

The tragic news has just surfaced and the details surrounding his death are still unclear but early reports suggest he died in New York; there was no suspicion of any foul play.

Saunders had been with ESPN for 30 years, hosting The Sports Reporters, anchoring SportsCenter, and covering every sport they threw at him. 

ESPN's president, John Skipper, released this statement in the wake of today's news:

"John was an extraordinary talent and his friendly, informative style has been a warm welcome to sports fans for decades," said John Skipper, president of ESPN and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks, in a statement. "His wide range of accomplishments across numerous sports and championship events is among the most impressive this industry has ever seen. More importantly, John was a beloved and devoted family man who cared deeply about people and causes, as evidenced by his long-standing efforts as a passionate board member for The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

"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. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this extremely difficult time."

He is survived by his wife, Wanda, and their two daughters, Aleah and Jenna.

[Via]