R.I.P. ESPN's John Saunders

[PiscatawayMike]

He handled play-by-play duties at several Rutgers men's hoops games at the RAC over the years and also worked the International Bowl vs. Ball State, IIRC.

I once ran into him at, of all places, a Cream reunion concert at MSG about a decade ago.

Only 61. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id...iar-air-face-espn-nearly-30-years-died-age-61

 

[mikemarc1]

As a fan, it's crazy how close u seem to get to these personalities..

He was one of my favorites. RiP

 

[PiscatawayMike]

As a fan, it's crazy how close u seem to get to these personalities..

He was one of my favorites. RiP

Indeed. One of my favorites, too.

 

[demauroj]

RIP. John He by far was one of the best guys out there in terms of Play by play and analysis.

He will be sorely missed in College Football and Sports as a whole.

 

[tychicus]

heard he was battling depression and he was actually writing a book on his struggles that was to come out in 2017

 

[Knight Shift]

RIP. Founding member of Jimmy V. Foundation.

Odd that no cause of death was mentioned.



His upcoming book and a statement by someone on ESPN indicated he had issues with depression.
http://heavy.com/sports/2016/08/john-saunders-cause-of-death-how-did-the-sports-journalist-die/
According to the description of the book, Saunders “confesses his constant battle with depression and how it nearly cost him his life.” The book, “welcomes readers into the heart of his desperate struggle against depression: from insights into the illness’s root causes to the nature of modern treatments, from both a medical and cultural perspective. His story unfolds as so many of our lives do – among family, friends and colleagues – but it also peers into places we don’t often discuss openly – psych wards and hospitals. Here is the honest story of a public figure facing his own mental illness head on, and emerging far better for his effort.”

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Odd that no cause of death was mentioned.

I hate to jump to conclusions at a time like this, but it may be suicide. A Robin Williams-type situation.

 

[cicero grimes]

RIP. I also enjoyed his hockey coverage on ESPN.

 

[RUforJERSEY]

Wow. That's stunning. R.I.P.

 

[Beancounter88]

That's awful news. One of the few no-nonsense truly professional play-by-play guys out there - definitely will be missed. Made me think of Tom Mees' death a while back. These are the type of guys that made ESPN great in the day - when it was about the sports.

 

[dvb91]

I hate to jump to conclusions at a time like this, but it may be suicide. A Robin Williams-type situation.

Yeah, I kind of hope not, but considering he was battling depression, it's easy to come to that conclusion.

RIP

 

[babbs09]

Damn. Saunders was one of the best. Sad. RIP.

 

[e5fdny]

RIP. I also enjoyed his hockey coverage on ESPN.

He was a pretty good hockey player back in the day. Defenseman in the Canadian Juniors I think.

 

[Finster Baby]

Very sad, this man was great at what he did.

 

[srru86]

Very sad. A fine on air talent. Good balance of informed and enthusiastic without the nonsense you see in others.

One night I got to the Garden for the BE tourney and went to the concession stand before our late game. There's a fellow in line in front of me with a suit and it dawns on me it is John Saunders. Just waiting in line for a hot dog like everybody else. Somebody comes up to him and makes a not very funny joke and asks a question. Saunders doesn't say "I'm trying to grab a bite for dinner while on my break", no, he laughs gamely, answers the question and sends the fellow off with a smile and a wave.

 

[BABYBULL24]

Class act in a den of inequity network.

 

[patk89]

One of my favorites. Best in class. Makes me very sad to hear. Classy individual who was great at his job.

 

[NickyNewark51]

One of ESPN's good guys..RIP John...

 

[AreYouNUTS]

RIP John...did lots for hockey no doubt...sad day at ESPN and rough week following TJ's retirement.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

RIP

 

[jmc11201]

Agreed with all of the above. Very sad and one of the few in sports media where it wasn't about him. Truly one of the best. RIP.

 

[BeantownKnight]

As a fan, it's crazy how close u seem to get to these personalities..

He was one of my favorites. RiP

I was walking down a quiet street in midtown Manhattan about ten years ago and Chris Berman was walking the other way, with his wife. It was just so odd and out of place to see someone that you usually watch on tv walking right past you when you least expect it (e.g. at night, on a quiet city street, etc.).

 

[Blitz8RUCrazy]

 

[ScarletKnightRider]

Loved that guy

 

[ntlrock1]

^^^not John Saunders. Geez....

 

[mikemarc1]

View embedded media

Great commercial, but wrong guy.

 

[SHUSource]

^^^not John Saunders. Geez....

 

[ntlrock1]

Sorry I can't let this go. I don't mean to steal the thread. But I can't help but believe that BlitzRUcrazy was thinking "oh there's a black guy that works at ESPN it must be John Saunders." Dummy. Have some respect

 

[Rufaninga]

maybe Saunders was in one of the knight costumes?

 

[250andCounting]

A true professional. RIP John.

 

[RU23]

RIP, enjoyed his work.

 

[LC-88]

As a fan, it's crazy how close u seem to get to these personalities..

He was one of my favorites. RiP

Agree completely. I have always liked his work. Shocked that he is gone. Peace.

 

[S.W.A.I.N]

View embedded media

Yeah, that's not him...

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

In the wee moments after a good guy or gal passes I never speculate as to what happened. I just think about their lives and how fast it can end.

 

[El Curioso Impertinente]

A Professional, a devout Family Man, and a rabid Hockey Fan. You will be sorely missed!!!

 

[RU#1fan]

maybe Saunders was in one of the knight costumes?

clown

 

[BigEastPhil]

I was very down when I heard John Saunders passed away earlier today. He was probably my favorite ESPN Personality. He was a very humble down to earth guy. I had no idea he was battling depression. One would never know by how he handled himself on-air. RIP.

Has the cause of death been communicated? I hope it wasn't suicide....

 

[RU_DIO]

Saunders was always a good listen. Died too young

 

[e5fdny]

One night I got to the Garden for the BE tourney and went to the concession stand before our late game. There's a fellow in line in front of me with a suit and it dawns on me it is John Saunders. Just waiting in line for a hot dog like everybody else. Somebody comes up to him and makes a not very funny joke and asks a question. Saunders doesn't say "I'm trying to grab a bite for dinner while on my break", no, he laughs gamely, answers the question and sends the fellow off with a smile and a wave.

Bet we hear a lot of these types of stories over the next few days.

 

[tico brown]

One of the best ever at ESPN. PURE CLASS.

R.I.P.