I was writing for a local entertainment blog around the time Tom Petty died. At that time, I wrote that no piece of clothing ever looked as cool on anyone as apathy looked on Tom Petty. The blog has since been taken down and my writing lost to the whims of internet history, so you’ll just have to trust me. The line really was that cool.
I was thinking about that column and that line when I heard that Kenny Mayne would be leaving SportsCenter. His final show aired on Monday and while there was plenty of emotion on air and support poured out on the internet, I couldn’t help but remember the apathy.
Kenny Mayne got moved to the 11 pm SportsCenter when I was in high school. The replay of that show is what I watched every morning as I put on my prep school uniform and literally dreaded the day in front of me. I wasn’t dumb. I just couldn’t muster up the energy to pretend to care about academics or understand how they were useful to me. I recognized a kindred spirit in Kenny.
When I say I remember the apathy, that is not to say that I don’t think Kenny Mayne cared if he did a good job or didn’t work hard. I just mean that the persona he presented on air was one of “I don’t care if you’re having fun. I am. You can come along for the ride or not. It doesn’t matter to me.”
It was charming in just how effortless it was. It was so funny because it was just so dumb. How had no one ever thought to shout YAHTZEE! during a home run highlight before?
Everyone has their guy on SportsCenter, and Kenny Mayne has been mine since I was 16 years old.
With that era finally at a close, I asked people from all around the sports media to share their favorite memories of Kenny Mayne. I asked former colleagues to share stories about how he made their time at ESPN better. I asked acolytes to tell me how he influenced them and what he meant to them. Here is some of what they had to say.
ADAM SCHEFTER – ESPN
Kenny Mayne might have influenced generations of aspiring broadcasters. Problem is, no matter how much they wanted to be like him, no one ever could. Kenny was too talented, too funny, too unique. There is no other Kenny Mayne, and never will be another one.
Kenny had a style all his own, all the way to his last SportsCenter appearance Monday night. He was the star of ESPN’s SportsCenter commercials, the face of the network at ad sales upfronts, and the man who entertained us for 26 years. Others will try to replace him, but no one ever will mimic him nor his success. He was, and always be, the wilder world of sports.
MIKE GOLIC – THE FAN EXAM
The thing about Kenny I loved the most, was not his great ability to tell us what was going on in the sports world, but the way he did it. He made it fun, you laughed, you were entertained.
I will also say I had him on my shows as a guest many times, and that is an experience, because you never know where he is going to go, but you eventually get there, and you were smiling all the way.
JOHN CLAYTON – Washington Post
I go back to the very beginning with Kenny. He worked at the TV station that was right next to my newspaper, the Tacoma News Tribune. I covered the Seahawks. I remember standing next to him watching Seahawks practice. He showed the letter he sent to ESPN about getting a job. The letter was funny, creative and caught everyone at the network by surprise. ESPN hired him for the start of ESPN 2.
He’s a star. His career was amazing. We’ll all miss him on the air but I will still see him because he lives eight miles away me in the Seattle area.
MARK SCHLERETH – FOX SPORTS, 104.3 THE FAN
The first show every day with Kenny Mayne what is a SportsCenter…
I was new to the television broadcasting world as I had just retired several months previous to that show. It was the day Minnesota Vikings tackle Kory Stringer passed away and I had the task of talking about it on Air. Kenny could tell that I was nervous and he told me that everything will be OK just to speak from my heart.
I always appreciated his approach his sense of humor and it’s passion to help others. Kenny is a dear friend and a great mentor and one of the funniest/quirkiest humans on the planet.
JASON SMITH – FOX SPORTS RADIO
I worked with Kenny for a long time on ESPN2’s Sports Night and then he was a frequent guest on my radio show. (Note – Kenny, I’m sorry I kept butchering the name of the web-site you had up and running to keep people updated on the book you were writing. Was it ‘kennymayneiswritingabook.com? Was it kennymaynehasabookcomingout.com? Something like that. I didn’t drive much traffic there. My bad. But that URL, I mean COME ON MAN.)
One time Kenny and I were on the same flight out of Hartford for Los Angeles. We sat a row from each other and talked for a bit but I fell asleep really fast and woke up when the flight attendant walked by us briskly and said ‘Put your trays up we’re landing in a few minutes.’ I was excited because I thought “Wow, I just slept all the way to L.A.!” Nope. The pilot announced our plane lost an engine, and we were diverting to Albany. It was white knuckle time for like 20 minutes, and Kenny kept his sense of humor all the way through it. I was wondering ‘Do I need to call my wife right now?’ And Kenny said to me ’These planes are all made to fly with one engine. It’s like getting a kidney taken out – you can do just fine with one. I wouldn’t recommend it but it’s live-able.’
We eventually land and Kenny (“Look, the rescue vehicles were a good hundred yards away in case we blew up!”) calls ESPN to say he wants to rent a car to drive BACK to Hartford to then fly out of there again for Los Angeles. Suffice it to say I don’t think the travel department was happy with that idea. When I asked him “Why don’t you just fly out of here on the next flight?” Kenny said “What’s the fun in that? I can get in a car and we’re RACING (His NASCAR catch-phrase) back to Hartford to see if I could make it in time!”
I should’ve taken that drive with Kenny. I’m going to miss him.
(*Checks internet, sees Kenny isn’t dying, only leaving ESPN.*)
Oh, I may see him soon here in L.A.! Nobu’s on you.
SEAN SALISBURY – SPORTSTALK 790
Most underrated talent I’ve ever been around. Much more clever than most anyone in the business and we all know it! Kenny, should be in our living rooms every night! What a great friend and human! Top shelf! Networks should stand in line for his skills! Love him and wouldn’t miss this show! He’s been a great watch/listen!
ADAM SCHEIN – SIRIUSXM, CBS SPORTS NETWORK
I love Kenny Mayne. I love his humor. I love his savvy. I love the way he delivers a highlight. You can tell how much he loves sports and loves being an anchor on SportsCenter.
The DP and Kenny Mayne team was incredible. His catch phrases were always the best. Mayne’s interviews were always great. The Marshawn one was my favorite. And I loved his love for his Seattle teams. One of my all time favorites!
TODD FRITZ – THE DAN PATRICK SHOW
I’ve always enjoyed watching Kenny Mayne co-host SportsCenter and his unique, creative style of delivering the day’s sports news. He had a great run at ESPN and I’m disappointed to see him go. I’m sure he will take it to the place of residence in his next endeavors. So bring him your finest meats and cheeses. After all, he’s good at sports broadcasting. Now I must go back to what I had been doing….whatever that was.
DANNY PARKINS – 670 THE SCORE
Kenny Mayne changed the game. Anyone who ever felt a bit like an outsider but loved sports saw him as their guy. He did it his own way and had multiple generations of sports fans laughing and quoting his ridiculous wit.
ZACH BYE – 104.3 THE FAN
Kenny Mayne always reminded me that sports are supposed to be fun. Sometimes we get caught up and make the toy isle of life way more serious and important than it actually is. Kenny Mayne never lost sight of that. His lightheartedness was both grounding and refreshing and will certainly be missed on ESPN.
KYLE BAILEY – WFNZ
Kenny Mayne showed me you could be different and work in this business. Specifically, Kenny showed us you didn’t have to be a classically trained, cookie cutter broadcaster to succeed in this industry (not that there’s anything wrong with that, but we all know the prototype).
He still commanded the studio and had a firm grasp on how to lead a broadcast, but he was quirky. He marched to a different beat. He was monotone but hilarious; dry but brilliant in his timing and delivery. Kenny disarmed his interviewees with an approach none of us were used to, and the athletes/coaches he interviewed seemed more at ease talking to Kenny.
ESPN is letting go of a legend, and I hope his career continues prominently elsewhere because my sports watching experience is better with Kenny Mayne apart of it. Thanks for the ride, Mayne.
NICK CATTLES – ESPN RADIO 94.1
At times I’ve had an issue with taking myself too seriously even though I’m working in sports talk radio. Kenny Mayne has been a constant reminder for almost three decades that this is fun. Enjoy it, laugh at yourself and remember things could be much worse. He’s entertained me for a long time and I look forward to seeing where he’s headed next.
BRANDON KRAVITZ – FM 96.9 THE GAME
Kenny Mayne was a staple of my childhood. He was one of the first anchors I ever saw who so naturally infused humor into his updates. Kenny, in a way, made sports fun again. I think he changed the industry in TV/radio more than people realize, including myself.
Demetri Ravanos is a columnist and features writer for Barrett Media. He is also the creator of The Sports Podcast Festival, and a previous host on the Chewing Clock and Media Noise podcasts. He occasionally fills in on stations across the Carolinas in addition to hosting Panthers and College Football podcasts. His radio resume includes stops at WAVH and WZEW in Mobile, AL, WBPT in Birmingham, AL and WBBB, WPTK and WDNC in Raleigh, NC.
You can find him on Twitter @DemetriRavanos or reach him by email at DemetriTheGreek@gmail.com.
Top 2 places I want to see him land at:
1. Barstool, would be great dropping in in other sports shows on barstool, also doing interviews, etc.
2. A weekly podcast on that week’s sports stories, non political. Weekly guest to converse with about those events.