ESPN’s Kenny Mayne, one of the most recognizable talents in sports broadcasting, is leaving the network, he announced on Monday.
The 27-year ESPN anchor broke the news on Twitter, describing his exit from the worldwide leader in sports as a “salary cap casualty.” Naturally, he could only include some of the dry humor that helped him become a beloved presence in the studio and on millions of sports fans’ TVs.
I am leaving ESPN.
Salary cap casualty.
Thanks for the opportunity Vince Doria & Al Jaffe & for taking my solicitations
Herman/Stinton/Lynch.I will miss the people.
I will miss the vending machine set up over by the old Van Pelt joint.
We had everything.IntoTheGreatWideOpen#
ā Kenny Mayne (@Kenny_Mayne) May 10, 2021
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The longtime “SportsCenter” host’s final day will be on May 24, bringing to an end a 27-year stint at ESPN that began in 1994. His absence will undoubtedly be noted among fans who appreciated his humor and presence in ESPN’s studios ā but his Monday announcement is as good a reason as any to remember the incredible cover letter that first landed him the gig in 1994.
Mayne sent a short and sweet cover letter to ESPN’s John Walsh in 1994, offering him three checkboxes in the former’s bid to land a job with ESPN:
Old tweet…thanks for re-post.
Iām on šŗ till May 24 here…including tonight with @espnSteveLevy
Steve- Iām stopping for Japanese..do you want any.. or Deryk or anybody..call & add to my order. https://t.co/LY6POpGvdx
ā Kenny Mayne (@Kenny_Mayne) May 10, 2021
Unsurprisingly, Mayne made Walsh smile. Walsh wouldn’t be the last person to smile at Mayne’s humor and creativity.