By Paul J. Gough
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) – Dan
Patrick, one half of the duo that helped bring “SportsCenter” to its
snarky fame in the 1990s, will leave ESPN next month.
Patrick
announced his departure on his ESPN Radio show Monday from San
Francisco, where he was covering the lead-up to Tuesday night’s Major
League Baseball All-Star Game. Patrick’s last radio show will air
August 17. It wasn’t immediately clear when his last appearance on TV
will be.
Patrick, 51, was a “SportsCenter” anchor from 1989 to
2006, when ESPN’s signature show became synonymous with sports TV.
Patrick and co-anchor Keith Olbermann rocketed to fame as the face of
ESPN and served as models for the short-lived ABC series “Sports Night.”
“(I) would like to go out on my own. I have not been a free agent. I’ve
spent 18 years here. It’s been home, but I thought I was taking it for
granted,” Patrick told radio listeners Monday.
He said that the decision was his and he had been asked to reconsider last week.
“If there was any animosity, I would not be doing any radio shows after
this,” Patrick said. He added later on: “There’s no bad blood.”
Patrick didn’t announce any post-ESPN plans, other than that he would
like to return to the radio at some point. “TV-wise, not sure,” he said.
Patrick’s last week on the radio will feature his greatest hits. He
started the radio show in 1999 from ESPN’s Bristol, Conn.,
headquarters. He also served as studio host of “NBA Countdown” on ABC
for the broadcast network’s NBA games, including the finals. He was a
sports anchor/reporter for CNN between 1983 and 1989 and won a Sports
Emmy in 1998 as studio host.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
ESPN’s Patrick announces departure
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