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NEW YORK -- John Saunders, the versatile sportscaster who has hosted ESPNs The Sports Reporters for the last 15 years, has died, the network announced Wednesday. He was 61.Saunders joined ESPN in 1986. The Canadian did play-by-play, led NHL Stanley Cup and World Series coverage on ESPN and ABC, and hosted studio shows for baseball, college football and college basketball.A cause of death was not announced.This tragic news brings us unspeakable sorrow. John was the patriarch of our family, and we cant believe he is gone, Saunders family said in a statement. We are sincerely touched by the outpouring of support and sadness, which is a reflection of the character and integrity that defined him.While we dont yet have all the specifics, John wasnt feeling well physically in recent days and sadly, he was unresponsive earlier this morning. We appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers for our cherished father, husband, brother and uncle.Saunders took over as host of The Sports Reporters, a Sunday morning staple of ESPN programming, after Dick Schaap died in 2001. Saunders played the role of calm traffic cop on the panel show that features three sports journalists volleying opinions on the top sports news of the day.John was an extraordinary talent and his friendly, informative style has been a warm welcome to sports fans for decades. His wide range of accomplishments across numerous sports and championship events is among the most impressive this industry has ever seen, ESPN President John Skipper said in a statement.Saunders was also a founding member of the board of directors for The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a charity started by the network after former college basketball coach and ESPN announcer Jim Valvano died of cancer in 1993.He was as close to Jimmy V as anybody at ESPN, said Dick Vitale, who has worked at ESPN for decades with Saunders and considered him one of his closest friends.Vitale said Saunders was a diabetic, but he was not ailing, and the death of one of his closest friends was unexpected. Saunders has been the master of ceremonies at Vitales gala and V Foundation fundraiser in Sarasota, Florida, in 10 of 11 years the event has been held, said the longtime college basketball analyst.When Vitale had to have throat surgery that threatened his career in 2008, Saunders surprised him at the hospital and was there with Vitale before and after the procedure.The doctor told me that there was a good chance it was going to be cancer, Vitale told the AP in a phone interview. I said, `John, do me a favor. When you come in that room after just give me thumbs up if its not ... and if it is dont do anything. And when I woke, the first guy I saw after surgery was John and I saw thumbs up and we hugged.Vitale added: He was like family. Im so shocked.The news of Saunders death was reported on ESPNs morning edition of SportsCenter from the Olympics in Brazil by anchor Hannah Storm, who struggled to compose herself enough to get through the announcement.Johns passion for his family, his nation, his favorite sport & the V foundation will stay with me forever, NBCs Mike Tirico, a longtime ESPN colleague of Saunders, tweeted. As will his kindness and support.Saunders death came less than two years after the network lost another popular broadcaster, Stuart Scott, at the age of 49 in January 2015 after a bout with cancer.Saunders was born in the Toronto area and grew up near Montreal.He was very proud to be Canadian, said Leo Rautins, the former NBA player who teamed with Saunders on Toronto Raptors telecasts. Hed mention it every time he could.Saunders played hockey at Western Michigan from 1974-76, teaming with former New York Rangers president and general manager Neil Smith.One of saddest days of my life today as I grieve suddenly losing my best friend of 42 years, John Saunders. Life will never be the same, Smith tweeted.Saunders younger brother, Bernie, played 10 NHL games for the Quebec Nordiques from 1979 to 1981.Saunders started as news director at CKNS Radio in Espanola, Ontario, in 1978. He worked as sports anchor at CKNY-TV in North Bay, Ontario, from 1978 to 1979, and at ATV News in New Brunswick in 1979-80 before he became sports anchor for CITY-TV in Toronto from 1980 to 1982.Saunders worked as a sports anchor at WMAR-TV in Baltimore from 1982 to 1986 before joining ESPN. While at ESPN, he doubled as a play-by-play man for the Raptors.I think youd have a hard time finding anyone to say anything bad about John, Rautins said. He was very giving, very caring, very intelligent.Saunders lived in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, with wife Wanda. They had two daughters, Aleah and Jenna.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, Skipper said. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this extremely difficult time. Wholesale Nike Payaa From China .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Nike Payaa QS Outlet Shop . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. http://www.cheapnikepayaa.com/ . Tracey comes to the Blue Bombers after spending over a decade with Queens University. Most recently he was the schools assistant football coach. Discount Nike Payaa Shoes . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. Clearance Nike Payaa Sale .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. BALTIMORE -- Thrust into the unwanted position of playing out the final weeks of a losing season, the Tampa Bay Rays have found a way to make the situation more tolerable.Evan Longoria homered and drove in five runs, and the last-place Rays again played spoiler in a 7-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.The loss dropped the Orioles two games behind AL East-leading Boston. They fell into a tie with Toronto for the two AL wild cards when the Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels later Thursday.That win by Toronto mathematically eliminated Tampa Bay from playoff contention, but the Rays have won three straight -- including the last two of a three-game series in Toronto. They also defeated the wild card-contending Yankees on Sunday.Its fun that we are playing competitive baseball, Longoria said. Its one thing to go out in a great environment against a team that is a playoff contender, but to be in the game and winning games is the best thing about it.The Rays arent embracing the role of spoiler. Theyre just trying to go out on a high note, and if it hurts their opponent, well so be it.Were playing well and this is great learning experience for all of us in these environments, manager Kevin Cash said.Longoria said: I dont think were coming to the ballpark every day thinking we want to spoil this team or that teams chances of getting to the playoffs.Alex Colome worked the ninth for his 33rd save. After the Orioles got runners at first and third with one out, the right-hander struck out major league home run leader Mark Trumbo and slugger Chris Davis.Baltimore went 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position.Although the temperature was a comfortable 72 degrees and the Orioles are in the midst of a playoff push, the game attracted an announced crowd of only 19,233.Longoria put the Rays up 3-0 before Yovani Gallardo (5-8) got an out. Baltimore answered in the bottom half with a two-run single by MMatt Wieters and a two-run double by J.ddddddddddddJ. Hardy.Tampa Bay pulled even in the second, went ahead in the third and used Longorias two-run single to make it 7-4 in the fourth.When Orioles manager Buck Showalter emerged from the dugout to pull Gallardo in the fourth, many of the hometown fans cheered. They subsequently booed the right-hander as he walked toward the dugout.Gallardo gave up six runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. In 21 starts this season, hes surrendered 21 earned runs in the first inning.Baltimores Nolan Reimold hit into a double play with runners on the corners in the fourth. The Rays worked out of an even bigger jam in the fifth, retiring Manny Machado, Trumbo and Davis with runners at second and third.Brad Boxberger (4-1) got the last two outs in the fifth.Run-scoring groundouts by Hardy and Michael Bourn made it 7-6 in the eighth.TRAINERS ROOMRays: 1B Nick Franklin left in the fifth inning with a left hamstring strain. ... 1B Logan Morrison will get a second opinion on whether surgery is required for his season-ending left wrist injury. Morrison was injured while taking a swing Sunday and received an MRI this week.Orioles: OF Steve Pearce will be sidelined until the final week of the season, maybe longer, after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his throwing arm Wednesday. ... RHP Darren ODay (rotator cuff strain) will throw a simulated game Friday.UP NEXTRays: Chris Archer (8-18, 4.05 ERA) starts Friday night, seeking to pad his AL-leading strikeout total of 217. He also hopes to avoid setting the franchise record for losses in a season. The right-hander is currently tied with Tanyon Sturtze, who lost 18 in 2002.Orioles: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (7-11, 5.98) strives to win his fourth straight start. Hes got a 2.83 ERA in his last four outings. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '