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[Gordon Shumway]

RIP.

 

[Spinluck]

RIP

:'(

 

[CreeperBlocks]

I believe he was the first play by play commentator for the Toronto Raptors from 1995 to 2001 with Leo Rautins. RIP.

 

[mentallyinept]

Man, I really loved this guy on air.

Probably the classiest individual on The Sports Reporters, and possibly ESPN as a whole.

Sad day for all involved.

 

[NervousXtian]

Really shouldn't speculate like this.

Why not? Awareness is a big thing, and typically when a cause of death that is noted as not being suspicious isn't named it's typically because it was a suicide.

John was a legend, one of the greats, and one of few greats left at ESPN.

RIP

 

[Brinbe]

RIP to a great journalist and media guy. He's a Toronto institution from his time at City-TV to calling games for the Raps. He was always a champion for the city/country, even when he was on ESPN. It was fantastic to see his success as a worldwide ambassador and rep for the city. He'll be sorely missed.

Here's a fun clip from early in his career in Toronto
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1bel6i_citytv-sports-team-1982_shortfilms

 

[PreFire]

RIP

 

[Petrae]

I used to run karaoke at a place not too far from ESPN, and we occasionally got visitors from the network at the venue. I got the opportunity to meet John once-- he had come in with Chris Berman-- and he was as genuine and personable to meet as I found him to be on the air.

John was a staple at ESPN, and I recall how versatile he was. Very knowledgeable person.

My condolences to his family, his friends, and his colleagues. He will be missed.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

wow, out of no where

 

[jwhit28]

This sucks man, Sports Reporters was one of my favorite things about ESPN. I was listening to Rusillo and Kanell when they had Dick Vitale on talking about how Saunders was there during his throat surgery when it was suspected he had throat cancer, and he broke down and cried. Seemed like he was an even better person than he was sports show host.

 

[cdyhybrid]

Shocking and sad. One of the few true journalists left at ESPN.

RIP

 

[Cabbagehead]

I loved hearing his voice on ESPN fuck man.

 

[Panda Rin]

Fuck, this one sucks....loved his demeanor.
RIP

He seemed healthy as of a few months ago.

 

[neurosyphilis]

RIP. Only 61 too, that's sad. That makes it even scarier for me when I see all these healthy people dying early, yet I got a horrible medical condition and my life span is supposed to be significantly shorter than the average.

-d0hv

 

[lazybones18]

Dick Vitale talking about the passing.

http://www.espn.com/espnradio/play?id=17265547

 

[norm9]

People i enjoy keep dying.

 

[Marvie_3]

Damn. Saunders was great. He was one of the few positives ESPN had left.

 

[vikki]

Weird seeing this earlier. Wasn't sure I was actually seeing it because I was so busy at the time.

RIP

 

[Piggus]

Dick Vitale talking about the passing.

http://www.espn.com/espnradio/play?id=17265547

This is heartbreaking.

 

[Frozenprince]

With Stu gone John Saunders WAS ESPN for me.

Without him there network is totally alien to me.

Rest in piece

 

[abolisher6812]

John Saunders brought a sense of class and sensibility to ESPN who has predominately gone from reporting the news to debating it.

Watching Hannah Storm report the news was heartbreaking.

 

[IISANDERII]

All these years and I didn't know he's from Durham Region!

He'll be missed, RIP