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Emotional moment legendary ESPN anchor signs off SportsCenter for the FINAL time after 25 years as host
Legendary SportsCenter anchor John Anderson signed off from ESPN for the final time on Friday night with an emotional moment alongside longtime colleague Steve Levy.
The network dedicated the final segment of its Friday night telecast of its flagship show to the departing Anderson, with cameos from anchors that have worked with him over the last 25 years.
The tributes came from Levy himself, Linda Cohn, Jay Harris, David Lloyd, and many more.
Anderson is taking a position at his alma mater, Missouri, as the chair of the university's radio and television journalism school.
Before the cameras faded to black and transitioned to another program, Anderson gave his thanks to everyone at the network.
John Anderson signed off on his final episode of SportsCenter on Friday evening on ESPN
'I am really grateful. You could name a billion people who have been great here, actually more like thousands,' Anderson started.
'But if (former ESPN vice president) Al Jaffe doesn’t hire me, like so many of us, none of it happens. So we’ll go with Al Jaffe and then everybody in the wake of that I am grateful and thankful for,' Anderson said.
'I really kept telling people, I’d just like to do this as a regular show and just quietly slip into the night,' Anderson added.
Levy retorted: 'How’s that working out?'
'I think we’ve accomplished that,' Anderson said sarcastically. 'I think this was classically understated the entire time and I could just walk away.'
Anderson stopped the joking to get serious in his final seconds on-air.
'I’m indebted to a bunch of people. I’ve always said Linda Cohn helped make my career here because she’s the first person that I sat next to, and she was a "made’ guy" so I had instant credibility,' Anderson said.
'And then when I got to work with you, it went even more, because I was next to you, and everyone knows Steve "TV" Levy,' Anderson continued. 'And I benefitted greatly from being next to you so many times.
'We had so many great times, except for the night we were here and it was a 22-inning game in San Diego. But I don’t have to worry about that anymore because (ESPN anchor) Zubin (Mehenti) will be doing all my shows,' Anderson concluded.
As the credits rolled, Anderson and Levy embraced, with the pair both emotional in the moment.