'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAf/xAAeEAACAgEFAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEAAUGESFRE//EABUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIE/8QAGxEAAgEFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIAAxIiUXH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AJpsTa0G99N1OrFZpaderyxSfWxG7q6EMAoKqSvp96yc2AkFiWJnYmNipIHR4PGMZTSY3uDuFhivJ//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Mike Patrick, a longtime ESPN sports broadcaster known for being the voice of Sunday Night Football from 1987 to 2005, died on April 20 at the age of 80. The news was shared by ESPN through a press release on April 22. As per ESPN's statement, Patrick passed away from natural causes on Sunday at his home in Fairfax, Virginia.
He had previously undergone triple-bypass surgery and carotid artery surgery, both related to heart and blood flow issues.
Mike Patrick began his broadcasting career in 1966 and joined ESPN in 1982, where he worked for thirty-six years. Patrick retired in 2018, with his final broadcast being the 2017 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
ESPN pays heartfelt tribute to longtime broadcaster Mike Patrick
Fans, colleagues, and athletes are mourning the loss of Mike Patrick and celebrating his decades-long contribution to sports media. Burke Magnus, president of content for ESPN, called Patrick one of the most influential on-air voices ESPN has ever had by adding:
"Mike Patrick called countless significant events over decades at ESPN and is one of the most influential on-air voices in our history. In addition to calling ESPN's first-ever regular season NFL game and voicing the 'Sunday Night Football' franchise for 18 seasons, Mike's work on college sports was exceptional."
He further added:
"For 36 years, he called football and men's and women's basketball, including the Women's Final Four and so many historic matchups between ACC rivals Duke and UNC. Our deepest condolences to Mike's family and his many friends throughout the industry."
Dick Vitale, ESPN college basketball analyst and Patrick's former colleague said:
"I'm so sorry to learn about the passing of Mike Patrick. I called him Mr. ACC as he had a great love for doing the big ACC games. Mike had great energy and a keen knowledge of ACC basketball, and I truly enjoyed sitting next to him calling so many special games over the years."
ESPN's basketball analyst, Jay Bilas, paid his tributes by adding:
"So sorry to learn of the passing of the great Mike Patrick. Mike was the voice of ACC Basketball when I was a player, and I had the honor of working with him and calling him a friend. Mike Patrick was a pro’s pro. RIP Mike Patrick."
Mike Patrick covered more than thirty ACC basketball championships and served as ESPN’s lead announcer for the Women’s Final Four, starting in 1996 and continuing for 13 years. Patrick was officially appointed as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force after completing his studies at George Washington University.
Reply
