John Anderson (sportscaster)

John Anderson
John Anderson
	Anderson in February 2010
Born	1964 or 1965 (age 59–60)
Education	University of Missouri
Occupation	Anchor
Known for	SportsCenter

John Anderson (born 1964 or 1965)^[1] is an American sports commentator who served as host of the ESPN TV program SportsCenter from June 1999 until his retirement in June 2024.^[2]

Early life and education

Anderson grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, graduating from Green Bay Southwest High School. He holds a journalism degree from the University of Missouri.^[3] He is active within the MU Alumni Association and can often be seen at Missouri Tigers sporting events. He served as the grand marshal at Missouri's 2002 homecoming football game.^[3]^[4]

Career

After graduating from college, Anderson worked for KTUL-TV and KOTV-TV in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and KPHO-TV in Phoenix before joining ESPN.

From 2008 to 2014, he and John Henson hosted Wipeout, a reality game show on ABC.^[5]

Anderson was presented with the Bill Teegins Excellence in Sportscasting Award in 2011.^[6]

In 2021, Anderson was a commentator on track and field events at the 2020 Summer Olympics for Olympic Broadcasting Services.^{[citation needed]}

On May 7, 2023, while showing highlights of a Vegas Golden Knights game, Anderson made light of defenseman Zach Whitecloud's last name, calling it "A great name if you're a toilet paper." Anderson apologized to Whitecloud the next morning, and Whitecloud accepted the apology. Whitecloud is the first member of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to play in the National Hockey League.^[7]

In March 2024, Anderson announced he would host his last SportsCenter in June, though he indicated he would continue to work with ESPN on other projects.^[8]

The Missouri School of Journalism announced on June 24, 2024, that they would be hiring Anderson as their Endowed Chair in Radio and Television Journalism and that he would assume the position in January 2025.^[9]

Personal life

Anderson is married to Tamara, and they have two children.^[10]

References

^ Venci, Scott (July 8, 2008). "For Green Bay Southwest Grand John Anderson, Manning the Anchor's Chair on 'SportsCenter' is the Highlight of His Career". The Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. C-2. Five years from now, I would hope to be doing the show. That puts me at 48...
^ Television Week. "Q&A: ESPN's John Anderson". April 2010. Retrieved on May 26, 2013.
^ ^a ^b Mizzou Magazine. "Grand marshals through the years". Fall 2011. Retrieved on May 26, 2013.
^ Mizzou Alumni Association. "Past HCSC". Retrieved on May 26, 2013.
^ Stelter, Brian. "Gluttons for Punishment Are Balm for ABC". New York Times, July 21, 2009. Retrieved on May 26, 2013.
^ Karina Henderson, ESPN "SportsCenter" Anchor John Anderson wins Bill Teegins Award, November 15, 2011, Bricktown Rotary.
^ "ESPN anchor sorry for jeering Whitecloud's name". ESPN.com. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
^ Baer, Jack (March 28, 2024). "Longtime ESPN anchor John Anderson says he's retiring from 'SportsCenter:' 'The operation has changed'". sports.yahoo.com. Verizon Media. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
^ Dutcher, Christian Riley (June 24, 2024). "SportsCenter anchor John Anderson to join University of Missouri faculty". KOMU 8. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
^ Conway, David (July 19, 2011). "Celebrities laud ESPN's John Anderson for charity golf tournament". columbiamissourian.com. The Columbia Missourian. Retrieved March 30, 2024.