I'm Older Than ESPN...Really?

So guess who has a birthday coming up on Sunday? You got it, ESPN and it's Emmy winning program Sportscenter turns 30 on Sunday. What? Sportscenter has been around 30 years? Yes it has. To celebrate this moment, the 11:30 est/8:30 pst Sportcenter will be co-hosted by Chris Berman, John Saunders and Bob Ley. Let's look back at some of the highlights from the past 30 years. There have been hosts like Berman, Dan Patrick, Robin Roberts, Keith Oblermann, Craig Kilborn and Leslie Visser to name a few. I'll give you my top three favorite anchors and favorite moments from them on Sportscenter.

First and foremost is Chris Berman. He has been there since the start. I met him once in Anaheim, CA and he had been signing autographs for like 30 minutes before a Yankees-Angels game in 1989 and at the time I was playing little league and wearing a San Fransisco Giants hat. He was all done and had to go upstairs to call the game and he stopped and signed one more autograph. We all know what a big S.F. fan he is. I mean come on he picked 49ers vs. Bills in the Super Bowl for like 15 straight years. My favorite moment watching him on Sportscenter had to be him remembering the 1981 NFC Championship Game and "The Catch". Wow, Berman looked young!

Next is Dan Patrick. Patrick joined ESPN in 1989 and was there until leaving his radio program in 2007. I met Patrick at an ESPN Club in Orlando, Florida back in 1998. He was very friendly and approachable. He coined his famous phrase, "En Fuego" and he and Keith Olberman were co-hosts of Sunday night Sportscenter which they called "The Big Show". Favorite Dan Patrick moment actually came on a commercial when he and Kenny Mayne were in German-style overalls and you can tell Patrick is trying to hold it together.

The final anchor that I selected is a bit more obscure but it is none other then Charlie Steinner. Steinner was great and joined ESPN in 1988 and was there until 2002. If you have ever seen his bloopers outtakes, they are hilarious. But his greatest moment also came on a commercial when ESPN was trying to find out what they would do with the year 2000 coming and the dreaded "Y2K" bug. I can still here him yell out, "Follow me! Follow me to freedom!"

Well those are just a few of the moments that I remember from growing up and watching Sportscenter. I'm sure that there will be great moments to come and some that I have forgotten. Let me know what you favorite moments are!

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