Hannah Storm was faced with every reporter's worst nightmare on Wednesday afternoon: She had to announce the death of a colleague and good friend. On live television. The SportsCenter anchor was hosting ESPN's lead show from Brazil, in honor of the Summer Olympics, when the shocking news came down that John Saunders was dead . A fixture at the company since 1986, Saunders passed away suddenly at the age of 61. He had served for years as host of The Sports Reporters, whole covering everything at the cable network, from professional hockey to Major League Baseball All-Star Games to college football. “John was an extraordinary talent and his friendly, informative style has been a warm welcome to sports fans for decades,” said ESPN President John Skipper upon his passing. “His wide range of accomplishments across numerous sports and championship events is among the most impressive this industry has ever seen. “More importantly, John was a beloved and devoted family man who cared deeply about people and causes, as evidenced by his long-standing efforts as a passionate board member for The V Foundation for Cancer Research. “He was one of the most significant and influential members of the ESPN family, as a colleague and mentor, and he will be sorely missed. “Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this extremely difficult time.” Incredibly, this was the second time Storm had been on live television when a co-worker died. She was also forced to react in the moment when Stuart Scott died of cancer last year. Watch her handle the responsibility as nobly and as professionally as one possibly can under such a circumstance:
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Hannah Storm Breaks Down Over Death of John Saunders
