ESPN announced Wednesday that longtime broadcaster John Saunders has died at the age of 61.
A Toronto native and Ryerson University alumni, Saunders was the first play-by-play man for the Raptors, a role he held from 1995 until 2001. Saunders joined ESPN in 1986 and became a versatile star at the network, covering numerous Stanley Cup Finals and World Series, doing play-by-play for various sports and hosting The Sports Reporters, SportsCenter and several other studio shows.
But above all else, Saunders was a role model for many and will be remembered by his peers for his humanity, dignity and professionalism.