Mike Patrick, a member of the sports broadcasting Hall of Fame whose voice was instantly recognizable across all levels of play, died Sunday in Fairfax, Virginia of natural causes. He was 81 years old. Patrick created a remarkable career that spanned more than 50 years. Not only did he have a profound influence on sports journalism, but particularly on ESPN as an organization.
Patrick’s birth year was 1942. He graduated from The George Washington University and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He started his professional broadcast career in 1966 at WVSC-Radio in Somerset, Pennsylvania. It was his love of sports that drove his meteoric rise through the industry. By 1970, he was sports director at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Florida. He did play-by-play on the Sharks’ telecasts of their World Football League games. In addition to his college football duties, from 1975 to 1982 he announced NFL preseason games for the Washington team.
In 1975, Patrick moved to WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., where he served as a sports reporter and weekend anchor. His career path with ESPN started in 1982, where he earned a track record as an established play-by-play announcer. He announced over 30 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) basketball championships during his career. It was an encore performance, as from 1996 to 2009, he was the voice of ESPN’s Women’s Final Four coverage.
Patrick’s versatility in sports broadcasting included his long tenure as the voice of “Sunday Night Football” from 1987 to 2005. He brought his ideas and passion for cities alive through unique storytelling that truly captivated audiences. Sports fans adored him for his respectfulness and relatability.
His last appearance would be the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on December 30, 2017. After retiring from ESPN in 2018, Patrick looked back on his career with appreciation.
“It’s wonderful to reflect on how I’ve done exactly what I wanted to do with my life,” – Mike Patrick
Through his entire career, Patrick changed the face of college football and basketball broadcasts. His expertise, combined with his trademark charisma, won him a national audience. We are grateful for his service to the sports community, and his contributions will be felt for years to come.
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