M-Dog

August 10th, 2016 at 12:51 PM ^

I really liked him and associated him with what is great about college football.  He did funny stuff in the "This is Sports Center" commercials too.

He will be greatly missed.  

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257573

DK81

August 10th, 2016 at 2:50 PM ^

After reading the comments and learning about his true character I retract my statement. I could go on defending my intial point with some specific odd starements from that night but it seems pointless and not in good taste. RIP



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Joined: 02/11/2012

MGoPoints: 595

shoes

August 10th, 2016 at 12:54 PM ^

It seems to me that he was rare in his profession in that everyone liked him. People like analysts/ announcers for sometimes very subjective reasons. It is increasingly rare to find those whom not only don't offend someone, but who bring a smile to your face.

He was very professional, very good, and will be missed.

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 9660

MGoVoldemort

August 10th, 2016 at 12:55 PM ^

The dots seem to be connecting for this to be even more tragic. If you are struggling with depression, please, please, please seek help. There is no shame in admitting you are struggling with something, because depression is very serious.

Joined: 07/08/2011

MGoPoints: 5294

Bando Calrissian

August 10th, 2016 at 12:57 PM ^

I don't know why but this one is hitting me hard. One of the greats, with (IIRC) a Michigan connection (supposedly he was very briefly a student before transferring to WMU). A really great loss.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 68275

Bando Calrissian

August 10th, 2016 at 1:01 PM ^

Here's the blurb for the upcoming book John U. Bacon wrote with Saunders:

 

In Playing Hurt, a leading figure in the sports world—the quintessential “man's man,” who seems to have it all—confesses his constant battle with depression and how it nearly cost him his life. John Saunders—stellar athlete and respected sportscaster—welcomes readers into the heart of his desperate struggle against depression: from insights into the illness's root causes to the nature of modern treatments, from both a medical and cultural perspective. His story unfolds as so many of our lives do—among family, friends, and colleagues—but it also peers into places we don't often discuss openly—psych wards and hospitals. Here is the honest story of a public figure facing his own mental illness head on, and emerging far better off for his effort.
Really hoping this isn't a projection, but.. Just too sad.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 68275

1201 S. Main St.

August 10th, 2016 at 5:01 PM ^

If he played hockey from the time he was a young kid all the way through college, I wouldn't discount the idea of it being some form of CTE.  Those are prime years for your brain to develop.  Hockey, like other contact sports, was a different game 40+ years ago.  Not saying he had CTE, but given some of the things we do and don't know about it, whose to tell for sure?  

Joined: 10/09/2015

MGoPoints: 844

JamieH

August 10th, 2016 at 5:50 PM ^

Of COURSE he could have developted CTE from 4 years of playing college hockey.  Who knows how many head shots he took in college?   Hockey is a violent sport, and back when he played, concussion protocol was non-existant.  Plus he could have had other concussions when he was younger.  No one payed attention to concussions back then. 


He could have been fighting the effects of it for YEARS without anyone outside of his personal circle knowing anything about it. 

Joined: 09/05/2009

MGoPoints: 28331

Qmatic

August 10th, 2016 at 1:33 PM ^

I know when people die, everyone always has nice things to say about the deceased. In this case though, I sense true genuineness in all the great things people are saying about John Saunders. He was a professional through and through, and life just should not end this early



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ScruffyTheJanitor

August 10th, 2016 at 2:28 PM ^

Somber? Sure. Empathetic? You betcha. Angry? A couple of times, sure.

But real sadness? A sense of loss? I dunno, I have always felt like you need to know a person, to have spent some time with them to really miss them. (Kids are another matter, of course. I'm not a monster)

There are two times I was genuinely sad hearing about the death of a famous person. The first was Nick Adenhart (I am an Angels fan) and the second was today. I don't know why, but it feels almost like you just told me a good friend from high school died. I have probably heard and watched John Saunders since I could form memories. This sucks. Screw you, 2016.

Joined: 02/03/2011

MGoPoints: 12197

Jey9

August 10th, 2016 at 2:38 PM ^

Does anyone else remember him doing a small weekend morning show on WTKA with Dave Shand? John Saunders was one of my favorite. :(

Joined: 08/10/2016

MGoPoints: 3

MAccLA

August 10th, 2016 at 8:43 PM ^

I watched him every Sunday on Sports Reporters and always felt something was missing when he was away...sort of feel similar to when Tim Russert died...maybe b/c they were such constant fixtures in my Sunday mornings.

Joined: 07/21/2013

MGoPoints: 2038

bluewithenvy

August 10th, 2016 at 11:13 PM ^

John Saunders was the only reason I'd even watch the halftime announcements during CFB season. He is truly one of the best announcers I've seen on TV, I will miss him dearly during halftimes of the upcoming CFB season.

Joined: 09/07/2014

MGoPoints: 304