The sports world was beside itself on Monday after Kenny Mayne announced his departure from ESPN due to being what he called a “salary cap casualty.” The longtime SportsCenter host and media personality had been part of ESPN’s anchor team in one way or another for the last 27 years, and his departure hit hard for many sports fans.
While this is just the latest in a long line of departures from ESPN and in the sports media world as a whole, Monday did provide the opportunity for fans and fellow colleagues to reminisce on some of Mayne’s best moments. Included in that was this incredible tidbit from Mayne’s former ESPN colleague Don Van Natta Jr about how the longtime SportsCenter host landed the gig.
Apparently, when inquiring at ESPN about a possible job, Mayne sent this legendary checklist note as a cover letter of sorts, all but assured he’d get the position.
This is how @Kenny_Mayne snagged the gig of a lifetime. Not surprisingly, he made John Walsh smile. pic.twitter.com/FGceMUy7UZ
— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) May 11, 2021
Now that is some incredible confidence in oneself and one’s abilities! You don’t often see that type of cover letter cross your feed nowadays.
I like how Mayne gave ESPN a few different options here, from hiring him on the spot to getting back to him if ESPN5 ever became a thing.
Not only was this note what landed him his start at ESPN, it also made longtime TV host John Walsh smile with his creativity! What a story, and what a career for Mayne.
