http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070710/ap_en_ce/espn_patrick_7;_ylt=AgomEMIILL1J_z7e.PL_Cr4E1vAI
By RACHEL COHEN, AP Sports Writer Mon Jul 9, 10:22 PM ET
NEW YORK (AP) ? Dan Patrick is leaving ESPN after 18 years, insisting there is no acrimony but saying he was beginning to take his job for granted.
The former SportsCenter anchor announced his decision on his radio show Monday and said his final show will be Aug. 17. Patrick said he hoped to continue working in radio but wasn't sure if he would do any more television.
"It's been home, but I think I was starting to take it for granted, and I did not want to do that," Patrick said on the air. "I did not think that was fair to these great people."
Patrick said ESPN executives tried to talk him out of his decision. He originally planned to make the announcement last week, but they asked him to reconsider.
"If there was animosity, I wouldn't be doing radio shows after this one today," he said.
Patrick recently served as host of the NBA studio program on ABC, NBA Countdown, and the network's game broadcasts, including the NBA finals. He was a SportsCenter anchor from 1989-06.
He has hosted The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio since 1999. During his last week, ESPN Radio will look back at memorable moments from the show.
"Dan has accomplished so much over the past two decades at ESPN and fans and newsmakers have turned to him for his steady and trusted approach," ESPN executive vice president for production Norby Williamson said in a statement. "We wish him the very best."
Patrick was honored as National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 2000 and received a Sports Emmy Award in the Studio Host category in 1998.
He was a sports anchor/reporter for CNN from 1983-89.
By RACHEL COHEN, AP Sports Writer Mon Jul 9, 10:22 PM ET
NEW YORK (AP) ? Dan Patrick is leaving ESPN after 18 years, insisting there is no acrimony but saying he was beginning to take his job for granted.
The former SportsCenter anchor announced his decision on his radio show Monday and said his final show will be Aug. 17. Patrick said he hoped to continue working in radio but wasn't sure if he would do any more television.
"It's been home, but I think I was starting to take it for granted, and I did not want to do that," Patrick said on the air. "I did not think that was fair to these great people."
Patrick said ESPN executives tried to talk him out of his decision. He originally planned to make the announcement last week, but they asked him to reconsider.
"If there was animosity, I wouldn't be doing radio shows after this one today," he said.
Patrick recently served as host of the NBA studio program on ABC, NBA Countdown, and the network's game broadcasts, including the NBA finals. He was a SportsCenter anchor from 1989-06.
He has hosted The Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio since 1999. During his last week, ESPN Radio will look back at memorable moments from the show.
"Dan has accomplished so much over the past two decades at ESPN and fans and newsmakers have turned to him for his steady and trusted approach," ESPN executive vice president for production Norby Williamson said in a statement. "We wish him the very best."
Patrick was honored as National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 2000 and received a Sports Emmy Award in the Studio Host category in 1998.
He was a sports anchor/reporter for CNN from 1983-89.
