Kenny Mayne

Kenny Mayne is an American sports media personality renowned for his work on ESPN, where he served in various capacities until his departure in May 2021. Known for his offbeat style and dry humor, Mayne’s phrases like “thanks for having electricity” and “I am amused by the simplicity of this game!” have become trademarks of his unique presentation style. His role extended beyond the studio as he was instrumental in hosting and contributing to several ESPN shows, including "SportsCenter" and "Sunday NFL Countdown" with his "The Mayne Event" segments, where his creativity shined, employing amusing anecdotes involving sports and culture.

Before joining ESPN, Mayne began his career in television at KLVX-TV in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1982. He then worked at KSTW-TV in the Tacoma/Seattle area, covering various roles from production assistant to weekend sports anchor until 1989. This period honed his distinctive approach to sports broadcasting. In 1994, he joined ESPN2 initially as a SportSmash anchor and a feature reporter for SportsNight, later becoming the original host of ESPN2's weekend auto racing news and highlights programs, "RPM 2Day" and "RPM 2Night." Additionally, Mayne hosted the game show "2-Minute Drill" and ESPN's horse racing coverage, where in 2006, he received the Old Hilltop Award for excellence in covering thoroughbred racing.

In the digital realm, Mayne broadened his impact with original scripted series and offbeat sports coverage. From 2008 to 2011, he produced and starred in "Mayne Street," an original scripted series on ESPN.com, where he played a fictionalized version of himself, navigating the quirky side of sports television. His venture into global sports coverage was marked by "Kenny Mayne’s Wider World of Sports" on ESPN.com, where he explored unusual sports from around the world, reminiscent of ABC's iconic "Wide World of Sports."

Mayne's background extends beyond media into sports and education. A native of Kent, Washington, he attended Wenatchee Valley Community College, where he was an honorable mention junior college All-American quarterback in 1978. He graduated from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas in 1982 with a bachelor of arts degree in broadcasting. During his time at UNLV, he played football and briefly signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks in 1982. Prior to his expansive media career, Mayne also worked in sales for MCI and assembled garbage cans after his early stints in local television. His diverse experiences and longstanding dedication to sports media showcase his versatility and deep engagement with sports culture and broadcasting.