Beloved ‘SportsCenter’ Anchor Says Farewell at End of His Final Show With ESPN

On Friday night, veteran SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett aired his final broadcast for ESPN, as he is leaving the network after 23 years. The decision is in part because of downsizing by the network, but it still means saying goodbye to such a familiar face.

Everett started at ESPN in 2000 and became a pivotal part of the network’s Los Angeles SportsCenter in 2009. Everett worked with Stan Verrett out West, and the two ended up as the faces of the late-night SportsCenter show from Los Angeles.

In the final minutes of Everett’s last episode, ESPN aired a montage of Everett’s best moments and interviews on SportsCenter, including iconic names like Vin Scully and Joe Namath.

ESPN honors Neil Everett before he signs off from SportsCenter for the final time. pic.twitter.com/q42p8EcqJc

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 24, 2023

Following the montage, Everett said goodbye the his viewers by acknowledging the social media love he has received over the past few weeks. While he isn’t on Twitter, Everett mentioned there was one tweet that stuck out that he thought was amusing.

“I have been watching SportsCenter religiously for 20+ years, and I’ve never heard of Neil Everett,” he read.

Then, Verrett gave Everett a picture painted by a viewer of the two of them, and as the credits rolled, Everett signed off with one final line.

"Love is a long road. I'll see you down it."

Neil Everett bids farewell to SportsCenter one last time with longtime partner Stan Verrett pic.twitter.com/BKghg6Vpbl

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 24, 2023

“Love is a long road,” he said, “I’ll see you down it.”