Scott Van Pelt Staying At ESPN: Sportscenter Anchor, Radio Host To Remain In Bristol

By Matt Yoder, Awful Announcing

The news first reported by Jim Miller on Monday night was confirmed later in the evening by the man himself. After weeks of speculation and intrigue as to the future destination of Scott Van Pelt, he announced via Twitter that he was staying at ESPN...

@notthefakeSVP
Scott Van Pelt

Appreciate the interest and support here. Feel very fortunate to have gone through process but glad it's over. Ultimately, ESPN is my home

May 15, 2012 2:08 am via web Reply Retweet Favorite

At ESPN, Van Pelt will surely continue to anchor SportsCenter, host his successful afternoon radio show, and host the network's golf coverage amongst other duties. Once the deal is officially announced with Van Pelt and ESPN, I wouldn't be surprised to see him given a few additional high-profile duties in one of those fancy network press releases.

Scott Van Pelt has grown into one of the biggest stars in the sports media over the last few years and was highly coveted by other networks, especially NBC. Out of ESPN's two highly sought after free agents in this news cycle, I would have thought Van Pelt was the more likely to leave ESPN for NBC over Michelle Beadle when this process began. Alas, it's Beadle that has left for a mix of sports and entertainment at NBC while SVP has stayed in Bristol, Connecticut.

NBC & Comcast had a lot to offer Van Pelt with network television, NBCSN, and Golf Channel. And yet, there aren't too many packages anywhere in sports that can offer what SVP already has at ESPN being one of the top guys on radio and at SportsCenter. The signs have been pointing towards Van Pelt remaining with ESPN in recent weeks with Miller tweeting that he was working beyond his original contract with the WorldWide Leader.

ESPN would have been fine in the long run regardless, but it's an encouraging sign that they did enough to keep Scott Van Pelt, who is one of the top pros in the business. SVP isn't a yeller, nor does he depend on catchphrases and nicknames. Instead, he's intelligent and engaging in each of his roles at ESPN. Hopefully this can be a sign of things to come in Bristol as ESPN rewards more of its personalities in the Van Pelt mold.

WATCH: Scott Van Pelt In 'Sportscenter' Ad

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Comments

[indiegore]

02:48 PM on 05/23/2012

PACER PLAYERS SHOULD SHOW UP WITH PROTECTION ON THEIR FACES. I also suggest they not brush their teeth, let the bad taste in their mouths inspire them... "Let the bodies hit the floor", should be on repeat in the locker room, 2 hours before the game, untill the opening tip. COACH I beg of you, to dress Fezz, and Pendergraph. Paybacks are a you know what.

[indiegore]

02:31 PM on 05/23/2012

SCOTT VAN PELT is the best they have... It seems to me that no one has been watching this series. Amundson, the other white guy, is the one who fouled Haslem... If you watch that incident you would notice, how he was playing way too close. Second Hansbrough went for the ball, Wade just folded up, when getting blocked, as usual, putting himself in that predicament. Mind you Dwayne Wade had just recieved 2 ,and ones, up till hansbrough made sure he wouldn't get that shot to fall. Dwayne Wade already, got away with a blind side tackle on Collison. Pacers will bounce back like they bounced of the ground after those bush league tactics the Miami players are aloud to get away with.

[Meerkatx]

01:30 AM on 05/17/2012

I like Van Pelt. I enjoy his dry wit and humor. ESPN has no clue how to utilize him well though. They would rather giver Cowherd a tv show and he's nothing but a windbag without any real personality or opinion.

[Dr Confuso]

05:52 PM on 05/16/2012

Another strange looking ESPN mouth.

[ohiopositive]

03:02 PM on 05/16/2012

he's ok...not great, not bad. Like his radio show better than the TV stuff though

[jayquintana]

05:37 PM on 05/16/2012

Agree completely. I stopped watching Sports Center because I was tired of all the shtick. Mercifully, ESPN radio is relatively shtick-free.

[El Chingaso]

01:55 PM on 05/19/2012

And "shtick" is so over-the-top these days...that "content" is relegated to the cheap-seats.

Had to move on -- except in very rare instances.

[PRETTYWOMAN-2]

01:51 PM on 05/16/2012

aren't there anyother ''talent'' out there NBC/sports could ....train/hire/steal ?

[Bacek Info]

01:36 PM on 05/16/2012

The Scott Van Pelt show is the best on ESPN Radio. He and Russillo are very entertaining. The Southie characters crack me up. The good thing about this duo is that they don't have to take the most polarizing stance on an issue to move the meter. Cowherd and Gottlieb have to take idiotic positions in order to keep the listeners' interest. Glad Van Pelt's radio show will continue. "And thee cheeldren daance"

[mavricktopgun]

01:17 PM on 05/16/2012

I'll admit one thing, they are funny. Even when they don't have a clue about the sport they are talking about, they are funny. LMAO Scott Van Pelt is a great "straight man" for the comedy releive crew at Sports Center. They aren't meant to be taken seriously. That's the funny part. LMAO

[Robert Brooks]

01:21 PM on 05/16/2012

Right. He and Kenny Mane (Maine, Mayne...) make sports funny when the leauges have taken the fun out of them.

[PRETTYWOMAN-2]

01:48 PM on 05/16/2012

Sorry,.....mane doesn't do-it for mee on sunday-NFL,.......he's like ~finger-nailz/on chalk-brd~ !

[CANTHATBE]

12:07 PM on 05/16/2012

Is that a real job, reading the teleprompter.

[jimjorohr]

07:32 PM on 05/16/2012

The article isn't about Obama.

[huffyISaHottie]

08:39 PM on 05/19/2012

Where did people get the idea that you can walk into a room and read a teleprompter and make it look and sound interesting?...The teleprompter is just an aid

[chiodo08]

08:38 AM on 05/16/2012

he fits their smart a55 brand well....now go back to reporting *sic err gossiping on everything other than the game....

[local21]

02:21 AM on 05/16/2012

Van Pelt gets props for his golf coverage