ESPN has laid off plenty of employees in recent years and while some of them quickly aired their grievances online, Karl Ravech soldiered on.
Even after being informed that he was being laid off, Ravech continued to work on the Little League World Series. In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Ravech said that he’s always enjoyed calling the LLWS and was grateful for the opportunity despite how things ended with ESPN.
“Why wouldn’t I do that?” Ravech asked. “To me, being able to do the Little League World Series is a gift. I knew a long time ago when Brent Musburger was calling it, and I was doing the international games and not calling the championship. The list of people that had done that event was a Hall of Fame list of broadcasters. The impact that the Little League World Series, I think, has on the country, let alone has had on me, is significant.”
“Little League is simply the best. End. It is for so many reasons. It means that much to me. When ESPN presented me with the opportunity to call a few more Major League games and the Little League World Series…why wouldn’t I? It’s another opportunity to be a part of something that I think is really significant to the country.”
“Don’t be a jerk.”
Ravech also expressed gratitude to everyone that showed him well-wishes. He believes that he garnered so much goodwill from the fans through the years by being a good person on and off the clock, saying the right things and never being “a jerk.”
“The outpouring has been absolutely overwhelming,” Ravech admitted. “But it is a recognition for those in this field. Be smart. You never know who is watching. Make a good impression. Be a good person. To say the right things. Don’t be a jerk. All those things have served me well in what I’ve seen as the support that I’ve received since that news came out.”
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports.
Ravech has worked in sports broadcasting since the 1980s but joined ESPN in 1993 as an anchor on SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight. His responsibilities included the LLWS, College World Series, golf, basketball and even South Korean baseball. He even appeared in the video game Major League Baseball 2K5.
