Scott Van Pelt

Scott Van Pelt combined his knowledge of sports with a relaxed on-camera presence to become one of the most respected and recognizable sportscasters on television. He established himself with local coverage of Washington, D.C. sports and carefully honed his skills over seven years with the Golf Channel. Van Pelt's proficiency in covering the action from first tee to clubhouse garnered him visibility and desirability in the industry. ESPN wooed him in 2001, and Van Pelt became a regular anchor on the daily highlight roundup "SportsCenter" (ESPN, 1979-). He carried the comedic torch lit by previous anchors like Craig Kilborn and Keith Olbermann, routinely referring to the Baltimore Orioles as the "Oreos," among other catch phrases and humorous asides. Van Pelt's wit and ease led to expanded roles with ESPN, including writing for "SportsCenter" and working on ESPN Radio, which established him as one of the most prominent voices in sports.