Top ESPN Personalities: Part I

It’s the juggernaut that can’t be ignored. More than likely, SportsCenter has escorted you through the years, whether it was with your bowl of cereal before school or while you made your coffee before work.

The fact of the matter is, despite the best efforts of other networks, ESPN and the legion of reports, analysts, and former athletes it employs is the spine of sports news right now. So with that being said, who are the best and brightest in ESPN’s stable?

10. Michael Smith

Another up and comer. His youth is both an impediment to his development and a testament to his talent. While he doesn’t have Mort’s sport-wide credibility (yet), he did announce his presence to the world in confirming the first 28 picks of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Ok, maybe it was more like the first five, but for his youth within the profession, he could be on his way to creating quite a collection of sources around the league.

Why I like him: He does the hard work and reports the facts. I don’t need someone screaming at me, and I don’t need a poetry session. Just give me the latest info so I can fleece someone in my fantasy football league.

9. Jesse Palmer

I know, I know. He was on The Bachelor. He’s Canadian. But look inside your self and see past all that. This guys is money when it comes to analysis and impartially calling a game. Too many commentators feel the need to make themselves part of the entertainment. Palmer just calls the game.

Why I like him: If you’re completely new to football, you wouldn’t know that Palmer played for the Gators, much less that he was a fourth-round pick. He understands that we could care less about the “back when I played” stories that were perfected by Joe Theismann.

8. Kenny Mayne

The incomparable Kenny Mayne has been a cult-favorite of ESPN audiences for years with his bone-dry humor. Now that he has claimed Dan Patrick’s last page in The Magazine, he’s branching out from more than just horse-racing.

Why I like him: His biggest draw is his unassuming wit and deadpan deliveries. He gives those at home enough respect that we can catch and understand his humor instead of telegraphing and laughing maniacally at his own jokes.

7. Chris Mortensen

Mort is the established heavyweight in NFL reporting (Jay Glazer is picking up ground very quickly). His vast network of league sources give him a leg up on most developing stories, but more than anything, his sources are always contributing new material to the NFL news cycle.

Maybe some of the rumors are pure speculation, but I’d rather hear wild speculation than another story about the awesomeness of Brett Favre.

Why I like him: While he doesn’t take himself too seriously, he also is very careful to maintain the balance between credibility and intrigue.

6. Scott Van Pelt

While his radio exploits have me less-than-impressed, as an anchor, this guy is the best. He is the newest incarnation of the quick-witted smart aleck that Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann created as SVP reaches across the sports world to pop culture in many of his references.

Why I like him: He seems more frat-guy than news journalist and this charm, along with his self-deprecation, makes watching SportsCenter more enjoyable because we genuinely like the guy giving us the news

Part II coming tomorrow...