Kenny Mayne returns to ‘SportsCenter’ after more than three years away from ESPN

Kenny Mayne returned to SportsCenter for the first time in more than three years and it sounded like he never left.

Mayne joined ESPN’s 2pm edition of SportsCenter Friday afternoon to promote Wiffle Ball (the movie). The 30-minute documentary features Mayne’s attempt at proving he threw a wiffle ball faster than Ken Griffey Jr. more than three decades ago at a Pacific Science Center exhibit. We’re sure the documentary is great, but the fact that it led to Mayne’s return to SportsCenter might be even better.

If Kenny Mayne is back, then SportsCenter is back pic.twitter.com/U5foTQptB0

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 22, 2024

“I’m back,” Mayne said before ushering the first highlight. “But just for this one show and just for part of the show. It’s sort of like when a guy comes in for one day to say he retired as a Seahawk. But I’m not retired, they’re trying to retire me, I ain’t write back. That’s why I’m here to tell you about stuff I am doing, I’ll tell you about that later. But now I’m gonna see if I can remember how to do a highlight.”

That highlight was the Cleveland Browns beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19 on Thursday Night Football. And yes, Kenny Mayne very much remembered how to do a highlight. He even managed to drop a Pete Weber “who do you think you are I am” reference in a highlight that was smooth, entertaining, animated, and reminiscent of the days where SportsCenter was appointment television. It was a highlight worth watching, even though everyone watching already knew and saw what happened on Thursday Night Football more than 15 hours prior.

Mayne’s 27-year tenure at ESPN ended in May, 2021. At the time, Mayne labeled his exit as a “salary cap casualty,” later stating he rejected a 61% pay cut from ESPN to do the same job. Since leaving, Mayne has said he remains at peace with the decision, although he recently acknowledged there are things he misses about doing SportsCenter.

Similarly, SportsCenter misses Kenny Mayne, and sports fans miss the days of SportsCenter being must-see TV.

[SportsCenter]