The NCAA super regional baseball matchup between Alabama, ranked #16, and Wake Forest, ranked #1, ended in a 5-4 victory for the Demon Deacons but a tragedy for the family of ESPN director Kyle Brown, 42. Mr. Brown died of a “medical emergency,” ESPN announced.
In a statement released Sunday, ESPN said, “A 16-year ESPN employee, Kyle was a deeply admired member of our production team — and highly accomplished, having captured two Sports Emmy Awards while working a multitude of sports from baseball and basketball to Monday Night Football and college football.”
ESPN also said, in an article on Mr. Brown’s passing, “Brown, who also played baseball at Ohio State as a pitcher, is survived by his wife, Megan, and their four children.” His four children are Makayla, 14, Carson, 11, Camden, 9, and Madyn, 6.
ESPN personality Kris Budden, in a tribute to Mr. Brown, said, “On Saturday morning, our beloved ESPN director Kyle Brown suffered a medical emergency and tragically passed away at the NCAA super regionals in Winston Salem, North Carolina. An 18-year ESPN employee, Kyle was deeply admired member of our production team, and highly accomplished, having captured two sports Emmy Awards while working a multitude of sports, from baseball and basketball to Monday Night Football and college football. A former Ohio State pitcher, Kyle cherished the opportunities to have a career in sports. His ESPN family wishes to extend our deepest condolences and full support to cow’s loved ones, including his wife, Meghan, their four children, Mikayla Carson, Camden, and Madden, and their beloved dog Rookie. He was 42 years old. Kyle will be greatly missed.” Watch that tribute here:
NCAA Baseball coverage across ESPN, ESPN2 & ESPNU began at noon today with this tribute to Kyle Brown from @KrisBudden pic.twitter.com/l4B7uuXcJT
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) June 11, 2023
The Saturday game between Alabama and Wake Forest was delayed two hours and fifteen minutes due to Mr. Brown’s passing. AWake Forest spokesperson, in a statement on the game’s delay and the general pregame situation, said, “Out of respect from the family and the individual involved, ESPN has requested we do not comment publicly about the event prior to (Saturday’s) game. That includes coaches and student-athletes from both Alabama and Wake Forest.” Further, in an email, ESPN’s senior director of communications, Bill Hofheimer, said: “We are still gathering details related to the medical situation at the Alabama-Wake Forest game.”
Wake Forest won the first, Saturday, game 5-4. After the game, Alabama player Caden Rose said, regarding the Alabama vs. Wake Forest game, “This is the two best teams in the country going at it right now. I don’t care how they have us ranked — these are the best two teams in the country slugging it out.” Rose had a stellar performance during the game, hitting two solo home runs. Speaking about those, he said, “I got some good pitches to hit. No offense to this ballpark, but it doesn’t play the biggest. If you get it up here, it’s gonna go out.”
That comment that the two teams were close together looked accurate in the first game, but less so after the second game, which took place on Sunday, which was a blowout. The Wake Forest Deacons dominated, winning 22-5.
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
"*" indicates required fields