History of Kenny Mayne in Timeline
Kenneth Wheelock Mayne is a well-known figure in American sports media, particularly for his tenure at ESPN spanning from 1994 to 2021. He gained recognition as the host of "Kenny Mayne's Wider World of Sports" on ESPN.com and contributed regularly to "Sunday NFL Countdown" with his distinctive "Mayne Event" segment. His work at ESPN was characterized by a dry wit that became a hallmark of his broadcasting style.
1959: Birth of Kenny Mayne
Kenny Mayne was born in either 1959 or 1960.
1960: Birth of Kenny Mayne
Kenny Mayne was born in either 1959 or 1960.
1978: Junior College All-American Quarterback Honorable Mention
In 1978, while attending Wenatchee Valley College, Kenny Mayne received an honorable mention as a junior college All-American quarterback.
1982: Graduation from UNLV
Kenny Mayne graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) with a degree in broadcasting in 1982.
1982: Early Television Career Begins
Kenny Mayne's television career began in 1982 with a short stint at KLVX-TV in Las Vegas before moving to KSTW-TV in Seattle.
1994: Kenny Mayne Joins ESPN
In 1994, Kenny Mayne started working at ESPN after sending them a note inquiring about a job.
1994: Start at ESPN
Kenny Mayne started working at ESPN in 1994.
1994: Kenny Mayne Joins ESPN
Kenny Mayne started working for ESPN in 1994 as a SportSmash anchor on ESPN2.
1995: Starts as RPM 2Night Anchor
Kenny Mayne became the anchor for the weekend edition of RPM 2Night, starting in 1995.
August 1997: End of RPM 2Night Anchor Role
In August 1997, Kenny Mayne finished his role as the anchor of the weekend edition of RPM 2Night.
1998: Appearance in BASEketball
In 1998, Kenny Mayne appeared in the film "BASEketball".
1999: Appearance on The Drew Carey Show
In 1999, Kenny Mayne played himself in an episode of "The Drew Carey Show" titled "Tracy Bowl".
January 17, 2007: New ESPN Contract
On January 17, 2007, Kenny Mayne signed a new one-year contract with ESPN to do features, cover horse racing, and return to SportsCenter.
October 2, 2008: Mayne Street Web Series Launch
Beginning on October 2, 2008, Mayne starred in ESPN's first scripted web series, "Mayne Street".
2008: Publishes First Book
In 2008, Kenny Mayne published his first book, "An Incomplete and Inaccurate History of Sport".
2010: Appearance in Kung Fu Magoo
In 2010, Kenny Mayne appeared as himself in the animated film "Kung Fu Magoo".
December 2011: Television Debut of Wider World of Sports
A television version of "Kenny Mayne's Wider World of Sports", featuring highlights from the web series, aired on ESPN/ABC in December 2011. Season 2 continued the series, taking Mayne to several more countries for more unusual sports.
2011: Launch of Kenny Mayne's Wider World of Sports
ESPN launched "Kenny Mayne's Wider World of Sports" in 2011, an online video series showcasing Mayne's global travels and participation in unique sporting events.
October 15, 2013: Return to SportsCenter
On October 15, 2013, Kenny Mayne returned to SportsCenter after a five-year absence, having signed a new contract with ESPN earlier that month.
2015: End of New ESPN Contract
Kenny Mayne's contract with ESPN, which involved anchoring SportsCenter and hosting special features, ran through 2015.
2020: 2020 Summer Olympics Coverage
Kenny Mayne co-hosted coverage of the 2020 Summer Olympics on Peacock.
May 10, 2021: Departure from ESPN
On May 10, 2021, Mayne announced his departure from ESPN.
September 2021: Hosts Tokyo Tonight on Peacock
From July to September 2021, Kenny Mayne co-hosted "Tokyo Tonight" on Peacock, covering the 2020 Summer Olympics.
2021: Kenny Mayne Leaves ESPN
In 2021, after 27 years, Kenny Mayne left ESPN after declining a significant pay cut.