| Tom Mees | |
 Tom Mees on the SportsCenter set. | |
| Born | October 13, 1949 Springfield, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died | August 14, 1996 (aged 46) Southington, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Burial Park and Mausoleum East Brunswick, New Jersey |
| Alma mater | University of Delaware, 1972 |
| Occupation | Sportscaster |
| Spouse(s) | Michelle Mees |
| Children | 2 daughters |
Thomas E. Mees (October 13, 1949 – August 14, 1996) was an American sportscaster best known for his role in hosting professional and collegiate ice hockey and for being a prominent personality on ESPN during that network's early years.[1][2]
Early life and career[]
Mees began his career as a student at the University of Delaware in Newark. After graduation in 1972, he became the sports director at WILM-AM radio in Wilmington.[3] Mees returned to Delaware in 1992 when he announced the Blue Hens' America East Championship for ESPN from the field house.
After six years in Wilmington and one year at WECA-TV in Tallahassee, Florida, Mees was hired by ESPN as one of their first on-air personalities for the network's launch in 1979 on September 7.[2][3] In 2005, he was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame.[4]
ESPN[]
Mees was a lead anchor on SportsCenter from 1979 to 1985 when he took on hosting duties for NHL on ESPN. ESPN later lost the NHL contract to SportsChannel America, and he returned full-time to SportsCenter. When the NHL returned to ESPN in 1992–93, he hosted and worked play-by-play NHL games during the season with Darren Pang, Brian Engblom, and John Davidson as his analysts,[5][6][7][8][9] and he hosted SportsCenter in the off-season. Mees was an early advocate of NCAA Ice Hockey on ESPN, worked play-by-play for the Frozen Four (NCAA Hockey's championship tournament), and contributed to the increased visibility of that tournament.[10]
Other sports Mees called for ESPN included college basketball, college football, and Major League Baseball. He also anchored the network's coverage of the United States Football League in the 1980s.
By the 15th anniversary of ESPN, Mees (along with Chris Berman and Bob Ley) was one of three original SportsCenter anchors still with the network.[11]
Death[]
On August 14, 1996, Mees, who did not know how to swim, drowned in a neighbor's swimming pool in Southington, Connecticut.[12][13][14] Police initially said that Mees had jumped into the pool to save his younger daughter but later said they did not know how he ended up in the water and classified his death as an accident.[15][16][17][18][19]
He and Michelle, his wife of almost 10 years, had two daughters: Lauren who was 8 years old and Gabrielle who was 4 at the time of his death.[20][21]
References[]
- ↑ Raissman, Bob. "Mees' fingerprints on ESPN from network's dubious start", August 16, 1996, p. 32.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kern, Mike. "ESPN show set standard", December 3, 1988, p. B3.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "ESPN sportscaster Mees drowns in pool accident", August 15, 1996, p. 12.
- ↑ Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in Wilmington, Delaware - 2005.
- ↑ Frager, Ray (1993-05-28). ESPN gives hockey its moment on center ice (en-US).
- ↑ By (1993-04-16). REECE SAYS TAYLOR’S STRATEGY IS TO PLAY TO HIS STRENGTH (en-US).
- ↑ Nidetz, Steve (1993-04-19). ABC DROPS PUCK IN HAWKS PLAYOFF BROADCAST (en-US).
- ↑ Pergament, Alan (1993-04-20). PRESIDENT DAZZLES KB'S BOYD; ESPN SWITCHES JIM SCHOENFELD (en).
- ↑ Nidetz, Steve (1994-04-18). LITTLE WONDER PANG A TOP HOCKEY ANALYST (en-US).
- ↑ 27 years ago today: Morrison buries the rebound in OT... | mgoblog.
- ↑ "ESPN celebrates 15 years", September 2, 1994, p. B2.
- ↑ "ESPN announcer dead after swimming accident", August 15, 1996, p. 3D.
- ↑ "Tom Mees, 46, ESPN Broadcaster, Drowns", The New York Times, 1996-08-15, p. D22. (en-US)
- ↑ Archives, L. A. Times (1996-08-15). ESPN Sportscaster Mees Drowns in Pool Accident (en-US).
- ↑ "Sportscaster, 46, Downs In Pool In Front Of Kids", August 15, 1996, p. B1.
- ↑ Hooper, Ernest. Mees' death stuns industry (en).
- ↑ Archives, L. A. Times (1996-08-15). ESPN Sportscaster Mees Drowns in Pool Accident (en-US).
- ↑ Everson, Darren. "ESPN'S TOM MEES DROWNS", Washington Post, August 14, 1996. (en-US)
- ↑ Stewart, Larry (1996-08-16). Berman's Loss This Week Far Outweighs His Gain (en-US).
- ↑ "Drowning listed as cause of Mees' death", August 16, 1996, p. 4C.
- ↑ By (1997-08-10). MICHELLE MEES FINDS A WAY TO MOVE ON, WITH GRACE (en-US).
External links[]
- 1984 USFL - ESPN: Tom Mees interviews Commissioner Chet Simmons via YouTube
- Tom Mees at Find a Grave
| NHL on ABC | |||||||||
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| Related programs | ESPN National Hockey Night - Olympics on ABC (Miracle on Ice) | ||||||||
| Related articles | Ratings - History of the NHL on United States television - Stanley Cup Finals television ratings | ||||||||
| Commentators | All-Star Game - Stanley Cup Finals (American television) | ||||||||
| Key figures | Chris Berman - Mike Emrick - Steve Levy - Tom Mees - Al Michaels - Bob Miller - Sam Rosen - John Saunders - Dave Strader - Gary Thorne
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| Stanley Cup Finals | 2000 (Games 3-6) - 2001 (Games 3-7) - 2002 (Games 3-5) - 2003 (Games 3-7) - 2004 (Games 3-7)
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| All-Star Game | 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004
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