The Mort Report.
“Let’s go to Chris Mortensen, now, with the latest…”
How many of us who are older than 38 rushed home, or back to our college dorms or apartments, and turned on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” specifically to hear what was happening in the NFL?
This current generation knows Adam Schefter, and rightfully so; Schefter is great. But for a certain age, Mortensen, who passed away at 72 years old on Sunday, was THE NFL insider. It wasn’t official until we heard Mortensen SAY it was, in one form or another.
And Mortensen’s voice is silent now, but he’ll be missed.
The Associated Press’s obituary on Mortensen (Chris Mortensen, longtime NFL reporter for ESPN, dies at 72) is eloquent and somber, and included quotes from Peyton Manning and others. He was widely-respected for his ability to pull information from across the league before current technology existed in a tight-lipped business where jobs are dependent upon security, even created upon it.
“He’s just one of the sweetest souls you will have ever met, and he loved his sport,” NFL Network analyst Daneil Jeremiah said. “That’s why when we found out about this, the last thing I want to do is come out here. But, man, he would punch me in the face if we didn’t if we didn’t do this and have fun and enjoy this great game that he loved so much.”
And from Schefter, Mortensen’s protegee, himself?
“An absolutely devastating day. Mort was one of the greatest reporters in sports history, and an even better man,” said ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter on social media. “Mort was the very best. He will be forever missed and remembered.”
