Mike Patrick, Sunday evening voice NFL Games sur ESPN, died at 80

Mike Patrick, a versatile sports lace for ESPN who called the national football league matches on Sunday evening for 18 years, died Sunday in Fairfax, Virginia. He was 80 years old.

His death in a hospital was confirmed by his doctor, Dr. Mark Vasiliadis. Kevin Kiley, a friend and former ESPN colleague, said that Mr. Patrick had been treated for heart and kidney disease.

Mr. Patrick was one of ESPN’s best known advertisers, calling university basketball, football and baseball, in addition to the NFL matches. He brought a dominant voice and a discreet style that allowed analysts to work with him easily.

“He was probably such a clear advertiser that I never worked,” said Fred Gaudelli, the producer of the “Sunday Night Football” games for ESPN for 11 years, in an interview. “He had a very natural way to announce, not as a carnival shelter or a crier.”

Paul Maguire, who worked with Mr. Patrick and Joe Theismann at the Sunday evening games, said: “One thing about Mike is that he made the three stand work. He was the leader. Joe and I were disciples when he took the reins. ”

ESPN, launched in 1979, did not obtain television rights from the NFL Games before eight years later. It was a coup for the wired network, even if the package was for matches played only in the second half of the season. Mr. Patrick has hardly obtained the post.