STrib: Mark Rosen announces his departure from WCCO-TV after 50-year career

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per STrib:

Mark Rosen, one of the most enduring and endearing personalities in Minnesota broadcast history, announced Monday that he’s retiring from the WCCO, Channel 4, sports desk next year.

“It’s been spectacular,” Rosen told the TV audience near the top of the 10 p.m. broadcast. Anchor Amelia Santaniello said her longtime colleague had earned his place on the “Mount Rushmore of WCCO.”

Rosen, 66, plans to sign off in April following coverage of college basketball’s Final Four tournament in Minneapolis. That would be 50 years to the month since he first walked into the CBS affiliate as a high school student eager to learn the craft.

His exit could come sooner, however. Much depends on the health of his wife, Denise, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in July.

Rosen, already the longest-tenured TV sports personality in any major U.S. market, took August off to help in her recovery from surgery, and realized that spending time with her in the evenings was more important than chasing athletes or reading scores. Even things as seemingly routine as enjoying Amy Poehler’s reality-competition series “Making It” felt precious.

“We’d be watching these shows together on the couch on a Tuesday night and I’d think, ‘Is this what it’s like? Is this what normal people do?’ ” Rosen said Friday during an interview at Brit’s Pub, across the street from the TV station. “It just felt right. Home is where my energies need to be right now. I mean, I’ve never been home at night in my whole adult life.”

He doesn’t plan to be a full-time retiree, however. He hopes to expand his role at sports-radio station KFAN, where he has been a frequent contributor for many years, but he would be off the air by 3 p.m., leaving his evenings free.

http://www.startribune.com/mark-ros...-from-wcco-tv-after-50-year-career/494868611/

Go Gophers!!
 

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Go Gophers!!
 

The Mount Rushmore of local sports broadcasting, I'd say.

The word "affable" seems to have been created to describe Mark. I don't know of anyone who's had a bad interaction with him.
 

Unbelievable career. Think of the teams, players, coaches and events he covered.

I believe he was at the Miracle on Ice.

Awesome guy too, from what everyone ever has said. I wonder if his wife being sick led him to this?
 

Unbelievable career. Think of the teams, players, coaches and events he covered.

I believe he was at the Miracle on Ice.

Awesome guy too, from what everyone ever has said. I wonder if his wife being sick led him to this?

I take it you didn't read the OP post or the article linked in the original post.
 


The Mount Rushmore of local sports broadcasting, I'd say.

The word "affable" seems to have been created to describe Mark. I don't know of anyone who's had a bad interaction with him.

Stepping out for good reason and while he is still capably functioning. Sid should have done the same thing.
 

Stepping out for good reason and while he is still capably functioning. Sid should have done the same thing.

I wonder if Rosie will go cold turkey or if he'll still do some gigs and appearances.

Edit:

He doesn’t plan to be a full-time retiree, however. He hopes to expand his role at sports-radio station KFAN, where he has been a frequent contributor for many years, but he would be off the air by 3 p.m., leaving his evenings free.
 

Stepping out for good reason and while he is still capably functioning. Sid should have done the same thing.

Sid says if he retires he will drop dead within a week. I believe him.
 

It's pretty amazing that WCCO and KSTP have had the same sports anchors since I was a kid. Will miss Rosie.
 



I take it you didn't read the OP post or the article linked in the original post.

I did read it. I guess my question is if he was considering this before she got sick and thats why he ultimately made the decision. Unlike Sid, I don't think Rosen wants to work forever.
 

It's pretty amazing that WCCO and KSTP have had the same sports anchors since I was a kid. Will miss Rosie.

Pretty impressive given the cut throat nature of TV. Didn't KSTP try to can their guy years ago, but there was a paperwork snafu that allowed him to stay on? My memory is hazy.
 

Pretty impressive given the cut throat nature of TV. Didn't KSTP try to can their guy years ago, but there was a paperwork snafu that allowed him to stay on? My memory is hazy.

I vaguely recall he was leaving on his own and changed his mind. I could be wrong. That must have been 20+ years ago.
 

I don't know of anyone who's had a bad interaction with him.

I worked at WCCO in the newsroom during college and i would wholeheartedly agree with your above statement.
 



STrib: Mark Rosen leaving WCCO-TV in January, earlier than expected

Sports anchor Mark Rosen accelerated Tuesday his plans to retire from WCCO-TV after roughly 50 years on the air.

“I am moving that date up to Jan. 10,” Rosen told WCCO viewers. “There are no words to express the appreciation for the outpouring of support my family has received during this difficult time.”

Rosen’s wife, Denise, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in July.

Rosen first shared the news of his retirement earlier this fall, but had planned to stay at the station through the Final Four basketball championships in April.

In an interview with the Star Tribune, Rosen said he was still trying to absorb “the whole thing.”

“As our old friend Kirby Puckett said, ‘No one is promised tomorrow’ and that’s what we’re dealing with here,” he said, “I’ve been working morning ’til night. I just felt it was the right time to say, ‘Enough is enough.’ ”

Rosen said he’ll continue to work at sports-radio station KFAN, where he has been a frequent contributor for many years but he would be off the air by 3 p.m., leaving his evenings free.

http://www.startribune.com/mark-rosen-leaving-wcco-tv-in-january-earlier-than-expected/501900981/

Go Gophers!!
 

Mark, go in and tell your management that today is your last day, if you were that close to retirement it should have been done in July, for your sake don't wait.
 

Mark, go in and tell your management that today is your last day, if you were that close to retirement it should have been done in July, for your sake don't wait.

+1. I'm assuming the acceleration is related his wife's condition. WCCO can waive whatever contract terms he might be violating.
 

+1. I'm assuming the acceleration is related his wife's condition. WCCO can waive whatever contract terms he might be violating.

With Glioblastoma you are talking months not years, every day matters.
 

Listening to Mark Rosen fill in for Paul Allen today. I wish he could do the show every day. No hipster jargon or slang interjected for no reason whatsoever makes even listening to Timberwolves and Wild updates tolerable. Mark does a good job and is so down to earth.
 

Totally...........

Listening to Mark Rosen fill in for Paul Allen today. I wish he could do the show every day. No hipster jargon or slang interjected for no reason whatsoever makes even listening to Timberwolves and Wild updates tolerable. Mark does a good job and is so down to earth.

agree. Always been a Rosy fan. Solid reporter with contacts. I believe he broke the Richard Pitino to MN story so stay tuned!
 




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