What drove ESPN's SportsCenter anchor John Anderson to retirement?

John Anderson's "SportsCenter" host era is coming to an end.

He will retire from the network's flagship show when his contract runs out in June, the ESPN fixture announced via his "Inside Wisconsin" show, according to Yahoo Sports.

However, he indicated he would continue to do assorted projects from the network: "My contract runs out at ESPN at the end of June and I have decided that will be the end. I'm gonna leave the company. I'm gonna sort of retire from 'SportsCenter.' I'm going to get to do a few track and field things. I'm going to get to continue to do the Boston Marathon and the New York Marathon, which I love. And some NCAA track meets and some SEC stuff. I am incredibly excited about that. It's been a good run."

Anderson referred to changes in "SportsCenter" as a reason for his decision to move on: "The operation has changed, I don't know that it's passed me by, but it's taken its toll and I wanna still be able to do the best shows I can. I don't know that in Years 26 or 27 that I have the stamina to go through it again."

In June 1999, Anderson was hired by ESPN from KPHO-TV in Phoenix. Ever since, the organisation has used him in a highly prominent role.