Robert A. Ley (born March 16, 1955) is an American sports anchor and reporter for ESPN….who is a multiple Emmy Award-winner….after being the longest tenured on-air employee of the network….by having joined ESPN just three days after the network’s 1979 launch.
In 1980, Ley hosted the first televised NCAA Selection Show….though the airing would switch to CBS two years later. Ley also hosts ESPN’s investigative program Outside the Lines….which he has hosted since its inception in 1990. He has hosted SportsCenter for much of his career at ESPN….and on August 9, 2004….he hosted an “old school” edition with longtime broadcasting partner Charley Steiner. He is the primary studio host for ESPN’s telecasts of major international professional soccer tournaments….to include the 2010 FIFA World Cup….the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup….the 2012 UEFA European Championship…. and the 2016 UEFA European Championship.
During the Night of 1000 Stars, Grantland.com’s Men in Blazers Michael Davies and Roger Bennett presented Bob Ley with the first Men In Blazers Golden Jacket for lifetime services to American soccer. During the presentation of the Golden Blazer Jacket….the Men in Blazers showed footage of Ley’s anchoring of SportsCenter and presenting highlights of the United States men’s national soccer team qualifying for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy….which was the first time the U.S. men’s national team qualified for the FIFA World Cup since 1950.
On September 7, 2014, in recognition of ESPN’s 35th anniversary as a cable network….Bob Ley was honored as one of 19 ESPN Originals….who were employees who have been with the network from the beginning.
