CLEVELAND (AP) — Jim Donovan, the beloved radio play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Browns and a TV sports fixture for more than four decades, died Saturday. He was 68.
Donovan retired from his broadcast career earlier this year and stepped away from his game-day duties with the team before this season while battling cancer. He had called Cleveland's games since the team's expansion rebirth in 1999.
"This is an incredibly difficult day for us and the entire Cleveland Browns organization,” Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said. “His impact as the Voice of the Browns for 25 years is immeasurable as he touched the lives of our fans each and every Sunday with his love for the Browns and his brilliance at his craft.
“He will be greatly missed, but he cemented a legacy that will live on forever. The only thing that outweighed his love for this city and this team was the love he had for his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Cheryl, his daughter, Meghan, and everyone who was fortunate enough to call Jimmy family or friend.”
A Boston native known to everyone as “Jimmy,” Donovan endeared himself to Cleveland fans with his passion, sense of humor and professionalism. He was a stickler for detail, spending countless hours preparing for game broadcasts.
Donovan had recently been inducted into the Browns' Legends Club and the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. He had been too ill to attend the events.
When he was forced to step down in August, Donovan wrote a letter to Browns fans expressing his gratitude for their support.
“I have called Browns games for 25 years. Not a day has gone by when I haven’t paused and been so proud to be ‘The Voice of the Browns,’” he wrote. “Cheryl, Meghan and I thank you for all the love, support and prayers during my rough patches. It’s like having a huge family around us. And that’s what makes the Cleveland Browns so special. You do.”
Donovan had to step away as sports director at WKYC-TV last fall for several months to undergo treatment for leukemia. He returned to the broadcast booth in time to call the team's late-season run to the playoffs.
He had been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2000 and underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2011.
A graduate of Boston University, Donovan got to Cleveland in 1985. Along with doing local reporting of the city's three professional sports franchises, Donovan also had several national network assignments and was part of NBC's coverage team at the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.
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FILE _ Cleveland Browns radio broadcaster Jim Donovan stands on the field prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013 in Cleveland. The Browns won 37-24. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Collin Sexton scored 22 points and John Collins added 19 to help the Utah Jazz snap an eight-game losing streak with a 113-99 victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday.
Sexton also dished out seven assists for the Jazz, who won at home for just the fourth time this season. Walker Kessler had 15 rebounds while Lauri Markkanen added 12 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.
Franz Wagner led Orlando with 37 points, while making a career-high 18 free throws. Cole Anthony added 23 for the Magic, who have lost six straight away from home and eight of their last nine games overall.
Orlando cut a double-digit deficit to 39-35 early in the second quarter behind three straight baskets from Anthony, Paolo Banchero, and Jett Howard. Utah pulled away for good before halftime. Sexton drove for a pair of layups and made four free throws to fuel a 15-3 run that extended the Jazz lead to 54-38.
Utah led by double digits throughout the second half.
Magic: Banchero shot 4 of 19 from the field — finishing with nine points — a week after going 1 of 14 against Portland.
Jazz: Collins played in just his fourth game since December but has been efficient on offense in that stretch. He has shot 56% or better from the field in three of those four contests.
Utah scored seven baskets over eight possessions to open a 24-11 lead late in the first quarter. Collins fueled the run with a pair of dunks and a three-point play.
Utah outscored Orlando 16-0 in the paint in the first quarter.
Both teams are back in action on Monday night. Orlando is at Golden State while Utah hosts Indiana.
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) guards Orlando Magic guard Jett Howard (13) as he goes in to dunk the ball during an NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) reacts after Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) misses a basket during an NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy yells on the sidelines during an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) celebrates after Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) missed a basket during an NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) drives the ball while Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) guards him during an NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) dunks the ball against Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) during an NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) celebrates following an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
FILE - Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) handles the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Jan. 25, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill, File)