John Keating

Detroit sports broadcaster John Keating has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the current Detroit Red Wings' season.  Keating made the announcement that he will hang up his microphone after 45 years via social media on December 27. The Detroit News reports that he made the final decision over the summer, after long talks with his bosses, as well as his wife of 40 years, Linda, and their three adult children.

Keating is currently an anchor and host for Fan Duel Sports Network, primarily broadcasting for the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers. He also worked at FOX Sports Detroit and PASS prior to his current role, beginning his career in Detroit in the 1990s. Keating would go on to be known as "The Face of Detroit Sports Broadcasts" for welcoming fans in pregame shows for the Wings and Tigers.

"I've had a terrific run. I don't know that I'm the face of anything. We have a great team of people, and the fact that I've been a part of it and seen the things I've seen, I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Keating grew up in Madison Heights, but moved to West Michigan to attend Grand Valley State University. This is where he got his start as a sports broadcaster, starting at GVSU's student run radio station and later moving to WZZR, which is now WLHT.

That job would eventually lead Keating to WZZM-TV, where he used his radio name "Steve Knight" when reporting on sports.  Keating left WZZM in the mid-80s for KMGH in Denver, Colorado, where he worked for a decade before returning to Michigan.  He’s won more than a dozen Emmys in his 45-year career and will be remembered fondly by Detroit fans as the first voice they heard on countless broadcasts of their favorite teams.