In one form or another, Mike Golic has been a fixture for ESPN audiences since 1995. That time ended on Saturday when he called the Fiesta Bowl alongside Dave Pasch, his final assignment for the company before leaving to start fresh with other opportunities. But before he went, Golic gave ESPN viewers one more delicious memory (and narrowly avoided becoming a meme).
During the second half of the bowl game between the Oregon Ducks and Iowa State Cyclones, Golic was speaking directly to the camera when Spirit, the Fiesta Bowl mascot, presented him with a cake.
“Ohh, look at that! I got a cake!” Golic said. “‘The Fiesta Bowl thanks you.’ Thank you, Spirit!”
Following a play, the camera returned to Golic as he attempted to take a bite, nearly dropping the cake in the process. Thankfully, Golic showed how he’s still got the reflexes to keep his composure and enjoy some well-earned dessert without the need for utensils or plates.
Golic nearly dropped his cake but just took a bit directly out of it pic.twitter.com/24fk0doaD9
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) January 2, 2021
Unfortunately for Pasch, that meant he wasn’t going to be able to get a slice for himself, but perhaps that was Golic’s game all along. It was his celebratory cake, anyway.
The best part of the cake Mike Golic just got was the green screen graphic superimposing itself on the frosting pic.twitter.com/c3xpZkuXK2
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) January 2, 2021
While it might seem as though the cake was an unsightly green color, that appears to have actually been a case of the frosting taking on the greenscreen graphic behind Golic. It’s an effect similar to what we’ve seen anytime Jim Mora appears on camera from his home studio.
👑 @espngolic pic.twitter.com/2oXiyK9aNY
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) January 2, 2021
For Golic, this sweet treat is the capper on a bittersweet farewell tour from ESPN. The former football player spent 2020 calling college football games for the network, a role similar to his initial stint as an NFL analyst and commentator in the 90s. Golic will be most fondly remembered for his 18-year stint as co-host of Mike & Mike, which he partnered with Mike Greenberg on. The show had an acrimonious end and its replacement, Golic & Wingo, only lasted around three years before being canceled. Golic has been candid in recent interviews that he plans to talk more about what went down behind-the-scenes one day, but for the time being he’s basking in the glow of appreciation from fans, audiences, and colleagues.
I've written this many times.
I'll write it here again:
That ESPN management did not find a regular place on ESPN Radio for Mike Golic — the most known commodity in the history of ESPN Radio and someone its audience is clearly fond of — is a massive failure of management. https://t.co/uvMQmgxzDq
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) January 2, 2021
.@espngolic's first sports media job was in 1996 as a local Phoenix radio host. Now 25 yrs later, he is back in Arizona – a HOF broadcaster – for the @Fiesta_Bowl, his final ESPN telecast after more than two decades with our company. #ThankYouGolic pic.twitter.com/jtIkufu1bJ
— bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) January 2, 2021
An awesome ESPN tribute to @espngolic from the @Fiesta_Bowl crew w/ partner @DavePasch. pic.twitter.com/xGkTJVbQFY
— bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) January 2, 2021
Finally the end of your long good bye to ESPN. Fittingly ending in Phoenix with @fiesta_bowl where it all started for you. You were always a pro’s pro especially during the last few years. Time to turn the page and see where life takes us next! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aRgcxdSeiF
— christine golic (@ndmom) January 2, 2021
