SportsCenter anchor Michael Eaves returning to Kentucky for ESPN event in July

• The event will be at the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum and will feature Kentucky native and “SportsCenter” anchor Michael Eaves.
• The 50-day tour begins June 27 in Washington and marks ESPN’s first such large-scale tour since 2005.

ESPN’s “SportsCenter: 50 States in 50 Days” tour is making a stop in Louisville.

The Louisville stop is scheduled July 9 at the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum and features Kentucky native Michael Eaves.

Eaves, a “SportsCenter” anchor, is a University of Kentucky graduate and is from White Plains.

Last year, on Courier Journal columnist C.L. Brown’s podcast, Eaves mentioned being one of the most famous people from his hometown, which has about 800 residents.

“Another classmate of mine, Mitzi Jones, was Miss Kentucky back in the ’90s, but we both have a sign as you enter our town that says home of ‘Miss Kentucky Mitzi Jones and ESPN broadcaster Michael Eaves,’” Eaves said.

Eaves began his career at WKYT-TV in Lexington, working as a sports reporter and producer.

He covered the Wildcats’ 1996 championship parade. Eaves spoke about Mark Pope bringing out the 1996 championship team during his introductory news conference, symbolizing the return of Kentucky basketball as a championship contender.

“Whoever came up with that idea is so smart because that is a piece of nostalgia that Kentucky fans remember forever. That was the first championship they have won since 1978,” Eaves said.

“That was like, yes, we are back, we are Kentucky once again, and that’s what we want to be again.”

On Monday, ESPN released the full 50-day schedule. The first stop of the seven-week event is scheduled June 27 in Washington.

The last time ESPN went on a tour of this magnitude was in 2005 with its “SportsCenter Across America.”

Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.