Twin Cities Radio: Mark Rosen Retiring From WCCO-TV Thursday

Longtime Minneapolis Sportscaster Mark Rosen

Mark Rosen, who has spent 50 years reporting on sports for WCCO-TV, announced early last fall that he would be closing his TV career this spring. Last week, he announced that his timetable is moving up to earlier in the year.

“My original plan was to retire from WCCO-TV in April following the Final Four. I am moving that date up to Jan. 10,” Rosen said. “There are no words to express the appreciation for the outpouring of support my family has received during this difficult time.”

Earlier in the year, when he left the airwaves for an amount of time, he came back to inform viewers that his wife Denise has been battling a brain tumor he said “was discovered in the blink of an eye.”

Rosen asked The Pioneer-Press not to dwell on the main reason behind his departure.  He would rather discuss their life together. They met in the mid-1970s when both were working for WCCO-TV. She was an artist who worked on graphics and went on to work at ad agencies in the Twin Cities. They married in 1977.

On Tuesday, Rosen wanted to thank viewers for their thoughts and prayers on his family’s behalf, and let them know he looks forward to closing out his storied career in Minneapolis.

Rosen 1970

“I grew up here, always lived here, we raised our kids here and will retire here. I will have much more to add as the finish line approaches on channel 4.” he said.

Although Rosen is retiring from TV after 50 years, the plan is to continue to do sports talk radio on KFAN 100.3 FM, and will likely increase his presence on shows there.

The guy with the “Best Seat in the House” was still a high school junior when he started back in 1969, and was hired full time while attending the University of Minnesota.

From the 1980 Miracle on Ice in Lake Placid, to high school hockey players dreaming of making it to that world stage, he’s been there for Minnesota’s ups and downs.

Rosen’s kindness and fairness have earned him the respect of the athletes he covers and the viewers at home, according to twincities.com.

He was inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2013.