John Brenkus, the founder and host of the popular sports analysis show "Sports Science," has passed away. The news was announced on Saturday by a representative for his production company, BASE Productions.
Mental Health Advocacy
Brenkus had been open about his struggles with depression for years, using his platform to share his experiences and raise awareness about mental health issues affecting athletes. He had spoken publicly about being hospitalized after attempting suicide in 2022 and later feeling suicidal again due to medication side effects.
Career Highlights
-
"Sports Science" Origins: The show originally aired on Fox Sports Net before moving to ESPN in 2010. In 2012, ESPN purchased the brand from Brenkus, allowing him to continue hosting over 1,800 segments until its eventual end in 2020.
-
Exploration of Sports Topics: "Sports Science" explored various topics related to sports and physical performance through experiments and demonstrations. The program featured a wide range of subjects, including athletes such as Tyreek Hill and Joey Chestnut.
Recent Episodes
-
In an episode released earlier this year on YouTube titled "How Fast Can You Run?", Brenkus discussed how he could run faster than most people despite not being an elite athlete. He also talked about how he used science-based training methods that included sprinting drills with weights attached to his legs.
-
In another video posted last month in June titled "Why Do We Get Tired When We’re Sick?", Brenkus explained why people often feel tired when they are sick or have a fever. He demonstrated how body temperature affects muscle function by having himself run at different temperatures while wearing a heat suit or cooling vest.
Conclusion
Brenkus’ death is a significant loss for fans of the show who appreciated his unique approach to explaining complex scientific concepts through experiments and demonstrations. His legacy will live on through the many episodes of "Sports Science" that are still widely available online.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
