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ESPN: The Uncensored History (Paperback)

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3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

New York Times sportswriter Freeman has delivered exactly what the title promises: an uncensored history of a media phenomenon of the cable TV era, ESPN. When ESPN was formed 20 years ago, television sports reporting was limited to snippets on local newscasts. ESPN changed that and, in so doing, also changed the way sports was covered, society's viewing habits, and sports itself. Freeman traces the history of the all-sports network from its inception as the brainchild of Bill Rasmussen to its status today as a part of the Disney media group, reaching over 60 million homes. This is really less a sports book than a warts-and-all examination of a media giant. Despite the obstacles placed in Freeman's path, the whole story is here--the struggles between management and its on-air personalities, the anchors' conflicts with one another, and the sexual harassment complaints, racial discrimination allegations, and employee drug and gambling problems that have long plagued the network. Freeman uses network documents, court records, and (often anonymous) interviews with past and current employees to make this a compelling read. Highly recommended for all libraries.
-William Scheeren, Hempfield Area H.S. Lib., Greensburg, PA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.


Review

"...Michael Freeman tells the story with the same urgency and breathlessness that ESPN brings to its coverage of sports..." -- American Way

"...a fascinating new book...might make you watch ESPN in a whole new way," -- Book Page

"Network stoolies are buzzing about a...book on ESPN by New York Times sports writer Mike Freeman...sounds real juicy." -- New York Daily News

"The tale of ESPN's rise digs deeply...into behind the scenes shenanigans." -- Sports Illustrated --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 340 pages
  • Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (January 25, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0878332707
  • ISBN-13: 978-0878332700
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #78,393 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #81 in  Books > Entertainment > Television > History & Criticism

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Customer Reviews

28 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.4 out of 5 stars (28 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for sports junkies, but..., December 29, 2000
By A Customer
As a former member of the sports industry and a recovering SportsCenteraholic, I am very glad I read this book. Anybody who enjoys ESPN will find this book interesting. That said, it is not a masterpiece, and I found myself wanting "something more". I wanted to know what happened to all of the characters, especially the anchors, reporters and founding team. In essence, I wanted to know WHERE ARE THEY NOW? This could have been handled in an appendix, and would have made this more of a reference book than a gossip book.

To me, the best theme is the evolution of Sportscenter from a highlight show to a must-see event. In the mid-to-late 80's, I thought CNN had surpassed SportsCenter, with better stories, better anchors, and better sets, as well as a partner network in CNN Headline News. John Walsh's iron will reversed that trend, and some of the best CNN personnel (Dan Patrick, Gary Miller, etc.) defected to ESPN. Subtly, over the years ESPN became a credible journalistic organization with multiple networks, and SportsCenter left CNN in the dust.

The pre-1978 Bill Rasmussen story moves slowly, and I don't think I have a full understanding of the important events leading to September 7, 1979. I would like to have had clearer information about how Rasmussen expected to pay for his vision, and why his son (theoretically the least experienced of the principals) was sent out to look for money. What kind of deals did they offer investors before Getty came in and took 85%? How soon did they expect profitability? Did they have a backup plan? I think the author wanted this to be perceived as a business book instead of a gossip book. It fails on that count, in my opinion, because the author does not seem to have a business background. The book doesn't have to be all things to all people, but those expecting deep insight into business decision-making will not find it here.

As for the gossip (which I love as much as anybody), most of the first 100 pages refer to unnamed anchors, production assistants and managers. Without names, the story is not compelling. The book picks up steam as it goes along, primarily because Keith Olbermann agreed to be an on-the-record (and angry) source. ESPN refused to cooperate with the author, so we get a lot of one-sided attacks. That may be why there is so much focus on sexual harassment and the abuse of PA's. These themes weaken the book. Certainly those topics deserved coverage, and they are compelling, but they are repeated over and over and over again.

Don't let these weaknesses scare you off. ESPN: The Uncensored History is well worth reading!

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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Inside the Worldwide Leader . . ., May 21, 2000
By A Customer
As a former ESPN employee, I caution most readers to take most of the "gank" provided in this book with a HUGE grain of salt. The sexual harassment incidents described are anecdotal at best, and even if they are indicative of a "bigger problem" throughout ESPN Plaza, what else would you expect with a company when you throw a bunch of young twenty-something males who are all self-proclaimed "sports experts" with no social outlets in a sleepy little town in central Connecticut? (Freeman's characterization of Bristol as a "city" is laughable)

Freeman does do a good job of painting the painful sacrifice young singles must make to join this odd corporate culture. But maybe also mentioning the sacrifices the married employees and their families have to make (e.g. the intense travel demands levied on many ESPN employees, the quirky weekend hours, the extramarrital activity), would have helped give this book more balance.

The book also neglects the overall stress on a given night in the screening room where every sporting event is being monitored. A brief synopsis of how a game becomes a highlight and the people involved -- from the PA logging the game to the highlight supervisor to the anchor reading it on the air -- might also help readers understand the electricity in the air on a given night at ESPN Plaza.

Other than that, though, the book is a compelling read. Many of the personnel mentioned in the latter half of the book, both talent and production, are still at ESPN. The timeline of ESPN's evolution from cable start-up to the model cable network is great. Freeman's assessment of ESPN as a "sports news" network and not just a "sports network" is very well done.

And for those wide-eyed soon-to-be college grads who would give your left arm to work for the Worldwide Leader (attention all men: they will most likely spare your arm but they'll begin to take your hairline upon arrival in Bristol), this book will definitely give you a moment of pause.

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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Gods of Sports, March 28, 2000
By A Customer
Mike Freeman, one of the New York Times top sports reporters, has written a gem of a book, ESPN: The Uncensored History. Through diligent reporting, Freeman traces the history of the most powerful cable network in the world from its humble beginnings to the 800-pound "mouse" it is today. Along the way he startles the reader with tales of drugs, gambling and sexual harrassment at ESPN, revelations that surely won't make the folks at Disney -- or in Bristol-- very happy. Buy this book; it's a great read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Look at How ESPN Changed the Sports Media
In "ESPN: The Uncensored Story," author Michael Freeman documents how ESPN revolutionized sports television by introducing hard journalism to the airwaves. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Michael D. Mallinger

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good.
Very good book from a history perspective, providing ample information about the many factors that collided at the right place and time to allow the formation of ESPN. Read more
Published on August 15, 2007 by Mark E. Zuckerman

1.0 out of 5 stars Sensationalist reporter bores readers
This writer seems to have the single purpose of pointing out the flaws of ESPN and leaves out all the great and interesting stories I wanted to read about. Read more
Published on January 21, 2006 by Michael D. Regan

2.0 out of 5 stars not bad, but too much sexual harassment angle
I think Freeman's book is a good history of how ESPN became the media giant that it is (I was born in 1982-- i cant imagine life without ESPN), but the book focused WAY too much... Read more
Published on October 31, 2003 by Adam Samrov

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointing...
I'd read mixed reviews when Freeman's history first came out, so I wasn't anticipating a great book. Unfortunately, ...ESPN: The Uncensored History... Read more
Published on October 8, 2002 by Adam J. Morris

5.0 out of 5 stars Strongly recommended reading for all sports buffs
ESPN: The Uncensored History by sports journalist Michael Freeman is an eye-opening, bare-all look at the global telecommunications network that since its inception in 1979 as the... Read more
Published on March 26, 2002 by Midwest Book Review

2.0 out of 5 stars Too much emphasis on the sexual harassment angle
I am a fan of ESPN and enjoyed learning about the history of the company (channel, network, whatever you want to call it). Read more
Published on October 30, 2001 by Ronald Brown

1.0 out of 5 stars Did the author actually check facts?
How much of ESPN's history can Freeman botch and still publish a book? Quite a bit, it seems. An author who writes about a sports network should at least know the difference... Read more
Published on June 4, 2001

1.0 out of 5 stars An Axe to Grind without Wood to Chop
A very poorly written book with too many "anonymous" quotes. It seems that Freeman had something against ESPN with little to prove. Read more
Published on February 15, 2001 by Daniel Darling

3.0 out of 5 stars uneven
The first half of this book is interesting. It reveals the history of ESPN and is well written. The second half of the book is an amalgam of gossippy information about the... Read more
Published on November 1, 2000 by Dr. Alan Zaremba

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