Sports Junkies Rejoice : The Birth of ESPN [Hardcover]

Bill Rasmussen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1983 | ISBN-10: 0910767017 | ISBN-13: 978-0910767019 | Edition: First Edition

Entrepreneurial daring, irrepressible enthusiasm and a dash of good luck gave America its first 24 hour sports network in 1979, This book is about the agony and the ecstasy, the excitement, effort and frustration that led to the launch of the Worldwide Leader in Sports.

A $9,000 credit card advance, a landfill in Bristol, CT, new satellite technology and a father and son's unshakeable belief in the insatiable appetite of America's sports fans came together to fuel an incredible journey....a journey that culminated in ESPN's inaugural show at 7:00 PM (EDT) Friday, September 7, 1979.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A story of some tension and drama and insight. It's a short book, told quickly and without punches pulled. -- Springfield (Mass.) Republican September 1984

Bill Rasmussen leaves no doubt about who are the good guys, who are the bad. The hectic race to get ready for the first program and the countdown excitement should grip any reader. -- National Book Critics Circle April 1984

Bill Rasmussen's Sports Junkies Rejoice - The Birth of ESPN is a Horatio Alger story in space-age America. It's a fascinating diary of his journey through uncharted (television) territory. -- The Hartford Courant June 1984

They're fingerlings in a sea of oil and diversified corporate assets, but a fascinating story of father-son who plow the deep of conventional TV broadcast wisdom to spawn the idea of a 24-hour sports network. -- The Tulsa World August 1984

From the Author

Pursuing the American Dream with tenacity, entrepreneurial daring and fierce determination, using the tools of the day, we launched ESPN. Here's to you sports junkies . . . Rejoice!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 255 pages
• Publisher: Q V Pub; First Edition edition (November 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910767017
• ISBN-13: 978-0910767019
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #697,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Miscellaneous > Sports Broadcasting

More About the Author

On Sept. 7, 1979, ESPN went on the air for the first time. Entrepreneurial daring, irrepressible enthusiasm and a dash of good luck gave the world the first 24-hour television network. Once unleashed upon sports fans, ESPN's impact forever changed the way we watch television. The man who had the dream, the founder of ESPN, is Bill Rasmussen.

A life-long entrepreneur and sports fan, Rasmussen's innovations in advertising, sports and broadcasting are numerous and include the creation of "Sports Center," wall-to-wall coverage of NCAA regular-season and "March Madness" college basketball, and coverage of the NFL Draft. He broke the advertising barrier to cable television by signing Anheuser Busch to the largest cable TV advertising contract ever.

For his many accomplishments, Rasmussen was named to The Sports 100, honoring the 100 most important people in American Sports History. His place in sports history was further recognized by Sports Illustrated in 1994, when he was honored as one of the "Forty for the Ages," one of forty individuals who has significantly altered and elevated the world of sport during the second half of the 20th century. He has been called "The Father of Cable Sports" by USA Today.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for the avid sports fan!, February 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sports Junkies Rejoice : The Birth of ESPN (Hardcover)

"As a fan who has never known the world without ESPN, I was both fascinated and amazed to learn that it all began just over 20 years ago. I thought it had been around forever! Apparently there wasn't much to cable television back then. Guys like Rasmussen and other cable pioneers were real believers and thanks to their efforts we have 24 hour sports, news and movies today. Reading about the people who made the decisions, the people who didn't believe it would work and the frantic efforts to get ESPN up and running is not only informative, but entertaining.

A look at the September 1979 program schedule in the book is a real eye-opener. No NFL, MLB, NBA or NHL back then. Irish Hurling, Austrailian Rules Football and Kick Boxing were regular fare. The NCAA was a somewhat tentative partner with tape-delayed football games every night of the football season. Wow, how the world of TV sports has changed over these last 20 years.

If you enjoy reading a good tale this is your kind of book. Adversity, disappointment, joy, frustration, anxiety and elation all come through. This book is a must read for anyone who claims to be an avid ESPN fan."

5.0 out of 5 stars I Rejoiced After Reading This Tale..., June 20, 2000

By 

"sportsgamefan" (Evanston, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sports Junkies Rejoice : The Birth of ESPN (Hardcover)

This book is a grand slam, buzzer beater, hat-trick of a story. Not only a great sports read about the birth of ESPN (the worldwide leader in sports), it also tells the tale of how dedicated entrepeneurship can lead to great success. It shows how a vision or concept for a product or service can be acheived through the hard work of a few individuals. It is a true American story, for only in America can a business like ESPN be started, nurtured and grown.

This book is more than a great sports or business story. It also tells the tale of the individuals involved in the story and makes you want to find out more about them. It is a great read which I could not put down and I often still refer to it in my business life. This book has served as a great inspiration for me as an entrepeneur, and should do likewise for others interested in seeing their vision become a business success.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is a great read for anyone who believes in a dream., August 15, 1999

By 

Chris Van Hollebeke ([e-mail]) (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sports Junkies Rejoice : The Birth of ESPN (Hardcover)

I enjoyed reading the birth of ESPN immensely. It is great to see two guys go from being a play by play man and public address announcer to high rollers in the business world. This is truly an American success story. Bill and Scott have proven that the "American Dream" is still possible.