It began, in 1979, as a mad idea of starting a cable channel to televise local sporting events throughout the state of Connecticut. Today, ESPN is arguably the most successful network in modern television history, spanning eight channels in the Unites States and around the world. But the inside story of its rise has never been fully told-until now. Drawing upon over 500 interviews with the greatest names in ESPN's history and an All-Star collection of some of the world's finest athletes, bestselling authors James Miller and Tom Shales take us behind the cameras. Now, in their own words, the men and women who made ESPN great reveal the secrets behind its success-as well as the many scandals, rivalries, off-screen battles and triumphs that have accompanied that ascent. From the unknown producers and business visionaries to the most famous faces on television, it's all here.
Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
Praise for THOSE GUYS HAVE ALL THE FUN:
"Those who work in the business of sport will devour the book...[readers are] granted the kind of behind-the-scenes access that sports media junkies are rarely given..." (SportsIllustrated.com Richard Deitsch )
"Those Guys Have All the Fun is a de rigueur read for sports fans who wonder how a fired hockey announcer used a $9,000 credit card advance to start a broadcasting empire that changed what we think about sports and how we view them." (Denver Post Woody Paige )
"Packed with entertaining stories of unpleasant people and awful behavior....[Those Guys Have All the Fun is] offers a nuanced look at ESPN, does some top-notch TV-biz reporting on the early days of the cable industry, and offers compelling behind-the-scenes stories...[It is] a serious, impressive, piece of work." (Entertainment Weekly Rob Brunner )
"A revelation: what goes onto the TV screen turns out to be just the glossy tip of an iceberg of ugly backstage drama. Miller and Shales must be extraordinarily talented interviewers, because their subjects are surprisingly uninhibited and frank and willing to dish and slag....[They are] good at zeroing in on a debacle and getting everybody involved to weigh in...by the end of the book you're amazed at the disconnect between the chaos behind the scenes and the relatively slick end product." (Time Lev Grossman )
"Fascinating and compulsively readable." (Wall Street Journal Tim Marchman )
"A fascinating little-engine-that-could tale of money, power and the early days of cable television." (Cleveland Plain Dealer Clint O?Connor )
"As highly anticipated by sports junkies as a Chicago Cubs championship, [Those Guys Have All the Fun] provides painstaking details on how a nutty idea concocted by a father-son team developed into a brand worth more than the NHL, MLB and NBA combined...Shales and Miller manage to create a page-turning document about the ultimate dysfunctional workplace" (Minneapolis Star Tribune Neil Justin )
"...Perhaps the most anticipated book in sports media history." (Newsday )
"Those Guys Have All the Fun delivers a hell of a narrative...[and] an outstanding work of journalism. Easing interviewees into such comfort that they said what they did on record is an enormous achievement for Miller and Shales." (Fortune Daniel Roberts )
"This treat for sports fans has a cast of characters that is huge and varied." (New York Times Janet Maslin )
"What a story: larger-than-life personalities, salacious gossip, backstabbing and corporate intrigue set against the backdrop of the rise of cable television as an economic and cultural force....The quotes flow seamlessly, and the voices are fresh and vibrant...The depth and breadth of the interviews make it not only the definitive account of ESPN's first three decades but one of the best books yet on how cable shaped American culture." (Hollywood Reporter Andy Lewis )
"A rollicking glimpse behind the guys and gals who sport around at ESPN, America's sports church. Amen." (Publishers Weekly )
"Those who work in the business of sport will devour the book...[readers are] granted the kind of behind-the-scenes access that sports media junkies are rarely given..." (SportsIllustrated.com Richard Deitsch )
"Those Guys Have All the Fun is a de rigueur read for sports fans who wonder how a fired hockey announcer used a $9,000 credit card advance to start a broadcasting empire that changed what we think about sports and how we view them." (Denver Post Woody Paige )
"Packed with entertaining stories of unpleasant people and awful behavior....[Those Guys Have All the Fun is] offers a nuanced look at ESPN, does some top-notch TV-biz reporting on the early days of the cable industry, and offers compelling behind-the-scenes stories...[It is] a serious, impressive, piece of work." (Entertainment Weekly Rob Brunner )
"A revelation: what goes onto the TV screen turns out to be just the glossy tip of an iceberg of ugly backstage drama. Miller and Shales must be extraordinarily talented interviewers, because their subjects are surprisingly uninhibited and frank and willing to dish and slag....[They are] good at zeroing in on a debacle and getting everybody involved to weigh in...by the end of the book you're amazed at the disconnect between the chaos behind the scenes and the relatively slick end product." (Time Lev Grossman )
"Fascinating and compulsively readable." (Wall Street Journal Tim Marchman )
"A fascinating little-engine-that-could tale of money, power and the early days of cable television." (Cleveland Plain Dealer Clint O?Connor )
"As highly anticipated by sports junkies as a Chicago Cubs championship, [Those Guys Have All the Fun] provides painstaking details on how a nutty idea concocted by a father-son team developed into a brand worth more than the NHL, MLB and NBA combined...Shales and Miller manage to create a page-turning document about the ultimate dysfunctional workplace" (Minneapolis Star Tribune Neil Justin )
"...Perhaps the most anticipated book in sports media history." (Newsday )
"Those Guys Have All the Fun delivers a hell of a narrative...[and] an outstanding work of journalism. Easing interviewees into such comfort that they said what they did on record is an enormous achievement for Miller and Shales." (Fortune Daniel Roberts )
"This treat for sports fans has a cast of characters that is huge and varied." (New York Times Janet Maslin )
"What a story: larger-than-life personalities, salacious gossip, backstabbing and corporate intrigue set against the backdrop of the rise of cable television as an economic and cultural force....The quotes flow seamlessly, and the voices are fresh and vibrant...The depth and breadth of the interviews make it not only the definitive account of ESPN's first three decades but one of the best books yet on how cable shaped American culture." (Hollywood Reporter Andy Lewis )
"A rollicking glimpse behind the guys and gals who sport around at ESPN, America's sports church. Amen." (Publishers Weekly )
About the Author
James Andrew Miller is the author of Running in Place: Inside the Senate and Live from New York. He has also written for the New York Times, Life, the Washington Post and Newsweek. His various positions in television include Senior Executive Producer of "Anderson Cooper 360" and Executive VP of Original Programming at USA Network. He lives in Bucks County, PA.
Tom Shales won his Pultizer Prize for television criticism in the Washington Post. He is the author of On the Air!, Legends, and Live from New York, and has written for publications such as Esquire, Playboy, Life, Interview, among others. He lives in McLean, Virgina.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
97 of 115 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
James Miller's--its obvious from the Introduction to the Acknowledgments to the writing itself that the sports-indifferent Tom Shales main contribution was lending his name to the project--THOSE GUYS HAVE ALL THE FUN is an engaging, if overly long, look at what has made ESPN the media and cultural phenomena that it is. Using an oral history format, the narrative runs from ESPN's humble beginnings to its current status of world domination. According to Miller, there were nine steps in ESPN's history that fell perfectly for the company not only to survive, but to rise to the top of its field.
1) Original founders Bill and Scott Rasmussen's decision to buy a transpounder on RCA SATCOM I in 1978.
2) Getty Oil's investment of $15 million in May of 1979.
3) Creating a dual revenue stream in March 1983.
4) Coverage of the America's Cup Challenge in 1987.
5) Getting TV rights to NFL games in 1987.
6) The $400 million, 4-year MLB deal in 1989.
7) The mid-90s generated "THIS IS SPORTSCENTER" advertizing campaign.
8) The acquisition of a full season of NFL games in 1998.
9) The documentary series SPORTSCENTURY.
The main players behind the scenes receive as much attention as the talent on screen. The Rasmussens have the idea, and negotiate an incredibly unlikely start, but are almost immediately kicked out the door by Stu Evey, the moneyman from Getty, and Chet Simmons, the legendary NBC producer. By the mid-1980s, Evey and Simmons were replaced by Bill Grimes and Steve Bornstein. By the 2000s, the respected and congenial George Bodenheimer was teamed with talented, but utterly brash Mark Shapiro. What didn't change, however, was Bristol, the little Connecticut village that is as much a character as any. To say that the talent didn't like living in Bristol would be an understatement. Better to work all day than to have an off day in Bristol.
Miller, however, realizes that the best copy is always the talent. The main groupings are the professionals (Bob Ley, Robin Roberts, Charlie Steiner, Dan Patrick), the performers (Chris Berman, Craig Kilborn, Stephen A. Smith) and the out-of-control but immensely talented (Keith Olbermann). Smart, quick and insufferable, Olbermann's five years provide material enough for a separate volume. Miller writes, "Have Keith Theodore Olbermann spend a few seasons working at your TV network and see how you feel. Sort of like Kansas after a twister." On a level below Olbermann in talent (in Miller's eyes), but on the same level of being a whinny pain in-the-you-know-what is Bill Simmons.
Those whom Miller exposes as being less than what they appear are Mike Tirico, Linda Cohn and Chris Berman. Tirico, rightly or wrongly, refused to give Tony Kornheiser any love in the MNF booth. Cohn's self-absorption tops Olbermann's. Berman is shown to be incapable of not being linked to the NFL, and also gave a cold shoulder to Kornheiser.
Those whom Miller loves are Kirk Herbstreit and College GameDay ("a show prized as if it were the Golden Fleece and Hope Diamond put together"), Robin Roberts ("an unmistakeable aura of authority, a true pro's unflappability"), and Michelle Beadle ("humble but fearless standout").
Miller's previous connections with WASHINGTON POST alum such as Kornheiser and John Walsh lead to very positive portrayals of their roles. The one glaring editing mistake of the book (apart from spelling Jim Nantz's name Jim Nance), however, is connected with a virtual repeat of the quotes on pages 607-608 and 676-677 dealing with Kornheiser's 3-year run on MNF. It is apparent that Miller takes the same Tirico clip and edits it two ways, and also uses the same John Skipper piece with slightly different editing. For such a professional job throughout, seeing the repetition stuck out like a sore thumb.
Surprisingly, some of the more profound statements are found from Rick Reilly, who was beaten to a pulp in Malcolm MacCambridge's history of SI. Reilly points out that ESPN.COM exponentially spreads his column in a way that SI never could. He also recognizes the difference between those who learned the trade with fences (a 800 word column limit) versus those who learned on the internet (Simmons) without fences and battle to retain every word.
Dan Patrick is also surprising. Given the light-heartedness of his radio show, he doesn't come off as a family man, but that is the main reason he left ESPN. He wanted more time with his family, sometime that he had abandoned under the regime of Mark Shapiro. When ESPN didn't relent from their demands, he came to the conclusion that ESPN cared mainly about the profit, and not the talent.
And, that is the thread that runs through the story of ESPN as a whole. Business comes first. It comes first over the content. It comes first over the talent. It comes first over family. With that paradigm in place, the dream goal of the 1980s was realized in the 2000s--making ESPN a way of life. Welcome to the Mothership.
1) Original founders Bill and Scott Rasmussen's decision to buy a transpounder on RCA SATCOM I in 1978.
2) Getty Oil's investment of $15 million in May of 1979.
3) Creating a dual revenue stream in March 1983.
4) Coverage of the America's Cup Challenge in 1987.
5) Getting TV rights to NFL games in 1987.
6) The $400 million, 4-year MLB deal in 1989.
7) The mid-90s generated "THIS IS SPORTSCENTER" advertizing campaign.
8) The acquisition of a full season of NFL games in 1998.
9) The documentary series SPORTSCENTURY.
The main players behind the scenes receive as much attention as the talent on screen. The Rasmussens have the idea, and negotiate an incredibly unlikely start, but are almost immediately kicked out the door by Stu Evey, the moneyman from Getty, and Chet Simmons, the legendary NBC producer. By the mid-1980s, Evey and Simmons were replaced by Bill Grimes and Steve Bornstein. By the 2000s, the respected and congenial George Bodenheimer was teamed with talented, but utterly brash Mark Shapiro. What didn't change, however, was Bristol, the little Connecticut village that is as much a character as any. To say that the talent didn't like living in Bristol would be an understatement. Better to work all day than to have an off day in Bristol.
Miller, however, realizes that the best copy is always the talent. The main groupings are the professionals (Bob Ley, Robin Roberts, Charlie Steiner, Dan Patrick), the performers (Chris Berman, Craig Kilborn, Stephen A. Smith) and the out-of-control but immensely talented (Keith Olbermann). Smart, quick and insufferable, Olbermann's five years provide material enough for a separate volume. Miller writes, "Have Keith Theodore Olbermann spend a few seasons working at your TV network and see how you feel. Sort of like Kansas after a twister." On a level below Olbermann in talent (in Miller's eyes), but on the same level of being a whinny pain in-the-you-know-what is Bill Simmons.
Those whom Miller exposes as being less than what they appear are Mike Tirico, Linda Cohn and Chris Berman. Tirico, rightly or wrongly, refused to give Tony Kornheiser any love in the MNF booth. Cohn's self-absorption tops Olbermann's. Berman is shown to be incapable of not being linked to the NFL, and also gave a cold shoulder to Kornheiser.
Those whom Miller loves are Kirk Herbstreit and College GameDay ("a show prized as if it were the Golden Fleece and Hope Diamond put together"), Robin Roberts ("an unmistakeable aura of authority, a true pro's unflappability"), and Michelle Beadle ("humble but fearless standout").
Miller's previous connections with WASHINGTON POST alum such as Kornheiser and John Walsh lead to very positive portrayals of their roles. The one glaring editing mistake of the book (apart from spelling Jim Nantz's name Jim Nance), however, is connected with a virtual repeat of the quotes on pages 607-608 and 676-677 dealing with Kornheiser's 3-year run on MNF. It is apparent that Miller takes the same Tirico clip and edits it two ways, and also uses the same John Skipper piece with slightly different editing. For such a professional job throughout, seeing the repetition stuck out like a sore thumb.
Surprisingly, some of the more profound statements are found from Rick Reilly, who was beaten to a pulp in Malcolm MacCambridge's history of SI. Reilly points out that ESPN.COM exponentially spreads his column in a way that SI never could. He also recognizes the difference between those who learned the trade with fences (a 800 word column limit) versus those who learned on the internet (Simmons) without fences and battle to retain every word.
Dan Patrick is also surprising. Given the light-heartedness of his radio show, he doesn't come off as a family man, but that is the main reason he left ESPN. He wanted more time with his family, sometime that he had abandoned under the regime of Mark Shapiro. When ESPN didn't relent from their demands, he came to the conclusion that ESPN cared mainly about the profit, and not the talent.
And, that is the thread that runs through the story of ESPN as a whole. Business comes first. It comes first over the content. It comes first over the talent. It comes first over family. With that paradigm in place, the dream goal of the 1980s was realized in the 2000s--making ESPN a way of life. Welcome to the Mothership.
61 of 72 people found the following review helpful
By Don
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I just finished the book yesterday and I must say 748 pages later I was completely disappointed in the end product. I was originally inspired to read the book based on the hype by some of the pundits calling it extremely controversial, etc etc etc. In particular Dan Patrick was the biggest culprit. When he was promoting the book he made you think the majority of the book would be about the rivalries and backstabbing that went on. I should have known better when I received the book and saw how ridiculously thick it was.
To make a long story short it is more of a historical time line of the network rather than an inside peak at the personalities. I'm a huge sports fan so that was what kept me reading. Nothing really "bombshellish" was dropped except for the fact that in the early days Mike Tirico was a pervert and by today's sexual harassment standards he'd be in the unemployment line for life. That was the only revelation that really surprised me. Aside from that, the same arrogance and over inflated egos that are on display regularly on ESPN continually resonate throughout the book.
At the end of the day I let a good marketing and PR campaign bamboozle me into buying this paper weight. You can't really say it's well written because there is no writing. The "authors" (and I use that term loosely) just took quotes from various people about time line based happenings at ESPN, slapped a collage on it and called it a book. Not that I am a stickler for this sort of thing but I found a TON of grammatical errors that I would assume would have been found prior to print seeing as how the authors did nothing more than collect quotes and interject a few lines of back story on every other page.
The only reason it gets a 2 star versus a one star is because it was sports related. Other than that save your time and money; however, if you do decide to read the book expect most of the interviewees to "tow the company line", and those who don't claim they revolutionized the whole network.
To make a long story short it is more of a historical time line of the network rather than an inside peak at the personalities. I'm a huge sports fan so that was what kept me reading. Nothing really "bombshellish" was dropped except for the fact that in the early days Mike Tirico was a pervert and by today's sexual harassment standards he'd be in the unemployment line for life. That was the only revelation that really surprised me. Aside from that, the same arrogance and over inflated egos that are on display regularly on ESPN continually resonate throughout the book.
At the end of the day I let a good marketing and PR campaign bamboozle me into buying this paper weight. You can't really say it's well written because there is no writing. The "authors" (and I use that term loosely) just took quotes from various people about time line based happenings at ESPN, slapped a collage on it and called it a book. Not that I am a stickler for this sort of thing but I found a TON of grammatical errors that I would assume would have been found prior to print seeing as how the authors did nothing more than collect quotes and interject a few lines of back story on every other page.
The only reason it gets a 2 star versus a one star is because it was sports related. Other than that save your time and money; however, if you do decide to read the book expect most of the interviewees to "tow the company line", and those who don't claim they revolutionized the whole network.
25 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By PDP
Format:Hardcover
I've grown up with ESPN so when I heard there was a book coming out based around the network I was beyond excited. Well, i've finished it and all i can say is that i'm disappointed. When I found out it was 700+ pages i thought to myself "great, they must have a TON of juicy, behind the scenes stories to fill the pages." I was incorrect. Don't get me wrong, there are some juicy, behind the scenes stories, just not enough to carry 750 pages. The book could literally be cut in half and I don't think you'd lose much in terms of content. There are some hilarious and interesting portions, but the majority is difficult to get through. Many times I found myself reading stuff I just didn't care about. I'm not saying to completely avoid this book, but you probably don't need to run out and buy it. Wait for a copy at the library or borrow one from a friend. Just don't plan on returning it to your friend for a month. It's looooong.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
ESPN rules!!!!
Loved this book it told me a lot i didn't know about the guys at ESPN I would definitely recommend the book to other people
Published 25 days ago by fun a good time passer but it really annoys me that you have to spell the name exactly correct
5.0 out of 5 stars
Long but very good for the hard core espn sports fan
I purchased this as a kindle book. it is quite long and the print copy would be luggable. It is a great read for the true sports fan. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Quickdraw
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
Interestling book. Highly recommended for anybody that's into sports and sports center in particular but also could be good for a business class as it explains with a lot of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by DL
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good read!
This book consists of several short stories. It is a good read for those who are not "readers". Ittookme around 2.5 years to read this book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by David M. Benedict
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well-Written Insider Account
Understanding that the authors got the viewpoints only of those interviewed, both on and off the record, I thoroughly enjoyed this account of ESPN. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Lamar C. Oliver
2.0 out of 5 stars
You're going to be disappointed in this book.
Those Guys Have All the Fun was a disappointing book. It basically was 700+ pages of interviews of how the ESPN personalities didn't like working with one another, their hatred for... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Elliot Tate
2.0 out of 5 stars
How is this a book?
It's just a bunch of interviews, with a occasional paragraph from the author for context.
Interviews should be the raw material, you write your book with. Read more
Interviews should be the raw material, you write your book with. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Usni
5.0 out of 5 stars
Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN
My husband loves sports and has played baseball, basketball, football and golf. He thoroughly enjoyed this and would highly recommend.
Published 2 months ago by Martha S Varney
5.0 out of 5 stars
ESPN Biography
What more needs to be said? This is basically the biography of everything ESPN. It's a must read for any serious sports fan.
Published 2 months ago by Darren Montford
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth the read
While it wasn't a straightforward "written" book, the usage of the interviews from the players who have shaped ESPN were very interesting and enjoyable. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Earl Burton
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