ESPN: The Uncensored History
ESPN: The Uncensored History traces the first 24-hour sports network from its inception through its evolution into a slick media outlet reaching more than 60 million homes via more than 26,000 cable providers. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, ESPN, has blazed a stunning path of achievement with its expansive coverage of broadcast sports—spinning off into ESPN2, ESPN Classic Sports, ESPNews, and ESPN Magazine—but has also experienced its share of controversy. Along the way, this...
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ESPN: The Uncensored History is the first book to provide a critical analysis of the 20-year history of Americas original and largest sports network. Through information gleaned from internal documents, police and court records, and interviews with network employees, on-air talent, producers and executives, this book investigates the inside story of ESPN and brings it to you uncensored. 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 Cahners Business Information.\\
Introduction1Prologue23Pt. 17 P.M.1One Million Lightbulbs312ESP-TV473"This Is The Stupidest Thing I've Ever Heard"554A Long Night645NBC North796"You Have to Be a Son of a Bitch"917Snake Eyes1008Simmons's Final Roar111Pt. 2Heroes9"Men Are Acting Like Animals"12910The Genius and His Army14511Radio Daze15512Crisis17213SportsCenter19514The Mickey Mouse Network213Pt. 3The Gods of Sport15"Can't We Cut Your Good-bye from 45 Seconds to 30?"23916Free Pizza259Epilogue: What a Story269Acknowledgments273Index277
\ Sports IllustratedThe tale of ESPN's rise digs deeply...into behind-the-scenes shenanigans...\ \ \ \ \ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette...powerful and entertaining.\ \ \ Book Page...a fascinating new book...might make you watch ESPN in a whole new way.\ \ \ \ \ American WayMichael Freeman tells the story with the same urgency and breathlessness that ESPN brings to its coverage of sports.... a dazzling American success story ....\ \ \ \ \ Sports Collectors DigestMichael Freeman provides the first book of critical analysis of the original and largest sports network.\ \ \ \ \ Baltimore SunFreeman, a skilled and concise writer, does an exceptional job of telling the entire story—warts and all ....\ \ \ \ \ Orlando SentinelThis story would make a terrific Outside the Lines. Yet ESPN's investigative series ... wouldn't touch the material ... with a 10-foot TelePrompTer.\ \ \ \ \ Fort Worth Star-TelegramMichael Freeman has captured the essence of the freewheeling, 24-hour cable network that pioneered not just sports television, but the cable industry itself.\ \ \ \ \ Tampa Tribune... give[s] the reader a real insight to the early days at ESPN.\ \ \ \ \ Chicago Sun-Times... stunning ... fascinating ....\ \ \ \ \ Gadflyonline.ComThis is a must-read for ESPN and sports fans alike.\ \ \ \ \ Library BookwatchExtensively researched, ESPN: The Uncensored History presents a fascinating, candid, revealing story in clear, unambiguous, and highly evocative language. A singularly memorable and compelling 'tell-all' book, ESPN: The Uncensored History is strongly recommended reading for all sports buffs.\ \ \ \ \ New York Daily NewsNetwork stoolies are buzzing about a...book on ESPN by New York Times sports writer Mike Freeman...sounds real juicy\ \ \ \ \ Philadelphia Daily NewsGive Freeman points for diligent research [and] for his no-nonsense history of how the all-sports network evolved.\ \ \ \ \ Daytona News-Journal... compelling subject matter for any sports fan.\ \ \ \ \ Library JournalNew 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 Cahners Business Information.\\\ \
