ESPN: The Uncensored History

by Michael Freeman

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.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Journalism, Tv, Business, History

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

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Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, well-researched, and balanced view of the history of ESPN.

For the exact opposite, see Creating an Empire ESPN the no hods barred story of power, ego, money and vision that transformed a culture or at least read my review of it.

[John Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been an ESPN fan since the mid 90s, so this book was of particular interest to me. I loved learning about the man (Bill Rasmussen) who first invisioned a sports network that aired programming within Connecticut about Connecticut sports, but later expanded it to nationwide programming. The perserverance and sometimes deceit required to get the network started were as remarkable as the investment from the Getty family that finally made it happen (and subsequently resulted in Rasmussen losing control of his dream).

This book goes into great detail about the mistreatment of the production assistants, and particularly the sexual harrassment of the female production assistants. This problem seems to have been and issue born from the fraternity-like boys club that ESPN was in the beginning, and plaqued the company for years as it grew into the national sports network it is today.

We learn about the stories of some of the ESPN anchors who were there in the beginning; Chris Berman, Keith Olbermann, and Dan Patrick mostly, with Olbermann's story getting the most detail. I always wondered why Olbermann left ESPN when he did, and now I know.

There was one comment made in the book that bugs me. Someone needs to tell Michael Freeman that if a woman sets the all-time scoring record for NCAA Women's Basketball and then that record is question because of possible scoring errors, that absolutely does warrant mention on a national network.

[Kek · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is a definite prerequisite to Miller and Shales "These Guys Have All the Fun", some of the analysis didn't age well. For instance, the comment that Phil Simms of CBS is one of the best analysts in the NFL.

It's very heavily focused on Olbermann and his quest to be a the biggest pain in the a-- in the industry. Mike Tirico's past transgressions are also discussed.

If you're a sports and media fan, like me, this is something to definitely pick up. But by now, a lot of the info is dated.

[Rick Fifield · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of how ESPN went from an idea to the powerhouse it is today. While this book covers ESPN founding from its beginning to 2000 it is very captivating story of how a dream develops. While I would prefer footnotes on some items, I understand that this is not that book.

It is good read about the founding of ESPN. A lot of behind the scenes of what was going on even
the sexual harassment and lack of diversity issues.

[Ngee Poo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good narrative history of the rise of ESPN from its Rasmussen days, to his ousting and funding by oil money, and to the sports media behemoth of today that we know of. Does a good job of highlighting the difficulties throughout the years, from funding issues, to expansion and reputational issues.

[Isaac Castilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book online and it was amazing. I really don’t like reading but this was an all time favorite, the book shows all about ESPN. It shows the good, bad, and ugly.

[Chris B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just wasn’t feeling this book.

[Caleb M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Over hyped and bland

[kareem · Rating 3 out of 5]

original review posted here:
http://www.reemer.com/archives/2004/0...

This book has been floating around the office for a bit, and I finally got my grubby paws on it. It details ESPN's creation and rise to the pervasive cultural force it is today. It was fascinating to read about how and why the company culture developed into the one that exists today.

The book covers founder Bill Rasmussen's struggle to grow his idea for an all-sports cable channel into a reality. It details how Rasmussen obtained $10 million from Getty Oil as seed money in exchange for 80% of the company, and how he was shortly forced out thereafter. Key hirings and their impact on ESPN are described, along with several problems (notably sexual harrassment charges and underpaid Production Assistants) the organization has dealt with since its inception in 1979.

The Uncensored History has interviews with many of the key players that helped make ESPN what it is today. It's fascinating both from the perspective of providing insight on how such an organization came to exist and thrive in 20 or so years, and from that of learning about the company's entertaining history. For example, I did not grow up watching ESPN (it wasn't available in Canada), but this book made me wish that I was around when Keith Olberman and Dan Patrick were making history with their genius 11pm SportsCenter broadcasts.

It's well worth a read if you are interested in company building or in sports media.

[Ice · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Ian · Rating 1 out of 5]

ESPN. The absolute thing that I thought about was sports. But in this book, it turns out to be alot more than just that. When I started reading this, all that I read were facts, dates, etc. This was a very intresting book, don't get me wrong, but if you are wanting a book that is mainly about sports... you have picked up the wrong one. Not only did it list mainly just facts, it talked about all of the problems that ESPN has had over the last 20 years about sexual harrassment. Practically the whole book was that main story line. I was very dissapointed. I would of loved to see more actual intresting ESPN literature. I would not reccommend this book, unless you are intrested in the facts about sexual harrassment a ESPN. 1 out of 5 stars.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad look at the founding and inner workings at ESPN, but it's not without its problems as well. The author shows some bias, plus not all the key figures that are discussed are interviewed for the book. This work is well written, but it tends to gloss over certain important events while going into extreme detail on others. In addition, with its publication date of ten years ago, chunks of it, especially parts dealing with speculation about the future of ESPN, are outdated.

If you're a fan of ESPN and would like to learn more about its founding and early history, this is a good read. Just don't expect it to be the be-all, end-all of works about the sports television giant.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts off slow but eventually picks up with some interesting and disturbing matarial. The biggest problem though, was how people would just pop up in chapters without any explanation with who they were. And these people would be important to the story being told. The cutthroat nature of ESPN, especially in it's early years was surprising. But the most disturbing thing was all the sexual harassment issues and how terribly they were handled. I will not look at ESPN and some of it's anchors the same ever again.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Moderately interesting book about the genesis and subsequent success of on of the world's most popular TV channels. The business stuff was very interesting.

And I was shocked - shocked I tell you - to learn that the culture of ESPN included rampant, viscous sexual harassment, massive amounts of drug use by all the recognizable sportscenter anchor names, and numerous FBI investigations into sports gambling & trying to influence the outcome of games. I guess a few hundred sports crazed males + middle of nowhere Bristol, PN = less than ideal human behavior. What a surprise.

[Randi Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a sports fan, and I am also a woman that has "come up" during a time of changing opportunities and roles for women. This book has interesting stories of how the ESPN empire started and grew, and the harassment issues that tell a great deal of the story. It's interesting to read about the way ESPN dealt with gender and race issues as they became the huge empire they are now. Probably more like 3 1/2 stars.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting behind-the-scenes look at ESPN. This book is already 10 years old, however, so I'm sure it could use an update. I would not be surprised if Keith Olbermann was behind this book, along with the author. Also some interesting bits on Mike Tarico, now of MNF fame, and his checkered past with the network.

[John Besancon · Rating 2 out of 5]

author seemed to have a personal vendetta against espn. writing was not very good, jumping from topic to topic with lazy transitions and the set up was not great. you would be in 1995 of the history and the next section starts out in 1993.

too bad, too since the author did a lot of work and had interesting stories. more of that and less of the attacks would have been great.

overall: 2.5

[Reverenddave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. I was expecting a lot more of interest in this book but it can be distilled as follows:

- In the beginning no one believed in it and it lost a lot of money
- ESPN has a huge problem with sexual harassment
- Mike Tirico is a one man sexual harassment machine.
The End

[Brad Feldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought it was an enlightening book. We as viewers only get to see what is on the air. As a person working in the news business, I can tell you this book tells a nearly perfect story of what takes place in a newsroom. A lot of bickering, fighting and backstabbing.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read about the history of ESPN and how it almost didn't come to be. It also shed light on how ESPN, although probably the biggest media entity in the world, isn't quite the charmed place some people might believe it to be.

[Ursula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good gossip. Nothing genius in the writing.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, if now somewhat out of date history on ESPN. Very interesting to see how it came to be, and also pretty awesome about how much of a jerk Keith Olbermann kinda was even back then.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was interesting to learn about the ESPN personalities and what they're really like behind the scenes, but the book was sort of "one note."

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really a 4.5 is in order. For any sports fan who has grown up the last couple decades watching ESPN, this is a must read.

[Bill Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting factually, pedestrian-ly written. Like that last sentence.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just reinforced my great annoyance with ESPN