Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN - Softcover

Rasmussen, Bill

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1962988228 ISBN 13: 9781962988223

Publisher: SuccessDNA, 2026

Synopsis

Are you a sports fan, entrepreneur and/or business leader, who wants to learn from the “Greatest Sports Entrepreneur”? If yes, you’ll love how this new “Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN” book uncovers the ESPN origin story behind father and son team Bill and Scott Rasmussen’s moonshot idea to launch the first 24x7 sports only TV network via satellites. With unique perspectives from key players in the ESPN origin story, you will be taken on an entrepreneurial roller coaster ride right up to ESPN's launch on September 7, 1979, before CNN and MTV. 

 

Readers can learn how the Rasmussens not only changed the sports industry, but they transformed our culture, fan experience and cable TV forever. While maxing out their credit cards and family loans, the Rasmussens risked it all to meet their self-imposed launch deadline. 

Despite many obstacles and doubters, ESPN Co-Founder/President Bill Rasmussen was best-known as an “Intentional Optimist”. To inspire others, the author shares his vision, entrepreneur tips, and behind-the-scenes stories based on his 1978-1979 diary. 

What can you learn from this invaluable “G.O.A.T.” sports entrepreneur memoir? 

- How Bill Rasmussen first became an entrepreneur and sports broadcaster. 

- How Bill used “Intentional Optimism” to stay positive, motivate his team, and keep his ESPN dream moving forward. 

- How Bill used 5 entrepreneur success strategies to launch ESPN. 

- What was the ah-ha moment that Bill and Scott had in a traffic jam in New Jersey that inspired this Sports Visionary’s idea? 

- How Bill built key relationships with Anheuser-Busch/ Budweiser as an advertiser, NCAA as a partner and Getty Oil as the top investor who made the launch possible. 

- What was really happening at ESPN on launch night, and the opening line on SportsCenter’s first show that inspired the “Sports Heaven” book title? 

- Why Sports Legend Chris Berman writes in the Foreword that Bill Rasmussen was ESPN’s “George Washington.” 

- How heavyweights eventually took over and kicked Bill and Scott out, which is very typically for start-ups – and what happened next. 

- PLUS - Insider “Perspectives” from 25+ ESPN executives and key players in the launch of ESPN, including Chris Berman, George Grande, Bob Ley, and Greg Wyatt, Jimmy Pitaro, George Bodenheimer, and Rosa Gatti as they recount the riveting and seemingly improbable entrepreneurial tale. 

 If you a true sports fan and want to learn from a business success story, you will love “Sports Heaven.”

About this title

About the Authors

Bill Rasmussen founded ESPN immediately after being fired by the Hartford Whalers hockey team. There is no better author to tell the incredible, underdog origin story of ESPN.

Mike Soltys ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen first hired Mike in the summer of 1980 as a college intern. Mike then went on to serve 43 years in ESPN’s corporate communications department, his last 20 years as vice president. Mike, currently ESPN’s official historian, offers the postscript on what elements that were put in place in 1979 and are still critical aspects to ESPN’s remarkable success.

Chris Berman has been an anchor for SportsCenter on ESPN for decades starting a month after its initial launch in 1979 and joined ABC in 2020. A six-time honoree of the National Sports Media Association's National Sportscaster of the Year award, Berman was instrumental in establishing ESPN's lasting popularity during the network's formative years. 

Garrett Z. Sutton is an attorney and the author of eleven entrepreneurial books including Start Your Own Corporation and Loopholes of Real Estate, which have sold over 1 million copies as part of the original Rich Dad Advisor series. Garrett helps bring Bill’s entrepreneurial lessons to life. Garrett is also the Executive Producer of the Tenero.TV documentary Sports Heaven: The Birth of ESPN on Bill Rasmussen and the founding of ESPN.

Edition details

• Publisher: SuccessDNA
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1962988228
• ISBN 13: 9781962988223
• Binding: Paperback